× Members

PIP RECOGNISING MY APPOINTEE STATUS??

More
7 years 5 months ago #171728 by JaneyB
When the PIP Assessor came to Review my husband (Chronic Fibromyalgia/CFS) two weeks ago he was so ill he wasn't even coherent. I burst into tears because my husband couldn't even answer the questions and the assessment was abandoned. I explained to the Assessor that the DWP always allowed me to speak on my husband's behalf but the PIP assessor's attitude was very much that my husband needed to answer the questions for himself. They have now told me I need to send in more medical evidence and I am now in process of doing this. My son (who has Autism/SLD) in no way will be able to speak up for himself and I am really concerned that I am no longer going to be allowed to be an Advocate for either of them in these new PIP assessments. I cannot see my husband being able to sit through two hours of questioning which is what others have told me is the average. We have tried to access a Welfare Support Officer to see if they can help but have had no contact yet. The stress of having to go through two PIP Assessments at the same time is immense and my husband feels he is failing us abysmally just because he was frozen to the spot with Fibro fog. I tried to explain to the assessor that we are under more stress than usual because we are now having to homeschool my teenager (who has Autism/SLD) due to bullying that was making him ill. I get the impression they just think we are being dramatic and that these circumstances make no difference. I realise it is a points process. I read the 84 page guide before I filled in the PIP form and it was very helfpul. My husband was originally awarded higher level DLA for life and now we are having to deal with all this. I suppose it is just "our turn".

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
7 years 5 months ago - 7 years 5 months ago #171740 by slugsta
Replied by slugsta on topic PIP RECOGNISING MY APPOINTEE STATUS??
Hi and Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

You do have a lot on your plate at the moment, don't you?! :(

Are you officially your husband and son's appointee, or are you just helping them as much as you can? If DWP have already officially recognised you as appointee, you should be allowed a bit more input.

However, the assessor will always want to hear from the claimant as much as possible.

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Last edit: 7 years 5 months ago by slugsta.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
7 years 5 months ago #171764 by JaneyB
Replied by JaneyB on topic PIP RECOGNISING MY APPOINTEE STATUS??
Hi, yes I was recognised as their Appointee by the DWP. I need to ask the DWP to resend the letter recognising me as my husband's Appointee as it is buried beneath a pile of paperwork. To be fair the PIP Agent who came to the house to assess my husband did accept what I said about being his Appointee.
It really concerns me that most of the assessments take a minimum of 40 minutes. Hubby cant even tell you what day of the week it is he is so rough.!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
7 years 5 months ago #171792 by Marie
Replied by Marie on topic PIP RECOGNISING MY APPOINTEE STATUS??

JaneyB wrote: When the PIP Assessor came to Review my husband (Chronic Fibromyalgia/CFS) two weeks ago he was so ill he wasn't even coherent. I burst into tears because my husband couldn't even answer the questions and the assessment was abandoned. I explained to the Assessor that the DWP always allowed me to speak on my husband's behalf but the PIP assessor's attitude was very much that my husband needed to answer the questions for himself.

Whilst one can agree with their guidance and rules which would be the dwp's and not atos. A claimant can nominate a friend, wife, husband, to speak on their behalf throughout their face-to-face assessment if they chose to because they are not able to go through the assessment themselves due to severe ill health. So if your husband and son needs for you to speak on their behalf for any medical assessment you can do so obviously by letting both atos and dwp know in advance. As for your son who is Autism they do not need to attend any face-to-face assessment. You can get paper based assessment for both if they are very ill. You will need your GP's support and written letters to both.




They have now told me I need to send in more medical evidence and I am now in process of doing this. My son (who has Autism/SLD) in no way will be able to speak up for himself and I am really concerned that I am no longer going to be allowed to be an Advocate for either of them in these new PIP assessments.

Yes you can be an Advocate for both your husband and son. You can write a letter on your husband's behalf that he nominate you to deal with all his benefits because of ill health ground. Both dwp and atos cannot by law stop you besides those two do not have any legal entities. As for your son who has Autism you should be allowed to deal with his benefits on his behalf because of the nature his disabilities dwp and atos should know that it's in their guidance. I would say write those letter as soon as possible you husband can sign his letter but for your son you can sign on his behalf.


I cannot see my husband being able to sit through two hours of questioning which is what others have told me is the average. We have tried to access a Welfare Support Officer to see if they can help but have had no contact yet.

He doesn't need to answer any question if he is very ill you need to make sure you write a letter on his behalf with him nominate you to answer questions when in an assessment. I've written a letter on my friend's behalf and answer all the face-to-face assessment questions for her without problem and you should be able to.

The stress of having to go through two PIP Assessments at the same time is immense and my husband feels he is failing us abysmally just because he was frozen to the spot with Fibro fog. I tried to explain to the assessor that we are under more stress than usual because we are now having to homeschool my teenager (who has Autism/SLD) due to bullying that was making him ill. I get the impression they just think we are being dramatic and that these circumstances make no difference. I realise it is a points process. I read the 84 page guide before I filled in the PIP form and it was very helfpul. My husband was originally awarded higher level DLA for life and now we are having to deal with all this. I suppose it is just "our turn".


Don't make it your turn we all have suffered enough. I hope this helps

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
7 years 5 months ago #171793 by Marie
Replied by Marie on topic PIP RECOGNISING MY APPOINTEE STATUS??

Mrs Hurtyback wrote: Hi and Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

You do have a lot on your plate at the moment, don't you?! :(

Are you officially your husband and son's appointee, or are you just helping them as much as you can? If DWP have already officially recognised you as appointee, you should be allowed a bit more input.

However, the assessor will always want to hear from the claimant as much as possible.



The assessor should follow the dwp's pip assessment guidance that if a person is very ill and cannot answer questions they are allowed to ask someone else to speak on their behalf and not breached it by saying that the OP's husband must speak and she cannot.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Bearer

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
7 years 5 months ago #171795 by Marie
Replied by Marie on topic PIP RECOGNISING MY APPOINTEE STATUS??

JaneyB wrote: Hi, yes I was recognised as their Appointee by the DWP. I need to ask the DWP to resend the letter recognising me as my husband's Appointee as it is buried beneath a pile of paperwork. To be fair the PIP Agent who came to the house to assess my husband did accept what I said about being his Appointee.
It really concerns me that most of the assessments take a minimum of 40 minutes. Hubby cant even tell you what day of the week it is he is so rough.!


Your husband should be able to tell the assessor as soon as possible that he nominate you to speak on his behalf the assessor should have no attitude. It is allowed and in the dwp pip assessment guide that those assessors should follow.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: GordonGaryBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserjimmckChris
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.