PIP assessment - 2 points!

Hi Wing
Sorry to read about your struggles. As you have had cancer have you spoken to McMillan?. They do amazing work with benefits, they also have advocates to help with appeals I believe.
Just another avenue of support for you as you go through this stressful time.
Good luck & follow Gordon Gary’s & Bis advise.

Hi Devon idil

Thanks for your suggestion. McMillan did give me a lot of support when I had cancer and there was a McMillan nurse assigned to me at the hospital. But since being discharged and given the all clear from the hospital, I have not needed to contact them. I didn’t realise I could still get their support but will contact them and see if they can help me.
Everyone’s support is gratefully appreciated.

Hi Wing
There is a central website for McMillan it covers everything from treatment to finances for people affected by cancer.
Just Google McMillan their contact details will be there.
Take care.

Hi Wing

I too (or should I say 3) am in a similar situation. However, I didn't get any points at all, not even 2 points for recurrent bladder cancer & IBS. I take very little medication due to side effects, so this was quoted throughout the assessors report. I'll second Macmillan Cancer Support. You can chat online with others in a similar situation, or ring the free phone number & chat to a nurse.

Ask your friend to write a letter on your behalf explaining your day to day struggles. Also I've emailed a complaint to Capita. I decided not to wait for my official no pointer. I'm not lying down & taking all the lies, it's ridiculous I'm fighting back now. Who was your assessment with if you don't mind me asking?

I did a letter myself after seeing the assessors report due to a lot of it not being correct at all. I've explained that I thought I would've got at least 2 points due to bladder cancer & IBS, seeing as I'd sent evidence of 5 operations that I've had in the last few years since my last assessment. Yet the assessor said that there were no evidence of cancer. I went through the report & underlined stuff, made notes, & then did my letter on my laptop. It's very stressful, but at the end you will feel a sense of relief knowing that you've done your best. They can't keep getting away with this at all!

Hi Bud

Sorry to hear you're in a similar situation. It was a nurse from IAS Independent Assessment Services formerly ATOS who gave me a home assessment although I did not ask for one.

Have you asked for a Mandatory Reconsideration yet? The DWP give you a month from the date of their decision to get one in. I am currently in the process of slogging out a request now. It's not easy and I have re-written it several times and I still don't think it's good enough.

Like you, the HP copied and pasted throughout the form that I did not take any medication but did not state it was due to advise from consultant and side effects. Also that I was not having any therapy or ongoing treatments. I don't think this is a good enough reason not to award me PIP th The only examination the HP did was to ask me to stand up which I struggled with and my friend had to help me. The HP also said I could sign my name and therefore this showed I was able to grip a pen sufficiently. They did not state the difficulty which was to hold my left hand with my right and slowly do it, I would not have been able to write anything more.
My PIP form was written by my friend with my words and I stated that too but no mention of it on the assessment report. I use a wheelchair which was given to me by a friend but apparently because it was not prescribed by a medical professional, it does not count. The HP states I can walk 200 metres, I don't know how they would know this as I did no walking at the assessment.
In fact, I can barely do 20 metres without having to stop to rest and get in the wheelchair which my friend pushes me in.

I have asked my friend as you suggested to write a letter of support saying what I difficulties I have and what they do to help me every day.

I've also send in a SARS request to my GP surgery. I'm hoping they won't charge me for it.
I did get a print-out of my medical history which I gave to the assessor but no mention of it on their assessment form.

I agree that this whole PIP assessment process is totally unfair and I expect I will have to go to appeal. I have done one before for DLA and won high rate for both components but it was 20 years ago (which I'm still on till they stop it next week unless they reconsider)

Good luck with your fight, keep strong and let us all know how it's going.

Does anybody know if there are petitions we could sign regarding the dreadful PIP assessment procedures? I remember signing one regarding Universal Credit.