Mar 212017
Let us know about your experience of the PIP assessment
Inclusion London have been invited by the Chair of the Work and Pension’s
Committee to give written evidence on the process of being assessed for the
Personal Independence Payment PIP – your experience will inform our evidence.
The questions the Committee are particularly interested in are:
1. Which aspects of the current assessment process for PIP are and are not
conducive to accurate decision-making? What improvements could be made?
2. Do Atos and Capita staff conducting PIP assessments possess sufficient
expertise to make accurate decisions on claims involving a wide range of
mental and physical health conditions?
a. Do the staff take enough account of additional evidence supplied by
claimants?
2. Is the face-to-face assessment appropriate for claimants with a range of
different conditions?
3. What changes are needed to improve the accuracy of decisions made in initial
assessments and in mandatory reconsideration, given that the majority of
decisions that go to appeal are overturned?
a. What are the most common reasons you come across for decisions
being overturned on appeal?
b. Is the mandatory reconsideration stage functioning properly? How
could it be improved, or should it be abolished?
4. What is the impact on claimants of delays in getting an accurate decision on
their claim, and how could this be reduced or better managed?
Please send your experience to Henrietta.doyle@inclusionlondon.org.uk
asap or by Wednesday 12 April 2017
The decision maker has to act with a duty of care, take into account all of your medical evidence before they make a decision if they fail in any way, they are guilty of a criminal act under the “Misconduct in Public Office” check it out on the internet, as long as you have a valid case you can tell them that you will take legal action firstly reporting the Decision maker (you must get the full name of the decision maker & the department they work in) to the police as misconduct in public office which is a criminal act which covers fraud, deceit, and acting or failing to act in a reasonable manor. It is very important to record by video or audio means your assessment so that it can be used in a legal trial of the decision maker, it is highly unlikely that it will get to trial as the DM will usually back down and reinstated any lost benefits, if you know that you are in the right, you can tell the DM to reinstate your benefits within a fixed time scale say, 7 days or shorter if you like, more to follow, I recorded my assessment by audio and video equipment, it was also viewed live via an IP camera over the internet to my solicitor who is ready to start legal proceedings against the DM & the assessor. I will let you know how things pan out.
I had my face-to-face assessment with a Capita representative around a month ago and I’m still waiting to hear the outcome. I’ve had a letter explaining that they now have the information they require but have heard nothing since. I think my Postman is developing a complex given how closely we’re studying his movements these days
I requested a home assessment due to severe mobility issues and it was granted with no issues at all. A date and time was arranged and the lady from Capita arrived pretty much bang on time.
My Wife was present and interjected every now and then, the lady from Capita was very nice, she listened to what we had to say and didn’t put us under any undue pressure. When it came time for the physical examination she (the Capita lady) told me that she should be asking me to stand and walk etc. but because it was obvious to her that I was in pain, she wasn’t going to do that. She asked us (she included my Wife in the conversation) how far i could walk and i replied honestly to all of her questions.
When the assessment was finished she took time to explain what would happen next and the approximate time frame. The DWP have a couple more weeks before the 8wks is up but I’m thinking that the decision is due any day now. We’re trying not to get our hopes up, because we’re read how difficult PIP is to get, but we remain hopeful. Every day starts the same, we keep an eye out for the postman whilst having the same “what if” conversations. When it becomes apparent that another day has slipped away with no result, I run through my opinions… should i carry on waiting or should i bite the bullet and ring the DWP to see if a decision has been made – I keep talking myself out of calling as i don’t want to annoy anyone, least of all the person who may be making the decision!
I have to say, I’ve found the procedure so far to be very easy and very relaxed, but i think i’m the exception and not the rule. My problems are fairly obvious and have reached the point of no return – I’m meeting the team who will be performing the above-knee amputation of my leg shortly, for example. I would also say that I think it’s disgusting that the Government are treating people like this. Why are medical notes, GP and Consultant letters and/or letters from the professionals involved, not enough evidence? Why are we being judged by someone who has no idea what we’re capable of? Who are these mysterious ‘decision makers’, and what qualifies them to judge me? Why do they get to decide if i can walk 10m or 100m? I’m all in favour of clamping down on the skivers and blaggers out there, but come on! All it would take is the introduction of an additional page on your medical notes, something that can (or must) be filled in routinely by the doctor/consultant, something which states that Mr/Mrs X is medically fit/unfit because… that the condition Mr/Mrs X is suffering from will/won’t get better etc. i’m sure something could be designed that would cut out all of this draconian stuff. Something that would cost less (no need for Capita or Atos if the DWP have access to medical notes at source) and something that would put the people who are asking for help through less of a drama. I’m no expert and my experience (so far) has been largely positive, but something needs to be done and, as usual, something COULD be done if only someone had the gumption to look at it and find a solution.
