Pip assessment report

I received a copy of my assessment report today, i have been awarded no points from the assessment

On the evidence used to make the decision there was on consultation it states she didnt use my occupational therapist reports which i sent in with the form

Can the decision maker use things from/ history conditions so basically others part of the form that under the heading of descriptors.

Preparing food- i was awarded 0 points but she states i use a perching stool when I cook and that i have tried standing but get a sore back after a couple of minutes and will sit to prepare vegetables and that i find standing really difficult and is my main difficultly and that i have difficult with my arms and i use an electric tin opener

Managing therapy - i was awarded 0 points but she states i have a daily pill box so i know if i have taken my medication or not and i have an alarm set on phone also and these methods work

Washing and bathing- i was award 0 points - she says that i use my bath board for getting in and out the bath and for washing due to pain in my legs and back and fatigue that makes having a bath difficult- i am just using the shower just now as I can’t bath due to seizures but i have a bath with an overhead shower so technically I am still getting in the bath to use the shower. She also states i have been told not to bath due to the risk of seizures .

Managing toilet needs - i was awarded 0 points - she was holding on to the sink for support prior to getting the toilet surround. The pain in her back that makes it difficult. I have urinary leakage and i wear pads daily.

Dressing and undressing - i got 0 points. She struggles to bend down to dress the lower body due to back pain. She can bend her legs towards her but is tiring, she takes her time and does it slowly. It takes her about an hour due to fatigue and having to stop all the time, she often stays in her pyjamas.

Communication verbally - i got awarded 0 points - i have lifelong difficulties to communicate with others which causes me anxiety but the assessor says it comes under social support

Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words - she is able to read but she does not always understand what she is read she uses the internet to order shopping for her groceries and that i used this website to complete my application (its complex words i have difficulty understanding)

Engaging with others face to face - she avoids mixing with other people and has difficulties. Prior to COVID she was meeting up with friends at either their house or they would come to hers. She would use the mini bus to get to my appointments which i managed on my own and that i would sit with other passengers ( they would be on the bus but not in the seat next to me). She gets anxious around other people and struggle to read body language, she avoids going into a shop on her own. Last appointmenti attended was the opticians and that i went on my own as i ha don choice but i prefer having someone with me (it’s not easy getting help with appointments it’s COVID) I buy enough food to last every time I do a food shop. She will mix with other people if I am with friends that i know

(At the assessment i was telling her stuff but wasn’t going back and putting it in, it was like she had enough information and was moving on)

Planning and following journeys - she hardly ever goes out and most of her appointments are on the phone. She was going out before COVID and was using ring a ride provided by local council and she booked in advance. The last time she out was to the opticians about a month ago she went by taxi as she left too late to book ( which is a lie as I told her I got a cancellation the next day so took it and couldn’t book ring a ride).she went on her own. She was to particularly anxious about the prospect of having to leave. She does sometimes get anxious when she has to leave the house as she worries about being around people she doesn’t know. She can feel shaky starts talking really quickly but is she does not talk to anyone she is fine. She finds a new journey difficult as she worries about getting lost. This has happened in the past and sat down and worked out what to do and was able retrace her steps. She will not use public transport nduento having people around her. She has not had a seizure outside as she avoids going out when she has the warning feeling.

Moving around- she only leaves the house for appointments, she walks down the pathway from her front door to the taxi and she walks slowly does nicotine go with out it, she takes 2-3 minutes to get to the taxi. Andreas to stop once or twice and then stop for a minute maybe. It is the pain in her legs and back and her legs feel weak that makes walking difficult. There is little variability and this is typical for her, most days she can walk 50 metres on a flat surface without stopping and this will take her about 5 minutes [i said 15 minutes as I need to stop and have a seat on the Walker and she never noted it). She uses her trolley to mobilise around the house and struggles getting from room to room. I take cocodomol to help pain and which also helps uses heat pads prior to Covid she was not going out much she generally only goes out for appointments but at present they are over the phone

I have copied some stuff form the report to the above

Apparently because i wasn’t in pain over the phone and didn’t need prompting and had concentration she has used all this against me

In the report it says I live on my own independently so don’t need aids so 0 points

As the assessment report has given me 0 points on everything can the decision maker give me points on stuff that the assessment hasn’t ?

Why did the assessor say it’s not her that make the decision it’s he DWP and yet they still have to let the DWP know many points you should be awarded?

At the end of the call I heard the assessor saying to someone it’s the same as before and that she won’t get to cos of the other thing erm.. wonder what she meant by that?

