got PIP decision

Hi Hazel, sorry to hear you did not get any points, but as others have said, it is very common for this to happen and still get the result you need later on, though it is still awful that you should need to.

That they got some things factually wrong that you can clearly argue against will help - e.g. that they believed there to be no MH service involvement with actually you have a Care Co-ordinator.

I just wanted to say though generally 'mental state examination' refers to their informal observations on how you seem throughout the assessment - whether you seem anxious, withdrawn etc. - it is not a specific activity within the assessment and they do not tell you they are doing it, so just to be aware of that. It is ridiculous that they put so much emphasis on it - as you say, they seem to emphasise this over everything else, including medical evidence.

wrote:

I just wanted to say though generally 'mental state examination' refers to their informal observations on how you seem throughout the assessment - whether you seem anxious, withdrawn etc. - it is not a specific activity within the assessment and they do not tell you they are doing it, so just to be aware of that. It is ridiculous that they put so much emphasis on it - as you say, they seem to emphasise this over everything else, including medical evidence.

ah, I see. I had been lead to believe it was the test they often do at the end of the assesment where they make you rmeember words, and count backwafrds from 100 in 7s, etc. very reminisent of the tests GPs do to screen for dementia

feels misleading to call is an "examination" when they really mean "your general presentation during the assesment|"

In that case I retract that bit of my moan

Fight.
They have extremely limited knowledge of ASC & MH stuff.
Go through your GP notes (since birth) and highlight all ASC/ MH stuff that is mentioned.
Also include any ‘official’ letters you have.
*Majority of the time* criteria is VERY important.
I had a long battle because I worked 3 hours a week; so amazingly also travelled on that day. Went from Zero to Enhanced both.
They are horrible so people go away. X
Long waiting lists for MH services have been standard for decades. Breathe. Xx

you can get GP records from birth? How do you go about doing that? My GP surgery only seems to have records since I moved here and nothing from before that

hmm... I have had like 25 GP surgeries in my life - i have moved alot. So not sure that would be worth it... also I was under the impression that PIP won't accept evidence older than a few years?

only issues really if that the dates of my diagnosis's are wrong on my current record as they didn't more over from the last surgery, so now the dates on my record corrispond to when I verbally told them about it

I've requested the last 3 years worth of medical records anyway, thinking that anything further back than that PIP probably won't see as valid