Sorry for the ramble. I’ll update with my decision once I have it. For the record, i’m HOPING to receive Standard Rate for the Daily Living component and Enhanced for the Mobility – but I’m EXPECTING to get Standard for both and for it to go to appeal. Ho hum
Good luck, everyone.
Hi folks.
As per my last, I thought I’d update my post with the decision. I got fed up of waiting for the post and decided to go ahead and call the DWP…
I spoke to a very nice lady on a very bad line. She had no problem letting me know that a decision had been made and is on it’s way to me as I write this. She confirmed that I’ve been awarded exactly what I was hoping for and asked if she could do anything else for me.
Again, sadly, i think i’m one of the few who have found this experience to be very good. I’ve had no issues at any stage and I feel for those of you who have. It’s a horrible system that absolutely needs to be revamped, overhauled, replaced, updated, whatever… disabled people shouldn’t have to prove themselves to anyone. We have medical professionals who can speak for us with cold, hard facts and we shouldn’t be degraded like this.
For me it’s been positive but I’m 100% against this awful system.
Good luck, everyone.
I will be sharing our family experience of our recent face to face interview for PIP claiming with our MP. We are demoralised, humiliated, degraded, hurt, angry, fearful and it has set our family relationship that takes all our energy to remain ‘built up’ back so much with the person we are trying to gain help for and with. Nobody should ever have to experience this. We’re even more broken than we’ve ever been right now.
recently had my PIP assessment, well interrogation, which I recorded and that turned into a saga.
Im sharing this to show how much ATOS, who did my PIP Medical Review Assessment are liars and don’t put the truth in their reports. I received today my PIP decision which has taken away High rate mobility and care which was given to me four years ago with my illnesses then. Psoritic Arthritis, heart condition and severe depression. Now I have Fibromyalgia a real debilitating disease and Nodular Prurigo a skin disease also, which has made my life more impossible, spending all my energy just going to the toilet rather than getting out to my car let alone walking a distance. But Im deemed to be better obviously than I was four years ago which my medical team would not agree with. But it seems most of my answers have been ignored so I don’t get the right points to keep my car (12) and benefits I fought to get over 2 years. So ATOS seem to be keeping up with their reputation of cheating and lying to cut the benefits bill which the government encourages them to do. Well I have my recording of the ‘interrogation’ I had and will be fighting this yet again even if it does kill me. They deliberately deleted my recording and lied saying it wasn’t there, lets see what happens . It will make me more ill I know but thats what they want to happen , pick on vulnerable, ill people hoping they give up. I paid my taxes and can’t work due to my health but I have paid over 35 years of taxes into this health service and need and am entitled to it now. Absolutely disgraceful, uncaring, unfair supposed medical experts making these decisions. They havent even got my Doctors medical evidence so don’t know how they have assessed my medical health without that!
I was deemed “too ill and distressed” to be assessed face t to face and award was given on basis of medical evidence and telephone interview with a member if my care team.In the run up to that I overdosed and the stress caused all my hair to fall out …it still hasn’t properly come back.I honestly hope I’m dead before my award runs out.
I went for the test with a witness and it was total lies that they put on my report, I lost my car because of these lies.
How can they get away with telling so many lies and also having NO medical evidence what so ever from my GP or Hospital.
I wasn’t happy with Atos assessor lying to PIP saying things what i didn’t even say in the room they put the wrong things down on purpose for you to lose your money and all so stopping your DLA money before you didn’t get your assessment
It has just happened to me too. I feel not only that I was mislead I felt a deliberate attempt in the report to dehumanise me. The assessor denied & even ignored countless evidence presented & told me I only had one hour or the computer would cut off. I was interrupted on three occasions during assessment, even though I have suffered traumatic brain injuries, which means I find concentration very challenging. The assessor has also changed many significant dates of diagnoses. Most importantly of all by ignoring the extreme times of illness, the report has not accounted for 85% of the time I am affected.
The report was also abusing & lied suggesting I had no educational qualifications.
