'They spend their free time watching TV' - I don't own a TV.

Morning,

I'm going through my PIP assessment to find key points to raise with the tribunal. There's been really quite serious inaccuracies reported, including the condition and disability I have and the dates of diagnosis.

It states I was diagnosed with PTSD 3 years ago, but I was actually diagnosed with Complex PTSD in January of this year. It has reported incorrect doses of medication, the type of treatment I receive and even reported I have taken treatment that I have not (CBT).

The biggest laugh was the assessor wrote that I spent my free-time watching TV! I do not have the concentration for TV or movies. I have not owned a TV in nearly 10 years.

Apart from my personal annoyance, is this a point to raise in my response? It is making me out to be some couch potato and painting a character personality which is not-in line with the problems I experience. Anxiety is my biggest trouble, not depression.

Most of my time is lost through dissociation, or I will try reading, or I will try yoga in the house. I have to spend time doing stimulating activities. TV is not one of them.

Hi ashleyp,

Well, now I've heard iot all. How DO these 'people' get away with writing bare-faced lies or to try to manipulate legal documents?

I symaphise with you fully. I would definitely get your MP involved and put in a formal complaint to the DWP and the assessment provider.

This sort of thing wants wiping out.

The so-called assessors who commit such fraudulent acts should be put on public view and slapped repeatedly with cold, wet haddocks until they apologise for all the heartache they inflict upon honest, disabled and often very vulnerable human beings.

Regards,

Phrank.

Thanks so much, that's really helpful advice, and useful for undermining the whole report alongside the other inaccuracies.

Thankyou Bis - that's a really good approach to undermining the quality of the report without getting to entangled with every detail of nonsense.

@phrank, I'm not sure. The report was fairly shocking. Especially as the 'reasons' for not giving me marks were:

Person is on low anti-depressant showing they function adequately

I had told them I had literally just started and all medication was being titrated slowly due to previous allergic reactions. This wasn't reported on. Medication has now more than doubled.

But at least it provides a very easy way to argue against the 'evidence' used by simply providing a new list of prescriptions.

I thought that there was new guidance issued to say that it doesnt matter whether medication is taken or not. That it shouldnt have any impact on the assessment.

Sometimes it can be a symptom of an illness not to take medication, for instance in mental illnesses where there is a lack of insight. Also, maybe some of us dont want to take the medication, for our own reasons For instance, the side effects may be too much, or we may be trying to find a more holistic approach. Maybe we just dont agree with big pharma.

I feel there is a push, a drug push, element here that the dwp facilitates. I suspect alot of medication is flushed down the toilet, just so that it can be stated for purposes of getting the financial help needed. Coercive, controlling, and of course, while we are all actively taking anti depressants, or drinking the water which also contains trace elements... none of us have the capacity to uprise!
Just a thought.