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NSHN Forum Support & On Topic Forums. Some additional boards are viewable to members only => Survivor Room => Topic started by: Tucan on May 25, 2018, 01:09:40 PM

Title: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on May 25, 2018, 01:09:40 PM
Hi

I got a face to face pip assessment. I have had the letter through the post. I have never had a face to face assessment before.
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on May 31, 2018, 04:15:24 PM
It is in a week's time and I am starting to get really anxious about it! I am scared they will take it off me.
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Vermilion on May 31, 2018, 10:32:59 PM
 :hug2: :hug

It helps to have someone with you for the assessment, could your CPN or PAs go with you? It's a good idea to record the assessment too, it just ensures that they don't get up to any dirty tricks or ask inappropriate questions. Other than that I'd say that you need to take plenty of medical evidence in; letters from your GP/CPN/PA's and a print out of a summary of your medical records too (You can get this from your GP surgery). Also, when you answer questions answer as though it's your worst day.

I'm afraid that's all the advice I have though my assessment with Crapita didn't go too well. I think you should be OK though because you have a lot of help from your PAs and you have professional support and clear diagnoses which I haven't got so don't be scared by my experience. If I think of anything else I'll let you know. I hope it goes OK.  :hug1: :hug2:
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on May 31, 2018, 10:37:04 PM
One of my pas is going with me. It's in a city I have never been to before so that has made me anxious from the get go. My pa has offered to drive me even though she isn't supposed to. Bless her. I haven't read the letter they sent me apart from the time and date on it. I really should read it. I sent off medical evidence with the forms. Do I have to provide that again?
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Vermilion on May 31, 2018, 11:16:09 PM
I'm glad that you have someone to go with you, I would never have coped with the assessment alone  :hug2:.

Personally I would take copies of medical evidence already provided so that you can refer to it and just in case they have 'lost' it. Is there any further evidence that you haven't sent yet that might help? If so take that to the assessment.
Thought of a few more things;

Try and write some answers down too, chances are you'll be quite stressed and might forget certain things that you need to say.

Are there any adjustments you need? I didn't realise that you could ask for a different less claustrophobic room which would have helped loads.

I'd also say be suspicious of everything they ask, even chatty questions. An example from my assessment was that I was asked if I like to read and when I said yes she said that I can obviously concentrate then so I had to explain that I cannot do so on my worst days. They'll also ask how you got to the assessment, make sure that they know how stressful it was and how anxious you've been in the run up, this was used towards my 'Planning and following journeys' points.
You won't have to go through a physical examination if it's for MH and remember that you don't have to show them SH scars so try not to worry about that side of things. Have you been through the questions with your PA to prepare for the assessment? It might help to think about why you need PIP- consider things like needing a PA to help motivate you and people to help you go to strange placesetc. Or when you're high and you might spend too much and need someone to help you that sort of thing.

:hug1: :hug2:
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on June 06, 2018, 10:15:10 PM
It's tomorrow morning now. The cpn said I should tell them.that they can contact her at any time. She said I shouldn't have a problem.
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: terrified heart on June 07, 2018, 07:29:59 AM
Good luck for today Tucan. I hope it goes ok and isn’t too stressful.  :hug2:
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Skye on June 07, 2018, 07:39:05 AM
Good luck  :hug2:
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on June 07, 2018, 02:19:49 PM
I have been now. It was long and horrible. I did my best and had to ask her to clarify some questions and kept getting confused what condition she was talking about. She asked about my school grades, not sure what that has to do with my current mental health! I should hear something in 4 weeks. Now it's an anxious wait.
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on June 07, 2018, 10:26:56 PM
I asked why it was 22 miles away from my home when there were closer venues to me. She told me I could have been sent anywhere within a 90 miles radius of my flat!
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Rob on June 07, 2018, 11:08:00 PM
That's an almost unbelievable range. Still, it's done now.  :)
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on June 29, 2018, 06:24:05 PM
They are taking my DLA off me. They have scored me zero points. The fact that I work is counted against me. Now my council tax has gone up despite my income being halved.
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Vermilion on June 30, 2018, 01:27:21 PM
I'm sorry they did that, you do need PIP. PIP is not an out of work benefit, it's to help you with extra costs whether you're in work or not. You really need to get the CAB involved, they've helped me lots with my PIP appeal. Your first step will be a 'mandatory reconsideration' but don't be disheartened if they still refuse because it's very common. I'd ask for a copy of the medical report from your assessment so that you can see where they've lied. I know for me they often gave me points for 'prompting' but what I actually need is social support and they've used my not having specialist input from MH against me, y'know, because it's not because the NHS are crap... I wouldn't have known this if I didn't see the medical report so try and get a copy ASAP. I think that you'll have about a month to complete the MRC and when that's done it's best if you prepare for an appeal straightaway, they delayed sending me the letter and I only had about 10 days to sort an appeal out. The CAB see a lot of PIP MRC"s and appeals so the sooner you book the better your chance of getting an appt.

The system is so unfair, especially regarding MH probs/autism etc I.e, the 'invisible problems'. I'm so angry with them.
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on June 30, 2018, 02:57:09 PM
They are really annoying. They used the fact I have mental health support against me.
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Vermilion on July 02, 2018, 03:27:42 PM
Yet they used the fact that I have 'no specialist mental health input' against me! The thing is PIP is supposed to pay for help whether you actually get said help or not. They'll use any excuse against you so make sure you fight for what you need and deserve.  :hug1:

Have you got any help with  the MRC or budgeting yet?  :hug2:
Title: Re: Pip assessment
Post by: Tucan on July 02, 2018, 04:03:40 PM
I will have to get my pas to help me.with budgeting as I am hopeless at it. Rang my cpn this morning and she is going to.write me a supportive letter.