I want to know how to complain to an independent board & I feel all disabled people need to be very aware ATOS are not only violating human rights they are making decisions in much the way Eichmann did, which can decide who lives & dies. This was written for me by the witness of the assessment. ATOS are not assisting in a humane way towards those depending on their PIP application to survive. My life is in danger because of this ATOS assessment. Huxley said “Propaganda is when a group is singled out. I feel ATOS are using the same tactics the Nazis used, it is a gross crime against humanity! We all need to fight for our lives.
One thing this professionalsite haven working in this places of assessment don’t have hearts ,I don’t say all but small I have fund shes/he thes can have consequences these leave someone,if you make all life for one day you needed or you have you all life for one day you sidow you start around everything stop,I want ask if have peace of mind in take decisions for sameone life is hard too
The PIP assessment was a farce. The PIP assessor said they were only interested in my present circumstances, not my past, so my complete medical history was ignored! I was forced to retire on ill health after contracting Parkinsons’s Disease. My GP verified this, my consultant neurologist confirmed this, and an independent specialist confirmed this. The assessor (who is neither a GP or a neurologist) said that didn’t count. I was scored on various tests that did not happen, and my answers were totally ignored while the assessor wrote in whatever he wanted. Parkinson’s Disease is progressive and incurable, you can’t stop it and there is no such thing as “getting better” but after SEVEN YEARS with PD they awarded me ZERO points and cut all benefits. Either my PD has been miraculously cured (never happened before in recorded history) or the PIP assessor is deliberately falsifying medical records. He should be struck off for that – except he isn’t a doctor in the first place…
After reading the comments. I am not disgusted, I am utterly and completely shocked beyond any normal semblence of both logic and reality. The record speaks for itself. Over 68% of people appealing the pip decision have won their appeal. Yet to be put through such a traumatic situation within a year of the appeal, is not justified but a deliberate means of forcing the claiment, not to appeal. That is the only reason for the abhorant and purposeful tactic.
I am totally blind have lost over 60% hearing in both ears, have Tinitus, Compression of my spine, Diabetes type 2 with complications including neuropathy and mental health issues. Yes I feel suicidal every single day. Yet after what has happened recently with the adjustment of the anxiety, distress caused by traumatic events in the pip assessment. I am hesitant to even mention that aspect of my condition. I have a non curable neruological disease, compression of the spine that esa are aware of from my last medical. At first they put me in the wrag group. I appealed and won it of course due to the neurological condition. I am terrified and more, waiting on that envelope coming through my door. The sheer stress is beyond what a normal person can be expected to undergo on a daily basis. yet the vast majority of disabled people who are waiting on a pip appeal or a letter saying they will be called for a medical examination for the changeover to pip. Is beyond most people’s comprehension. The fear, the sheer terror, the desperate and often futile attempt to remain calm and rational is gone. This is against normal decency, normal rights and a form of psychological torture. Somehow this situation has to stop. People have to listen to the disabled. If they don’t then they are complicit in the murder of thousands of disabled people as a direct result of this Governments savage and evil attack on the disabled in the uk.
I truly feel for you & have complex disabilities too! I agree with all your comments & yes without a shadow of a doubt, not only does this process cause mental health problems, it undoes a great deal of hard work through the care of NHS teams supporting & caring for our needs. I know that throughout the years the NHS have been supporting in the coping process of living with brain injuries & mental health problems.
Disabled people work very hard at managing their conditions only to be violated & stigmatized by ATOS, who violated lie disrespect damage & undo great deal of therapeutic work.
Maybe we should all form a forum & support each other. I know I would so appreciate being able to communicate more with people on here.
Please just know you are worth so much more than any lies & abuse ATOS has said.
Iwas awarded middle rate DLAafter some collapses in2004-2009 due to hypos with being on two gliclazide so reduced meds to one . no episodes since and award was till 2013 they removed it in 2013 the middle rate DLA only getting lwr mobility£22 an indefinate award . dr has put me back on 2 gliclazide in morning so am in danger of hypos collapses again had a letter telling me lwr mobility will continue i am 61 yrs old . just wondering when the letter will arrive telling me DLA is finishing will arrive and to reapply forPIP
Capita assessed are not to be trusted. The DWP say they don’t make the decisions based on the Health care professional from Capita or Atos but by my experience they do. The Assessors are a pack of wolves who tell lies saying they observed you walking or able to carry out exercises which were not even asked by them.
I say tape the assessment otherwise you won’t be believed.
Sorry but what’s the point saying anything the dwp and the government will just cover it up. People or being murdered by the government and the dwp. will people just wake up. Being disabled can happen to anyone .And every one nose it’s happening. So let’s find a way to get this out there.
