i have my PIP assessment tomo feeling really anxious about it as last time I ended up having to go to appeal and the stress of it was unreal.
I have my mother going with me for support and I know how sneaky these assessors are. I know for my previous assessment they ask you to do physical things I.e bend down move fingers etc. Can you point blank refuse because your in pain?
Anyone have any useful tips? And typical things they are going to ask as I can not really remember from my last assessment.
Thank you
Hi
I had my assessment 3 weeks ago.your right i did all the things she asked,well tried my best,answered all her questions ,She was very understanding an Sympathetic,i got letter last week to say i was awarded enhanced rate of both,i also asked for the report she sent to DWP on me,an quite a few times she mentioned that i did try to do all the things she asked,but said i done them with difficulty,so my answer to you will be try to do what they ask an answer their questions in detail ,hope it goes well good luck .
Hi anni,
I know how you feel. I had my assessment back in April and it went really well, I got awarded enhanced rates for both. My son took me to mine, I couldn't have done it without him. They asked me to do certain things and I refused because of the discomfort it would have caused. I know this sounds daft but don't be overly chatty and try and let your mum tell them about how it affects you, they are crafty. Don't dress up or put make up on and you need to get across to them how you are on your worst day ever. They asked me if I had a pet and my son answered yes we do, I look after him. He also told them everything he does for me. Good luck and let me know how it goes.
Michelle 😀
Hi anni I had my pip assessment with a occupational therapist an she asked me loads of different questions about my health and what I can and can't do. Which is very restricted as probably you your self are an everybody else on here. While I was there from the min I was called in she watched every move, I was having a flare up at the time so I was worse than normal. She did say I am gonna ask you to do a few movements and other physical stuff. Before she began she did say I can refuse if it's going to be to painful. I only done ended up doing 1 an that was squeezing her hand she then said I won't be asking you to do anymore. If you have to do what they ask just don't strain yourself.
Hi Kirsty thank you for your reply, can I ask did you get an award? I currently have lower rate daily living but gosh did I have to fight for it. I have pains in my chest today due to the worry. I'm worried if I refuse to do the activities or try they will say I am uncooperative or not believe me. I can't not bend down because I physically can not get up unless someone was to pick me up. It's such a horrible phyically and mentally straining process
thank you for your advise. Well done on your award
Hi anni yes I did think it was high daily allowance but did not get for other mobility. You are best not to stress over it as it will make you a whole lot worse especially with it being your chest... yes I am the same I can't get up once am on the floor an it is highly embarrassing I am sure u feel the same as well. The person who is doing the examination should ask if you feel comfortable doing it. Just explain to them how you feel so under pressure by all of this an how it's making you feel.. I wish you good luck for it an please let me no how you got on xxx
Thank you so much. I'm just so worried because I live on my own with my son they are going to think of she doesn't need it. Even though my mother comes in twice a week to do my washing cleaning and also have dinner at hers every night as I can't cook well I can put a meal in a microwave but believe this isn't what cooking a meal is. She also has my son every other weekend to take him out and give him so normality as I can't. He has unfortunately had to be taught to be independent and dresses showers etc himself he's 5. I'm jus so worried if I'm not successful and loose my award i will have to take my car off the road and end up housebound as I won't be able to afford it. 
thanks for your advise and I will let you know how it goes tomo.
How clever is your Lil boy that is really good he is like that ano it shudnt be this way. This disease is so horrible an heart breaking. Yes I don't cook also as I can't stand at the cooker and also spilt a pain of boiling water on my hand 😢. My youngest is 11 an luckily he is old enough to do most stuff himself my daughter is 17 and helps out nw and then but I do have my husband who as unfortunately had to come out of work for a bit as I have had to really bad spells which ended up to yet another hospital trip but I miss going on days out with my Lil fella just as silly as going the park to play football. I understand ur worry as a car is essential to you especially with your son an for your sanity as I am housebound myself I get excited when we go shopping as it's a Lil break from the house.. explain all what your mum does for you and how she cooks all your meals and how your son as to nw dresses himself and all the other stuff 😢😢. I hope all this really helps you an you get what you deserve.
