Face To Face Next Week

Hi, I am new to this group, I joined because, like most people I was completely flummoxed by the ambiguity of the PIP, How Your Disability Affects You Questionaire.

I have a 25 year old daughter, 25, who is dependent on us for getting about even getting up in the morning! She was born with significant cognitive learning disabilities, ADHD and Dyspraxia were diagnosed during her 4th & 7th year. She, like many of you, was awarded DLA for life, at the age of 18.

We returned the PIP paperwork by the requested date, 16th February and yesterday received the appointment for the face to face - for the 9th March - a rather speedy turnaround - not sure whether this is good or bad, but rather think that it maybe just the postcode here, maybe we are seen quicker in some areas than others, we are in West Wales.

My concerns are that after watching the news and reading quite a lot of articles in the past few weeks, some major changes to PIP could affect my daughters claim. How problems with cognitive/mental health might be assessed - will it now be poo poo'ed by the assessor - What do I do/say if they brush a lot of this aside, after all her everyday life is affected by anxiety, distress etc something that was recognised in the past by DLA?

My further concern is that on returning the paperwork, I included a letter that stated that we had requested copies of my daughters medical records, I included the information that two weeks after the request, we received a phone call from the hospital stating that I, as her mother, could not witness the Access To Records request! We had to get the form signed again and send it back, we were told that on receipt it would still take up to 40 days (at the time of writing we are yet to receive notification that these are ready - the 40 day period would be spent on 14th March) Bearing this in mind, someone has set up an appointment knowing that the chances are very high that they will not have sight of these records, or that records may not even be in our possession before the appointment date! Do they read covering letters at all?

I have read of cases whereby people with dyspraxia have also been zero scored due to such things as being able to use a mobile phone or computer? My daughter can use both of these but cannot use an oven, cut or chop using a knife, be trusted to carry a pan of cooked food to the sink, wash her own hair etc etc

She has medication to help with the ADHD - will this now go against her - because she will be assessed as 'medication controls the affects?'

Quite honestly, I am an educated person but this whole business is leaving me with anxiety issues! - not kidding here - I'll be claiming PIP myself before the end of all of this!

I know everybody is different and should be treated as an individual, but I also suspect that the chances are very high that they wont be, so any advice or help in preparing for this face to face will be gratefully received.

One very anxious Mum!

Thank you

Can I just ask a question regarding the new changes on anxiety etc.,. It says changes will take place on all claims from 16th March 2017.

My claim went in at beginning of February so will I be judged on the old or new rules?

Thank you

Many thanks Gordon,

Yes we used your Claim Guide to fill out the form and accompanied the paperwork with medical evidence from the mental health team, past psychiatrists reports, her Statement of Sp. Ed. Needs and a letter from her Manager at work, explaining that she needed extra support, training etc

I just rang Capita to ask whether they had received supporting evidence that I had sent in nearly two weeks ago, under separate cover - the answer was no! They gave me another address to resend it (bearing in mind the assessment is next week, it will go Sp. delivery today!)

We'll wait and see, the more I read about this & watch PMQT the more I feel sick to my stomach for so many people, many, I appreciate, that are a lot worse off than my daughter.

Thank you again,

Sheila

So today was the dreaded Face to Face:

The Assessor was a nurse and told us from the start that we were to relax. She said that the F2F would last between 30 - 45 mins - We were in there for 1 1/2 hours, it felt like 30 mins - it went so fast!

Delight of delights, she had an excellent knowledge of Dyspraxia and a good understanding of the learning difficulties my daughter suffers from - She spoke both clearly and concisely to my daughter who understood at least 75% of the questions she asked - She quite effectively reworded the questions for the remainder.

She asked all sorts of questions that were not covered on the PIP Questionaire - and went through my daughters medical history since birth - something I had not had the common sense to do at question 14 - (Additional Information) She covered all of my daughters Physio, Speech & Occupational Therapy that she had had during her school years.

The physical part of the assessment entailed my daughter doing some simple arm and leg movements - she stopped her almost as soon as each of these started - Even I was surprised by my daughters lack of both balance and dexterity under these conditions.

The assessor said that it wasn't surprising as, in her opinion, the majority of us take too much for granted and forget to mention how we have problems with the most basic because we have put coping strategies in place.

I must say that I felt I had filled in the form as concisely as possible - being in that room today showed me how much I had missed out - Today's assessor filled in all the blanks - she was either fantastic or an Oscar Winner!!

We were told that she would write up her full report tonight and that it would be forwarded to the DWP for their consideration - That we should have a reply in 8 weeks.

So, now the waiting game..........................