You are right, this is a more manicured version of fascism in plain sight. However we have to speak out & we have to fight for our right to survive, or they will be coming for the next group of people, if Tory Gov continue to deny our rights & violate us. Make no mistake this is a war & the disabled unfortunately are on the frontline.
One word HORRIFIC!
The PIP assessment is flawed and needs to be sorted quickly before more people die as a result of the stress these ‘interviews’ give.
My Doctors and Hospital Consultant detailed medical notes were completely ignored and the ‘assessor’ told me that as I can sit down and move my fingers , so that is enough to get a job. Disgraceful ! I received zero PIP on both .
in appeal.another period of stress which was /is not necessary .
I have multiple health problems and am disabled.My recent PIP assessment saw a factually incorrect medical report,the assessor rambled on about his own working conditions at the centre saying it was such a dark lonely place at night giving me a funny look while saying it,a very strange thing to say.I was asked if i was suicidal and he grinned as he said it as if it were something funny.I had provided the DWP with a great deal of medical evidence 2 reports from my GP stating my conditions,reports from my surgeon to my GP stating diagnosis and treatment,reports from physios treating me as well as up to date printout of prescription.The HCP sarcastically said he had read the night before all my medical evidence…are they then taking patients private medical files home then to peruse?During the assessment the HCP spent 10 mins rambling on about his own working condition problems there saying its so dark there at night,no one around while staring at me..no idea what that was all in aid of as of no relevance to my assessment and rather un-professional I felt.I was also asked if I was suicidal and this was said while grinning..The HCP asked closed questions giving no room for me to expand and answer,& drew misleading conclusions about everyday tasks basing his opinion of assumption rather than fact.Point scoring was flawed as for eg I said I had a dosset box for my medication and had taken it with me along with adapted cutleryand magnifying glass plate, as had been asked to take with me any small aids I use which I had taken with me in a small bag on wheels…the HCP took these of me placed them and my walking crutch around a meter away away from me not once looking at my aids etc then omitted points from the point scoring system! Mental health issues were ignored,I have had Aspergers since childhood,grew up abroad and left school at 14 to be home schooled as could not cope with main stream school.The Assesors findings did not reflect accurately my everyday level of functioning and did not reflect my functional ability over a period of time therefore not justifying his conclusions! The Marsh farm Physioworld assessment centre did not have a disability blue badge space near the door (I had been taken up the day before by family to view where to park etc) the spaces outside we were told by security guard were only for people who work in that annexe block for assessments.Car parking in the main Physio-world was too far to walk.So on the day i used a taxi there and home.The Assessor nor the DWP decision maker did not consider the pain or difficulty arising from repeated activities,nor did they consider the pain or inability to repeat the actions safely and repeatedly.They did not take into consideration i need time to be able to recover from doing anything due to pain and fatigue as well and whether I can perform the action without being a danger to myself or othersThe Assessor only considered limitations on good days,not taking into consideration with my many conditions that they as conditions vary from day to day,and he did not use all the available medical evidence I had sent in as afore mentioned clincians reports who are treating me.An appropriate physical examination was not carried out.I have restrictions in movement.for eg carpel tunnel osteo-arthritus in knees and rotar cuff problems with left shoulder.My medical conditions were not identified in the medical report nor the symptoms & diagnosis from clinicians nor treatment,the findings of the Atos report differed vastly from my stated level of disability.I asked for a manadatory reconsideration from DWP and still there were flaws, and was not awarded my correct level of entitlement,so losing patience with them I appliied to the court for a Tribunals appeal.I provided a court bundle with the help of Disability resources centre whose advisor helped me with formatting my court appeal,I provided the court with a medical notes print out going abck to 1987 all medical reports etc and paid for these myself including next day postage and spent around £120 in all.I was sucessful in my tribunal appeal.However the judge said he did not know why the DWP had put to be re-assessed in 2 yrs,they re-assess a year before hand and so next year there we go again on another tangent I suppose.The whole system is not fit for purpose.If they are going to conduct medical assessments it should be with a doctor in a hospital using medical appliances for testing gageing strength ability etc.The DWP adjudicators are not medical staff yet pass opinions which can have a damning effect on your entitlement.The majority of tribunals are sucessfull which proves the system currently in operation is defamatory to a claimant,and not fit for purpose.In addition to this they followed me around and put me under surveillance for some reason,an abuse of RIPA as I had done