Intrusive question at PIP assessment

Hi

This is a query for a friend who recently went through her PIP assessment. She has severe mental health problems and unfortunately filled the form in herself before anyone could advise her and thus ended up going to an assessment with another friend.

She has been given standard rate care, no mobility. She did have low rate DLA for both.

We got the HCP's detailed report back today and she says my friend got 'aggressive' and didn't like one of the questions. What the HCP fails to say is that the question was in relation to when my friend becomes 'manic' and the HCP asked if she becomes promiscuous on such occasions!!

Is this within the normal realm of questioning? Hoping to get her proper support to ask for reconsideration but before that would like advice about this point and whether the HCP has overstepped the mark..

That is disgusting & none of their business!!! I wonder if it is a trick question eg: If you can have sex how sick are you?! I would be appalled. I too suffer from Bipolar and manias. Maybe her aggression will help her award? I really hope all goes well. I am yet to fill my PIP form in as I need help, even with this 80 page help guidance.

Hi JoannaSarah

Yes, it was an unbelievable question from the HCP! I suppose , and I'm trying to see some reason for it,she was thinking in relation to how vulnerable my friend might be in certain situations but even so, that's between my friend and her CPN, nothing to do with Atos!

My friend had been meant to get help from a welfare rights person but it never happened. The mental health charity, MIND, do sometimes offer help at their local offices, but not through the national office, so maybe you could find out where your local one is?

If you can't get help, (and I know its really thin on the ground) try not to get overwhelmed by it, just do a rough draft first so you know what you're going to write and do a bit each day. Good luck.

Sue