A government minister has committed themselves to ‘urgently investigating’ alleged assessment tricks used by PIP and WCA assessors after they were raised by MPs at a meeting of the work and pensions committee last week.  We’re asking if you have had a similar experience?

Chloe Smith, minister for disabled people gave the undertaking to investigate after Dr Ben Spencer gave three examples of “covert assessment” raised by claimants at public meetings he had attended.

The first involved missing water cups, Spencer explained:

“One was there was water available at the assessment centre, the water cooler did not have any cups, but one down the corridor did. It was deliberate that the water cooler was broken or cups were not available to see if a person was able to walk beyond the first water cooler to get some water.”

“Another one was that lifts were broken deliberately, seemingly to assess that people were able to use the stairs.”

The third suspected ruse was a pen drop:

 “One person described the assessor dropping a pen in front of them—I think it was a pen or something like that—to see if the person would pick it up as part of a covert assessment effectively of their mobility.”

Spencer asked the minister “Would you commit to urgently investigating this to confirm whether this is indeed an accurate reflection of practices that are going on at the assessments?”

Smith responded:  “Yes, and if I may add on the example of the lift, I am also keen that all of our facilities are properly accessible. It would be unacceptable to have a deliberately broken lift so, yes, we will look into those.”

Of course, all of these may be perfectly innocent.  It may be that the nearest water cooler ran out of cups first, that the lift really was broken and that the assessor genuinely dropped their pen.

The real proof that these were dirty tricks is if they were used in assessment reports where the claimant was supposedly caught out by them.

But anything connected with the DWP is treated with such suspicion by many claimants that innocent explanations are the least likely to be accepted.

Other issues raised by MPS included what was described as the widespread practice whereby  claimants with a “severe visual impairment have to read letters off a chart at their assessment? Do you think that is acceptable? Do you think it builds trust?”

Another complaint was the lack of specialist knowledge displayed by some assessors.  One complaint received by MPS was that:

“The assessment was completed by a nurse that had never heard of my condition. She said she Googled it 5 minutes before seeing me. You cannot understand a complex condition with a 5 min

Google.”

Have you experienced something that you thought was a dirty trick or particularly bad practice at an assessment.  Let us know in the comments below.

You can watch the full committee hearing or read the transcript here.

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    Elaine pye · 1 years ago
    At my assessment I was asked for identification I couldn't get my driving licence out of purse and asked my husband to get it out for me after struggling for a few minutes.  But when I asked for a copy of the report it clearly stated that I got my identification out without any problem !
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    Mick · 1 years ago
    Totally out of the blue telephone assessment, no warning whatsoever.
    however I was awarded the highest rate on both parts but could have just as easily been unprepared for the call.
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    Bernadette Iannidinardi · 1 years ago
    At my first assessment the lady asked me what a Pulmonary Embolism was? I asked her what was her experience was?  She replied a nurse. But then continued to ask me to explain my condition. She totally didn’t have a ideas PM. 
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      Rachel · 1 years ago
      @denby Makes you wonder eh?
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      Rachel · 1 years ago
      @Bernadette Iannidinardi That's just horrific, a nurse not knowing what a PE was! Mind you, being a high user of the NHS, I've no idea how half of them actually qualified! One didn't seem to know the difference between a bowel and a bowl!
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      denby · 1 years ago
      @Bernadette Iannidinardi No wonder she wasn't working in a hospital any more, if she didn't know what a Pulmonary Embolism is she is a danger to patients who deserves to be struck off. Idea: do Atos/Capita etc employ staff who have been struck off or sacked???
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    W · 1 years ago
    It will be a criminal offence to claim benefits in the future.
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    Andy · 1 years ago
    In the report of my assessment they said I'd told them I could use a microwave to warm food. We haven't got a microwave, so obviously I didn't say that. If we did have a microwave, I probably wouldn't be able to use it. It was just an outright lie from the assessor
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    Susan · 1 years ago
    the assessor i had tried to say i threatened him and would not continue the appointment. i was sat 2 metre away and he was hiding behind his computer this still going through the complaints stage. But he also lied on his paperwork. i was so upset when i left as i didnt know what i had done wrong. All i did was try to break the deadly silence by saying i dont understand why people have to go through this when the disability or illness are for life and in the past i have been through appeals and always won. Apparently APPEAL is a threatening word. He was a complete and utter joke.