nothing wrong in the first instance.The whole experience is so harrowing and unfair it beggers beleif that a British person could be treated like this by authorities in their own country,when they have done nothing wrong.I was awarded standard care standard mobility.I felt I should have got enhanced care as I have aids and adaptions thoughout my home have paid assistence in the home.i have my own car its old it does me as it has everything I need and anything I need I pay for myself out of my benefits money.In the report the HCP mentioned peculiar things that I had not told them such as my mother dying in 2015,what has this got to do with my assessment,so therefore they must go through your Facebook page to try find out things..all very strange all very strange as my mother lived abroad not in this country.For the tribunal case the DWP provided evidence as well from 2 old ATos assesSments when your health has deteriorated from years ago what is the point of this they provided it selectively leaving out the assessment I had 2 yrs ago but enclosing one I had before that..made no sense to me as my medical state is worse now than in those days and they had all the medical reports to prove it as well.The PIP assessment as it stands is an affront to people who are disabled as it undermines your disability and you’re left with no help and are forced to put a burden on organizations like the CAB and Disability resources advice centres who case loads for PIP tribunals are bulging as it is.All in all its a disgraceful state of affairs and I am so enraged and disgusted with it all that now have contacted a solicitor to see if I can sue Atos for everything they put me through,breach of duty of care by the HCP in his factually incorrect assessment,the un-necesary stress anxiety and depression it caused,basically rubbishing my claim and calling me a liar therefore slandering my good name,giving rise to the DWP treating me like some kind of fraud and following me around for no reason and putting me under surveillance.The DWP were addressed in tribunal, but Atos in all these tribunals get off scot free with everything.Time for that balance to be redressed and time for change.
You might be aware that I have had to apply for Judicial Review of my case. The ATOS Health Care Professional made various errors of fact, reasoning and errors by omission (i.e. failing to record key evidence I gave him) which had a direct bearing on the decision (for example, my falling problem, which is very severe and dangerous). When I pointed out some of the errors and omissions I could see from the DWP’s rationale (one doesn’t get the full assessment record until after one is accepted for appeal to the first tier tribunal) I saw more. The Mandatory Reconsideration refused to address or correct the errors I had identified. The DWP did the same, and added more errors of fact, reasoning and by omission of their own (big ones too). And then the First tier Tribunal did the same: refused to correct the errors made by the ATOS HCP and the DWP in order to review my case fairly and rationally, and made further key errors of fact, reasoning, procedure, and by omission. And then, the Upper Tribunal did exactly the same thing. They did not address the substantive errors I had identified. In addition, the First-tier Tribunal behaved appallingly towards me, to the point I made a formal complaint about their behaviour (which included falling asleep, interrupting me constantly, making illegal suggestions, acting in prejudicial way towards me from the start etc.). They violated my daughter’s right to privacy as a disabled person (because I am a carer). They attempted to violate my own right to privacy, and succeeded to a degree in doing that. They refused me ANY PIP BECAUSE I am a carer, which is irrational – illegal even- because PIP is an in and out of work benefit. Medical evidence supporting my claim was dismissed. And these problems form only part of what went wrong in the way the ATOS HCP, the DWP, and the two Tribunals proceeded. The issues raised by what was done to me are key – because it does look like other people are experiencing similar. there are some important issues raised about medical evidence too. I am willing to let DPAC see my application for Judicial Review (statement of facts and grounds for review) if it will help your process here.
Thanks for the info.i will be delighted to share my experience of all my 3 assessments. Iam also sharing this with my MP who has written to the minister of DWP. He was tired of being fobbed of by dwp too.
I entered the room to be introduced by a nurse. Not a doctor after a 1.5 hour wait.
I explained I needed help in returning to work.
I complied though with difficulties to do as asked. My medication was produced but not taken into account.
My health issues are multiple both physical and mental. The questions where invasive and disgusting. I was asked why I haven’t killed myself. I left feeling suicidal for the first time in my life.
I was later given 0 points. Told to aquire a wheelchair to work in construction and repeatedly called a fraud in the document sent to me.
Shortly after I was sent on the universal credit system.
The promises of assistance and resticted work hours as I progress into full time work where never passed on. If I had known I would have contested the test. As a result of this I now stand 56 days into a 116 day sanction.
Been made homeless 3 times since and my health has deteriated.
I believe that I was wrongly treated for wanting to progress back to work. I wish I had the mental capacity to fight them. But I just don’t anymore