Ahh bless you, I feel the same such a let down for my son. See friends doing lovely things with their children and I can't even take mine to the park and everything has to be planned on is there somewhere to sit can I watch him from that seat what if that seat isn't available. I need my car to get to my mums which OK is a 5 min drive but 15 min walk and also to get my son to school as I couldn't without my car even though driving is painful. Fortunately my mum and dad have given me a run around I couldn't afford a financed automatic! But even paying car tax insurance petrol I make ends meet at mo just about losing my pip is going to be another horrendous thing to deal with. Thank you so much I will update tomo after assessment.
Yes I no how it feels I end up sitting on the floor or grass if we go the park an just pray I dnt have a wet behind when I eventually get up 😂😂.. I wudnt no how it is with driving as I dnt drive myself that is the husbands job thankfully but I no just getting into the car is a effort in its self.. I will keep fingers crossed for you an hopefully you will get a understandable 1 like I did. She was really nice towards me an patient as I have terrible foggy head an forget things a lot. But only as I was leaving she did say her daughter as been referred to rhumetologist to see if she has got fibromayilga
Sounds like you hit gold there. I do believe it's luck on the assessor. I get brain fog too can't remember what I did couple of days ago let alone events which happened 6 months ago In relation to medical history. Hoping my mum can prompt me! Will give update tomo sleepless night tonight I think 😰
Ye I think I did to be honest. Ye it's so horrible forgetting such silly things I get my self in a right mess an get so upset when I can't think of what ever it is am trying to remember. These use to laugh at me until I got really annoyed an angry an upset it's so frustrating and embarrassing isn't it. And sometimes I struggle to get words out an stutter friends have been rnd an laughed at it saying come get ye words out an I just screamed at them an walked out I felt so silly doing that but trying to explain to ppl about everything we go through is so annoying most ppl look at ye an cos we don't show signs illness or other things ppl tend to think u are making it up. My cousin was the worse person for me as it was my bday my husband decided to invite close friends rnd an I had a few drinks which is very rare these days, the nxt day I was in real bad pain an his comment to me was hungover are u an a load of other crap along them Lines. An I wasn't hungover it was due to me walking around a lot while friends was here but simple minded ppl like him dnt understand. I hope you get some sleep an good luck I hope u get a pleasant an understanding person like I did
Let us know how you get on, I did have to go to appeal and had to get diazepam from doctor as the stress put so much stress and strain on my day, however I just told the truth, I was emotional, however I won. So you have nothing to worry about, just be honest. Good luck
Hi Michelle assessment done. I'm not getting my hopes up. He was nice and I was a total wreck he made a comment that because of my sons age what do I do for snacks can you make him a sandwich I said no I can make toast but we spend so much time at my mums I rarely do any of that. I feel traumatised from it all. All I can do is wait that the brown envelope hope and pray!!
Hi Kirsty, I am the same forget things and I get frustrated people look straight through you some of my friends say ah can't you go back to work just part time etc. No I struggle to type for 5 mins let alone few hours. Had my assessment and not getting overly excited I was a bag of nerves the assessor was nice and had a good understanding of my conditions but when asked about making snacks for my son he said so you can make a snack I said yes some toast in a toaster. because I drive a manual car as well think that will be held against me. Yes I would love an automatic but benefits won't cover a finance unfortunately I did tell him I would be totally housebound without my car and it just gets on my nerves sometimes not matter how much pain we are in we have to do these things I can't not take my son to school etc. Now the long agonising wait for the dreaded brown envelope. Can I ask how long after your assessment did you get a decision?
Hi I would say it went ok but you never actually know! I had to appeal last time so I am not getting my hopes up at all! I hate it if I live without the money I wouldn't apply as it's such a strain. Now the wait ....
Hi anni, glad it's over and done with. It's hard to say how you have gone on isn't it! I'll say a prayer for you and really hope you get the award you deserve. Take care! Ps I had my decision in 3 weeks, you may get yours sooner. X
Thanks Michelle. Well done on your award. I will update when I have received mine. X
I waited a good few months unfortunately. I now how you feel before all this I was working part time as assistant manager but this illness as took it out of me am lucky to dust a few things in the house. If only you could be so lucky to have a new automatic car. Well hopefully it has all gone well for you and you don't have to wait as long as I did xx