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      Emma · 7 months ago
      @Susan I was thrown out of court by a judge. The judge suggested I may want to walk out of court now with what I had already rather than risk losing more, she said it in a cocky and arrogant way too. I saw this as coercion and said in a loud but not shouting voice. "Is this some sort of effing gambling game or a court" I was told I was abusive and even though I apologised and lowed my voice immediately I was told that was it and I was kicked out by security. Escorted out with my carer pushing me in my wheelchair. My assessments before that had all been lies too. In the end I was sent another court date. Instead I accused them of being abusive and refused to go to court. My partner put a written report together covering my condition and showing medical and even shopping records to back up my claims. She also outlined how I  had been treated and the further impact this had on me. She also covered (with references) what my conditions are and how studies have shown they affect people. She then went through all my medication and linked some of my symptoms to side affects from them.  Altogether my partner wrote a small manifesto for me and I said I was simply too ill for court. I received full on everything after court was held in my absence. The way I feel about my partner can't be broken down to just love. I also respect, admire and am in awe of her. I can't take in what she wrote and have a hard time reading that sort of thing but I think it was so clever. Some advice for anyone reading; Document everything you buy for your illness. Take photos of all the aids you use in their places. Explain your illnesses in detail with case studies linking your similarities. Point out their lies. 
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      AniD · 1 years ago
      @Susan Yes, assessors very easily view themselves as the victims! My fast-talking assessor kept asking me leading questions and answering them herself, hastening to write her own replies before I'd even opened my mouth! When I jokingly pointed this out, she prickled. She warned, "Don't abuse me!" then kept right on using the same method. 
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    Martin O’Brien · 1 years ago
    Telephone Assessment 

    The pretend to be your best friend ruse , then n
    have the nerve to ask , Did you buy your own
    Crutches.  This after a broken Femur .
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Ms W · 1 years ago
    Just wondering….
    Is there a list of questions that assessors are meant to ask?
    can you film the interview or just record it?

    Can you ask them their qualifications in being able to complete assessments?

    Can they physically touch you?

    Is there anything they are really not allowed to do ( but do it)

     Aren’t buildings supposed to be accessible to disabled, if not aren’t they breaking the law?
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    Ms W · 1 years ago
    I was asked to get out of my wheelchair ( had no Zimmer frame with me) my leg in a full splint from top to bottom and asked to try and walk or hop!?!? I was asked if I had a dog?(I assume walking it)I was asked at the very end (when going through the door onto the street)to sign my statement, I didn’t get full disability because I used a pen, I said in the assessment I couldn’t open a tin. They penalised me for the use of a pen. I was followed out to the car park, it was my husband who noticed this, she watched from a distance to watch me transfer into the car.
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    Trudy · 1 years ago
    My last PIP telephone assessment was scheduled for a Monday.  I received a call on the preceding Friday.  This freaked me out and I said "no, no this is not the arranged time".  She said it was a "courtesy call" and asked if it was alright to go through some questions.  She gave me no time to answer, launching straight into a question.  It was not alright with me.  I was feeling frightened and agitated and I did not have my partner with me, so I hung up the phone.  I was so upset and unsettled afterwards that I had to cancel my blood tests appointment for that afternoon as I no longer felt able to go out of the house.  This "courtesy call" and my response to it were not mentioned in the assessment report, even though whether I needed support to engage socially was one of the areas under consideration. 
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      Trudy · 1 years ago
      @Trudy I suspect had I been able to handle this "courtesy call" it would have been reported as evidence that I could engage socially without support.
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    Nick · 1 years ago
    Mine started before even got there ..not allowed into the car park on site..  making it impossible to access unless you limp struggle across a car park   you do that you automatically.fail the mobility ..the first thing I got asked was where did I park.. I said outside on double yellows because you wouldn't let me in!!
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    William Bramall · 1 years ago
    At my first PIP assessment the health professional kept repeating questions time and again when I did not give him the answer he wanted. He would get exasperated and raise his voice. After half an hour of this my wife interjected and told the assessor that I was answering his questions and to stop repeating them. He ignored her and kept doing the same trick. After an hour my wife insisted on a short break as I felt like I was going to collapse from fatigue. The interrogation carried on for another half an hour despite the fact that I had my head resting on the desk of the HP as I felt like I was going to keel over.
    At my second assessment that was conducted at home the HP felt my leg muscles and said that I had no problems with mobility ignoring the heap of medical reports that I had given her about my neurological illness which suggested that mobility was an issue for me.

