PIP Home Asessment

Hi, this is my first time on the forum so please be patient if I go on a bit. I had a home PIP assessment yesterday and after the lady arriving half an hour late saying her sat nav had sent her to wrong village I was already feeling stressed. During the assessment she asked me questions on my medical history going back to 2003 when I had surgery foe breast cancer + total lymph node clearance. I have suffered with various conditions since that time such as anxiety / depression, lymphedema, seen neurologists , problems with scar pain and lack of mobility strength in arm from surgery. over the last two years I have had lower back probs, frozen shoulder and my general health had deteriorated considerably. I visited my GP numerous times and had many diff tests and x rays which all came back ok but I was made to feel I was a hypochondriac and it was all in my head. I had so many symptoms which never have enough time to explain in detail to Dr as appointments were only 10 min long. I paid to see a Specialist who diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia/CFS & Post Chemotherapy Fatigue and on reading my medical history it showed the symptoms had started soon after surgery but I had suffered all these years without being referred to anywhere that could help.
Sorry I'm going on a bit but I'm very concerned that the assessor didn't ask me any questions that I expected to enable a conclusion to be reached by DWP questions not asked are as follows ;- Do I use cooker, have help to bath/shower or toilet needs, How far can I walk, Do I need anyone with me when I go out, short / long distances. Can I plan long/ short journey, can I follow a route familiar/ unfamiliar. Do I need help getting dressed/ undressed, do I need anyone to encourage me to do things, take tabs, eat get dresses etc. or what is a typical day/ do I have gd days/bad days. These are just the ones I can remember there may be more. I thought these would be the important questions asked to reach a conclusion. Is it usual not to be asked these things ? Also she made it clear that she thought I was not trying during grip test as I had had to have a break as I was starting to feel exhausted an as I had a drink of water said I could do better as I had held a glass. How important is the grip test, I was not asked to do anything else. Sorry for the long post I am just rather confused why she was actually there. Oh 1 last point, has there been any evidence that they can video the assessment off their laptop ?

Hi Diane

I'm at a bit of a loss to understand how you filled in the PIP application form without explaining yourself how your disabilities affect your day to day living. All of the questions you say the assessor didn't ask you should have already been answered on the form you filled in - the descriptors cover every aspect of day to day living and there are spaces for you to explain what effect your physical and/or mental illness has on your management of your day to day life.

If you read through the B & W guides to claiming PIP, you will see what I mean. I can only assume you haven't filled in all the answers you needed to fill in - in which case you might not get the award you want.

The assessor was there purely to see whether what you say your problems are agree with what she sees/saw. You will have sent your medical evidence along with the completed form, no doubt, so she will have been aware of what your issues are, and how they might be expected to interfere with your ability to manage your life.

Wait and see what the outcome of the assessment is; if you are unsuccessful, get back to the site and we will try and help you further.

As for the laptop video issue - no I have not heard of that. Maybe other people might comment about it?

Hi Shelam thanks for answering. I did fill in all these questions in on PIP claim form and gave evidence and reports from hospital and specialist to back up my answers. My understanding of a Capita assessment must be wrong as I thought the point of an assessment was to either confirm or disprove whether the information on the form was accurate or exaggerated and to try and catch you out if you were being untruthful. Friends that have had assessments have told me that they were asked these questions by the assessor so I am a bit confused

Thanks Gordon, the assessor was pushing me to answer when i last drove which i coulnt remember as i hav very rarely driven over the last few years and then only if it was for something urgent. It would probably hav been to an emergency drs appntmnt when there was no one available to take mewhich is about a mile away all on a straight rd. I ended up saying about 3/4 months ago as i really couldnt remembe so this will probably go against me but she kept on + on pressing me for an answer + by then i was feeling exhausted

Diane wrote: Thanks Gordon, the assessor was pushing me to answer when i last drove which i coulnt remember as i hav very rarely driven over the last few years and then only if it was for something urgent. It would probably hav been to an emergency drs appntmnt when there was no one available to take mewhich is about a mile away all on a straight rd. I ended up saying about 3/4 months ago as i really couldnt remembe so this will probably go against me but she kept on + on pressing me for an answer + by then i was feeling exhausted

Hi D,

I wouldn't worry now, at least it is over and done with !!!

You could give it a week or so, then ring The DWP PIP Helpline for an update :

Telephone: 0345 850 3322
Textphone: 0345 601 6677
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Whilst on the phone, you could request that they send you a copy of The PA4 Medical Report compiled by the Assessor at the face to face and sent to The DWP PIP DM who makes the final decision.

Although you might have to wait until after a decision has been made by The DWP, some members have managed to gain a copy of The PA4 before receiving a decision.

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome !!

bro58