After reading through my report more carefully i read that the assessor is using how i was at the assessment not expressing that i was in pain,/needing to rest or stop. I was in pain as soon as i put the phone down.

She has also said because i have been the same medication for long term and that they are effective they are reasons why they can’t change my medication

And the lies and stuff she has missed out

I read in another post somewhere that Catherine had suggested that the person write to the decision maker telling what they disagreed with in the assessment report and that’s what i am doing

here's a copy of letter i am sending in tomorrow for what i disagree with the assessment report what do you think?

Laura
[Address]
31st March 2021

Dear sir/madam,
I received a copy of the assessment report today, here’s what I disagree with: (most of it is mainly to do with what she put when putting her opinion on how many points I should have)
I disagree with the assessor as she has mentioned throughout the report in all the descriptors and the same thing is mentioned in one than descriptor in the report that:

The assessor says that I never gave verbal expression of pain, needing to rest or stop, I remained seated throughout the assessment but as I soon as I put the phone down I was in pain.
The assessor has mentioned that I had good concentration and didn’t need prompting which was because I had my own set of notes in front of me for the assessment which I had put together for the assessment to make sure I don’t forget something or miss something out.
The assessor is also saying because I have widespread pain and fatigue and remained on the same medication for long term and they are effective, I can only take certain pain medication as I am asthmatic and anti-depressants I have tried other in the past but ended up back on trazadone due to side effects from other anti-depressants and plus trazadone helps me with sleep, pain and anxiety so I am getting 3 things in the one tablet.
The assessor has said in the report when I use ring a ride/mini bus I sit beside other passengers on the bus, I am on the bus with other passengers but I do not sit beside other passengers and I don’t talk to them I just sit there and keep myself to myself. The pickup and drop off are made up so you are not sitting in a seat next to another passenger.
I disagree with the assessor as she saying I live along independently with no support, I can only live independent with my aids I have provided by the occupational and I have no support due to covid and I been asking for help but getting turned due to covid restrictions.
The assessor put in the report that I have a pathway from my front door, I don’t as I stay in a block of flats so taxi and ring a ride stop in the car park outside the flats which is at the end of the path.
The assessor has put in the report that it takes me 5 mins to walk 50 metres which is lie as I never said that to her I told her I takes me 15 mins to walk 50 metres as I need to keep stopping, having a seat on my mobility walker and starting again.

the assessor hasn’t putting anything in the report about me having panic attacks going to an unfamiliar place on my own and I get anxious, nervous and panicky whenever I have to go outdoors even to an familiar place.
The assessor has put in the report under reading and understanding signs and symbols and words that I am able to read but If I do I am not always understand what I am being read, the assessor never put that If I don’t understand something I get really upset and in tears as anything I don’t understand needs read out to me and explained clearly in detail that I am able to understand, its complex words and the wording of things I don’t understand and I have got suicidal of not being able to understand letters or things before.
The assessor has mentioned in the report about my seizures and that I am not on any medication GP and A&E cannot prescribe tablets for seizures a neurologist can only prescribe now and I am still waiting to be seen. The assessor has also mentioned that I get a warning before my seizures about 10 mins before but I have started getting seizures without warning but I am still aware of what I am doing. My body is shaking uncontrollably.
When I was having the assessment and when I was stuff in the engaging face to face descriptor, I felt the assessor moved on to quickly without giving me the chance to finish mentioning the stuff I had put in the form. The assessor has also said that she hasn’t given me any points as she says I have good social communication skills which I don’t and I have problems socialising with others and have been diagnosed with lifelong marked difficulties in communicating and socialising with others reasons have all been listed in the pip application form.
Planning and following journeys – there’s no mention I the report of panic attacks when going to an unfamiliar place and getting anxious and panicky when going to an familiar place on my own.

Yours faithfully

Laura

Hi Lemonade, I would definitely apply for a mandatory reconsideration, there are some brilliant guides on this site that can help you. When you explain why you disagree with their decision, tell the DWP:

* How many points you think you should have scored for each activity
* What you think they did not take into account about your disability
* Give examples of things they should consider

Checking the decision yourself can make it easier to know what to tell the DWP

Hi Lemonade, did you send any evidence with your PIP2? You have mentioned a few conditions in your letter that should have scored you points. The seizures are quite an important factor, especially if you are having no warning. It would be a good idea to see if you can get further medical evidence to send with your letter?