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    Dawn · 1 years ago
    I have a spinal injury caused by an accident in a lift often going up and down stairs is slow not to say painful I have frequently requested a ground floor room and been told stairs or lift.As a result of the lift traveling at speed and accident I get really panicky.Although all this has been told to those carrying out the assessment last time I was told lift or stairs or refuse and benefit is stopped. Not very accomodating or inclusive 
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      denby · 1 years ago
      @Dawn Thanks for sharing .Shows there really is no depth they will not stoop to, poor you how triggering!
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    Anne Kelsall · 1 years ago
    When I was going through the process, I was given an appointment at an office where I knew the assessments took place on the first floor with access via stairs or lift. As I have difficulty with stairs, I asked if the lift was working. I was told that it was. A few days before my interview I telephoned to check that the lift was working, repeating that I would be unable to attend my interview, even with the help of my husband who is my carer. I duly arrived and was told, we're very sorry but the lift is broken. After complaining I was given an appointment, in a different town, that only has ground floor rooms. I cannot sit comfortably in any chair other than my electric recliner, so during my interview had to keep moving in my seat. Even so, the pain was awful. At the end of the interview, as we were leaving, my husband was asked, is she always in pain sitting on a chair. My husband said, she is only comfortable in her recliner. So, not just water coolers, broken lifts etc., they watch how you sit in a chair. I even said to them that I needed a chair with arm rests. All quite innocently on my part, but they must be given a list on ways to catch you out. How many people, just through good manners and not wanting to be a bother, have been denied what they were really entitled to. 
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    Lk · 1 years ago
    I have a range of mental health conditions. I apparently had a "mental health professional", say in her report that I made eye contact during my assessment so I didn't have problems engaging. Also I suffer with an eating disorder, and have polycystic ovarian syndrome which makes losing weight difficult.  In her report she said I looked "well nourished". She also asked how often I self harm. Apparently not enough. I was awarded zero points. Went to tribunal and got awarded 12 points for daily living. The tribunal panel said they were shocked by her report. These assessments feel more like a criminal investigation interview. 
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    David · 1 years ago
    In all the assessments I have had it has often been the case where the assessor has asked me to pick a pen or piece of paper off the floor, so I was under the impression this was a standard aspect of the assessment.  However the down side, and it is something that I have always stated in my appeals documents, it is one thing to be able to pick up an item once, but often it is the repetition that is often the problem for many of us.  Further, in performing this test later on in the day it does cause me to suffer discomfort.  So at the end of the day I have never seen the point of this test as it does not give an accurate picture of a persons problems.  As for the situation regarding being able to use steps, again I have always been asked to use  a set of 2 steps (the sort used to get onto the examination couch) to walk up and down and again this is not a realistic test so again has always been mentioned in appeals documentation. 
    Even though I have not been aware of the afore mentioned 'Dirty' tricks, it is something that I would not put past the assessors.  I would further question the validity of the things they ask you to do as being a real diagnostic test and that they do not reflect reality, there is no repetition and no consideration as to the affect these tests have on you later on
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    Arthur · 1 years ago
    The assessors often use observations of personal actions to fail claims.Even things like sitting down how quickly you stand even taking off a coat or reaching into a bag can be used as supposed evidence to fail claiments.
     Trying to be helpful and helping the assessors understand your problems can lead to saying and explaining things too much. They will often selectively interpret what you say or even how you say things to fail claims
     It is best to give short answers that say in no uncertain terms how your health issues affect you (ex I cannot do this because of pain,fatigue or mental difficulty).
    Remember if your health issues cause you difficulties doing relevant tasks on most days you should be assessed as being unable to carry out the task
    Claiments having to attend the awful face to face interviews should assume that they are observed constantly even when entering the assessment centre and in waiting areas. Doing even the smallest thing such as taking off your coat,climbing stairs using your phone can be used as evidence to fail claims.







