× Members

PIP - my 2nd question, on assessments

More
5 years 10 months ago #212492 by Belle
My 2nd question about my PIP application is about Paper Only Assessment possibilty, and whether you can actually request that.

When I did my ESA form 5 years ago, to my utter releif I was not called in for a Face to Face assessment.
Since I suffer with a mental health condition that is very debilitating and complex, but most people have never heard of - I don't necessarily 'present' in ways that are stereotypically expected. I CAN come across as fairly ok. It's not like I'm likely to have flashbacks and Psychogenic Non-epipletoc seizure in front of the assessors, and I may just come across as a bit anxious, unless the anxiety got to me and I have a panic attack and or/major freak out.
So I was very glad to not be assessed by a physiotherapist (e.g) who knows nothing about mental health.

My condition is chronic and extremely long term though, and because I gave very detailed information on the ESA form 5 years ago, and I have a VERY good letter from my mental health mentor, I just had a letter telling me I had been awarded ESA Support Group. i.e., a paper only assessment.
I was very surprised at the time, and though it must be because Atos had such a huge backlog to deal with at the time. And that due to this, some people were not having to have a F2F assessment if the paperwork was good & detailed.
However, when I read all your guidelines for PIP, the 2018 version, it says that some people are assessed by paper only.

There is also a box to say any needs or help you might need when having a Face 2 Face assessment.
I know form your guidance, that you can request either the phone assessment or the Face to Face assessment depending on which is suitable for you.
Can you actually request that a Paper Only ( that't s not the right term is it?) assessment be made if at all possible, because a F2F is so difficult for me?

A phone call would be no good for me at all, because I live alone, and then would not have anyone with me when they call. I cannot cope with it by myself, especially if I get very distressed and break down, which is very likely to happen on the phone.

Just the thought of an F2F is extremely stressful and distressing. It terrifies me and so it has made my mental health plummet even worse than usual since I received the PIP letter.

I have a dissociative conditon, which means that I am often very disconnected form reality, which often presents in me not being able to function, or even move. I can freeze up to the point of paralysis ( psycholigically induced, it has a name, it escapes me cos of memory problems).
So this has been happening a lot more. But also, i have been feeling suicidal a lot more.
I keep feeling like it would be easier to give up, and commit suicide , than to even continue filling in the form, let alone have a F2F assessment.
I don't remember feeling quite this bad when I did my ESA application 5 years ago, but I have been in an especially very vulnerable state mentally when the PIP letter & then form arrived.

I have huge problems being able to leave my home, usually only once a week, sometimes more, but also often less - not being able to go out for 2 -3 weeks at a time.
So it works out that I am unable to leave my home 80-90% of the time.
I have a lot of anxiety with traveling as well, so if I do have a F2F I will need to have someone go with me, and also need an advocate to be in the assessment with me, so I would put those requirements on the form.

BUT, that then implies that I am fine and able to go to as assessment.
Maybe make it more likely that one will happen? Than it being Paper Only like last time? ( Different benefit I know).

I also lose complete sense of time as part of my dissociative condition, and so I sometimes do not know what day it is, or what time it is due to being so disconnected from reality.
i worry that even with some help, I could miss the appointment, as this is unpredictable.

As mentioned before though, despite many long term chronic symptoms with my mental health, I can in public often come across as quite 'normal', as though nothing is wrong - until I have a major panic attack or sudden flashbacks. Of course, in the assessment, I will be majorly stressed, so display more of my symptoms. However, I know that when a completley untrained person assesses people for mental health, that they very often mistake intelligence and being articulate, for the person NOT having a mental health condition. ( Which is infuriating, and massively anxiety inducing).

In my letter form my therapist, you talks about me often having suicidal urges, and also about me being very dissociated, that results in me 'losing time' - being completely disconnected form reality and not knowing when it is or where I am.

Will that be enough do you think for them to decide to do a Paper Only assessment?
OR do I actually need it in writing from my therapist specifically that a F2F assessment will cause me undue levels of psychological distress?

I do not have that specifically.
So should I just leave it up to them and hope that like before they don't call me on for an assessment?

OR should I actually say something on the form about how difficult and distressing a F@F assessment will be for me, and the difficulty in ensuring I attend it
- but that if Paper Only is not possible then F2F is better for me than by phone? And say that it would need to be a day when I can have an advocate with me?


Sorry that this is so complex! I don't know if I will not hear form you until monday. I did not realise that this forum existed until last night, and due to my terrible memory, forgot to come on here this afternoon.
I have been worrying about these things but finding it hard to get this level of detailed advice from anywhere.
I have already had extensions, so absolutley HAVE to post my form by Tuesday at the very latest ( I was aiming for Monday, but am hoping for an answer with some advice on this before filling in that last part of the form).

Thank you so much.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 10 months ago #212497 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP - my 2nd question, on assessments
Belle

So the Decision on whether you can get a Paper Based Rewiew will lie with the assessor, they will be considering two things; do they have sufficient information to make a recommendation without seeing you and the risk of harm to you if they did require a face to face.

You need to try and cover off both sides of this; by showing that you meet the criteria and providing evidence of any risks of harm, so if your therapist is willing to provide a letter then I would certainly ask them to do so.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 10 months ago #212700 by Belle
Replied by Belle on topic PIP - my 2nd question, on assessments
hi Gordon

Thank you for your reply. I have not been able to get back until now, because I have been very unwell, and not very functioning. Fortunately, I have a further extension.

I may be able to get a letter from my therapist to this effect.
I will not know if she will write such a letter until after I send in my PIP form though.

What I am unsure on, is if I should say anything on the form, e.g in the additional information section about how difficult a face to face assessment would be for me, and the huge psychological distress it causes? And if I do then should I actually request that they do a 'Paper Only' decision if at all possible? Although of course the decision is up to them.
Or should I only describe how a F2F would affect me?

Of course, I may write that on the form, but I think from your answer, if I don't get a letter from my therapist it won't count for anything?

However, do they sometimes decide not to do a F2F just based on the detailed info I have given on my condition? Otherwise, how come I did not have one for ESA? I had no letter from my therapist in relation to the face to face assessment for that.

Sorry, that I need some clarification on what I should say on the form on this. Though I will speak to my therapist at the end of the week about the letter.

Thank you

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 10 months ago #212726 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP - my 2nd question, on assessments
Belle

In sone ways it is actually easier for ESA To get a PBR as a lot of the criteria is quite black and white, either you meet it or your don't, it can be more difficult for PIP as the taks you are being asked to do are more complictaed and could be effected by a range of conditions.

Definitely explain on the form why you need a PBR.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 10 months ago #212739 by Belle
Replied by Belle on topic PIP - my 2nd question, on assessments
Thank you Gordon, that is very helpful.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: GordonGaryBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserjimmckChris
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.