    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Em · 1 years ago
      @Arthur I've always assumed that there is cctv for outside the buildings too.
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    Ter Minator · 1 years ago
    My assessor in 2014 didn't want to allow my daughter into the room with me so I said strike one and she asked what does that mean so I told her get to strike three and I'm out of her and take legal action against you, the company and DWP. She let the daughter in and then demanded that only I answer the questions asked so I said strike two! In the end I got enhanced on both care and mobility parts. The place I had the assessment was ground floor only so no lift there was no water cooler either and none of the other so called tricks were used. I wonder if they will use any when I'm reassessed in the next couple of years? Since then I've had a stroke and was in hospital for over 6 weeks and use a scooter to get around outside.
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    Moira Gallagher · 1 years ago
    My assessor at my PIP assessment wrote down that I worked 7 days a week.  I actually told her that I worked over 7 days a week and the most days I worked in a week where 4 days.  She also noted that over these 7 days I would start work at 10am till 1pm and then go back around 4pm till 7pm.  She also added that I was upbeat and chatty and was a pleasure to talk to when infact I had severe depression and anxiety and was seeing my psychologist on a weekly basis and had been for over a year.  I was also seeing my psychiatrist and was on extreme amounts of medication for my mental health.  I had to go to the tribunal as my mandatory reconsideration appeal failed.  I had been on daily living component for 2 years after I had half my knee removed and it was noted that my knee had now healed after the surgery when infact I was on the waiting list for a full knee replacement.  My representative from the CAB told me that I would not win at the upper tribunal as there was no legal evidence that they had broken the law.  I was in no fit state to fight them myself and I did not apply for the upper tribunal or reapply for PIP.
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    deb · 1 years ago
    I have been granted home assessments at least twice now.  The first one was by a pleasant lady (for ESA/DLA).  I can't remember if she had any medical knowledge or not.  Anyway, she had my completed assessment form scanned into her laptop.  This may have been common practice at the time (approx 3-4 years ago, but she went through the whole of the form, question by question  to see if my answers tied up with what was on the form (my husband fills them out for me as, with permanent head pain/dizziness/inability to concentrate etc, there is no way in the world I could fill them out myself - they are lethal as everyone knows).  It took over 2 hrs to go through the questions, by which time I was almost collapsing - my condition is one that requires a lot of time in a horizontal position!  I had my feet up and was drinking lucozade 😁, but she never asked if I needed a break or anything 🤔.  2 hrs of solid questioning is maybe not in accord with human rights, but it's a long time since I've felt human in any dealings with DWP 🤔.  She then asked me to do some physical activities so she could assess that... I said I'm sorry but I don't have any strength left :(  She didn't force me, thankfully, but I had to make a clear declaration & sign it for her, to say that I had said this 🙈.  She then left.
    A year later, I had to have another assessment (PIP).  To say it was shoddy would be a gross understatement.   Again I had to ask for a home assessment & was eventually granted it.  The 'office' who dealt with it was... Well I don't know what it was, but it was shocking.   The phone was always answered by a very bored sounding guy, simply saying, "Hello" - no name given, no department given, no recorded message,  no answerphone.... in fact he even told me they didn't record any calls.  I wanted permission to record the assessment (which was allowed at the time, but you had to inform them).  He told me he'd have to speak to his boss.  He didn't even put me on hold.  Really bizarre.   He came back and said yes I could but it would have to be on one of their own recording machines.   I said, OK.  A couple of days before the appointment I got a letter saying we were not allowed to record it as they had no machines to spare.  I phoned the 'office' again & told the guy to stop messing us around.   I said, I'll use our own recording equipment, in fact I'll get an extra set so they could have an identical copy.  In the end he agreed to this (so I ordered a load of stuff from argos quickly 🙄).  The day arrived.   A black taxi pulled into the drive.  Out got a man 👨- all this time we had been told it would be a woman by name of... (I can't remember)👩.  So we said, we were told it would definitely be a woman 👩.... "Oh she's off for the day" (I struggle to believe she even existed to be honest).  We asked him where he'd travelled from.  London.  That's approx 120 miles, by taxi,  and the taxi (and driver) sat in the driveway for the whole time.  Why would the DWP waste so many resources 😑😑😑.   He came into the room where we'd set the recording equipment up.  Took one look & said, I've been told it wouldn't be recorded, & looked quite confused 🤔😤.  We said sorry but we've been told multiple times we could record it.   He asked to go outside & phone his boss.  No, we weren't allowed to record it.   Said he could come back another day with the 'right' equipment (have they got any or not? 😡), but he thought it would be best to proceed (how could we disagree 😡 - was it deliberate or not..... 🤔).  All he had was a small pad of paper and a pen.  It was infuriating.   I don't remember much of what he asked but he had no medical knowledge whatsoever,  he was training to be an accountant (or similar).  Questions were designed to catch us out.  Near the end he asked if I was able to cope with personal hygiene; I said I used nursing wipes.   He asked what nursing wipes were - he appeared not to have heard of them before 🤔.  May he never have to use them himself.   I explained to him why I'd got my feet up and was drinking lucozade (!!!!), because it was obvious he'd not even considered it.  He then got chatting nicely with my husband, asked how long we'd lived here, did we own the whole house... (haha - as if...).  Eventually... he went.  Off he went in his black taxi 120 miles back to London 🤓.
    I sent the stuff back to Argos.
    I complained to DWP, & I did actually get a letter of apology of sorts.
    I am not joking when I say I think I'd rather die than go through any more assessments 🥵🥵🥵🤯🤯🤢🤢🤢
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