Help and advice needed before a PIP Assessment

Hello, I am going for a PIP assessment quite soon and need some help and guidance, I am 62 and I currently receive DLA high rate for care and mobility and have done for a long time. I had Polio as a child and I am paralysed from the waist down and use an electric wheelchair to get around on, my body movements and strength are very limited. At home I use a slide board or a hoist to transfer out of my wheelchair safely and in comfort.

My two questions are, 1. When I go for my assessment if they do not have a slide board, or a hoist that I can use, and they ask me to transfer onto a bed so they can examine me, do I have the legal rights to refuse the request on the grounds that I could fall and hurt myself, and if I did refuse on those grounds would it be held against me?

2. In view that I have to use a power chair to get around on I as cannot stand or walk, I know that this is classed as an Aid to my movement, would this be held against me, or would it help my claim.

In anticipation Thank You

Technicsmanz

Hi,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

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You don't say who your PIP Assessment is with, (ATOS or Capita) but if you have the severe mobility problems stated in your post, they should be offering a Home Assessment, rather than making you travel to a Consultation Centre.

If you have provided enough evidence with your PIP 2 Form, they could even make a paper based assessment without the need for a face to face consultation.

If I were you, I would contact ATOS/Capita, and ensure that they are aware of your mobility issues, and escalate to a complaint if necessary :

ATOS E-mail Contact Link to the top, right of : This Page.

Capita : email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Contact Capita.

Sometimes, these appointments are made without an Assessor viewing your PIP 2 Form to assess whether you should be called to an assessment centre, or not.

The threat of a complaint to your M.P. will probably help :

Contacting your MP

Have a read through : This Topic.

Although you could argue the same if it was ATOS.

1. PIP Consultations are more of a Q & A session than a "medical" and if any physical examinations are deemed necessary, they would be of a very basic nature.

I cannot see a PIP Assessor attempting to move you using slide boards, etc, and Yes, you can refuse to carry out any activities that may put you at risk or cause you severe pain/discomfort.

You should not simply refuse, but make it clear, "why" you are refusing.

2. If you "Have/Need" to use a Power Chair (or indeed any type of Wheelchair/Mobility Scooter) to move around rather than doing so as a matter of choice, this will certainly not go against you.

To the contrary, if you cannot "Stand” upright with at least one biological foot on the ground, then "Move"/Walk no more than 20 metres "Reliably", you should be awarded the maximum 12 Points for an Enhanced PIP Mobility Award.

A Wheelchair, electric or otherwise is not classed as an aid or appliance.

The "Moving Around" (Walking) aspect of PIP Mobility is covered from Page 58 onwards of our : PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on this page)

From the little information that you have provided, I would also be surprised if you did not receive a PIP Daily Living Award.

PIP Daily Living is also covered in the PIP Guide above.

You could take our : PIP Self Test which should reiterate what I have written.

If/When you have to take part in a face to face, you can read what to expect from Page 70 of our PIP Claims Guide above.

I would be most surprised if Capita/ATOS refuse to offer a Home Assessment when you challenge them, they could even do away with the need of a face to face assessment and carry out a paper based one instead.

As an add-on, are you claiming ESA ?, as the fact that you "Have/Need" to use a Power Chair would place you in The Support Group under The ESA "Mobilising" Activity/Descriptor.

Please keep us updated, and you may want to Bookmark/Favourite this page in your Internet Browser so that you can return to it easily to post any updates.

Good Luck !

N.B. Left click your mouse/pad on any blue words/links in my post above to access the information from said links.

bro58

Hi There, you have been so very helpful and I cannot thank you enough, Not sure yet when my Assessment will be, but I do know it will be soon as where I live has been put on the new updated list starting in July I live in the WA5 post code area. I guess like everyone ells who is in this rotten situation I am just trying to gather as much help and guidance as I can, and thanks to people like yourself it makes me feel somewhat better to know that someone is on my side.

I will most surely keep you and this forum up to date, with the belief that if I can help just one person in their fight against these draconian measures in the same way that you have helped me it is worth it. I have downloaded all of the info from this site and I have just started to read and digest them and I must say there content is superb. I do feel that some other disability help sites / forums have sold out a little and are nowhere as helpful as this one. Many thanks Technicmanz

Sorry I forgot to add in my second post that I do get ESA and I am in the Support group and have been since the changeover from sickness benefit, Also thank you for the Info on changing my name on the forum, I am quite new to computers and this is the firs forum I have ever used.

Again Thank You

Technicsmanz.

Technicsmanz wrote: Hi There, you have been so very helpful and I cannot thank you enough, Not sure yet when my Assessment will be, but I do know it will be soon as where I live has been put on the new updated list starting in July I live in the WA5 post code area. I guess like everyone ells who is in this rotten situation I am just trying to gather as much help and guidance as I can, and thanks to people like yourself it makes me feel somewhat better to know that someone is on my side.

I will most surely keep you and this forum up to date, with the belief that if I can help just one person in their fight against these draconian measures in the same way that you have helped me it is worth it. I have downloaded all of the info from this site and I have just started to read and digest them and I must say there content is superb. I do feel that some other disability help sites / forums have sold out a little and are nowhere has helpful as this one. Many thanks Technicmanz

Hi Tm,

Thanks for clarifying that you have not yet started your transfer to PIP !

Just to be clear, you do not have to do anything to instigate your transfer to PIP.

You will receive an "invitation" letter through the post, and once you do, you must comply with all deadlines given.

If you do comply, your current DLA payments will continue until 4 weeks after the date of the fresh PIP decision, whatever that decision may be.

To ease time constraints due to any deadlines given once you start the process, you could download and save the Specimen PIP 2 Form from the link below, and make a start now :

Specimen PIP 2 "How your Disability affects You" Form.

However, the PIP 2 Form that you eventually receive through the post Must be the one returned to The DWP.

This is because each PIP 2 Form has a unique/discrete Barcode on it which ties it directly to your PIP Claim as an individual.

There is nothing to stop you now referring to the specimen PIP 2, but typing your responses to the relevant questions on separate A4 sheets.

You should head each separate sheet with your Name, DOB, Date and NI Number and number each separate A4 1 of x, 2 of x, 3 of x, 4 of x, etc, etc, etc.

When you receive the proper PIP 2 through the post, you can simply write in the space provided for each particular question in the form, "See my response on separate added page number, 1 of x, 2 of x, 3 of x, etc, etc." (or words to that affect)

You can then attach the added A4 pages to the PIP 2 Form with your Barcode on it that arrived through the post.

This will save you having to copy over all your responses once you receive the proper PIP 2 Form.

Remember, if you provide enough information with The PIP 2 Form, there should be no need for a face to face assessment.

Thank you for the positive feedback regarding B&W it is much appreciated by all here !

B&W is one of the only sites that is truly independent, it does not receive funding or grants from any other source, nor does it receive any revenue from advertisements.

This is one of the reasons why B&W has to charge a small annual subscription, to cover "running costs" !

It is a "safe" place to post, and you can be assured that there will be no "Trolling" as all posts have to be pre-approved before they show up on the forum.

You can also be confident that all information provided by Mods and from other in-site resources is accurate.

The Mods all have medical conditions themselves, and choose to help on a purely voluntary basis, ex gratia. They are all "Ex-members" themselves who came here originally looking for help and now try to "give something back".

Please do keep us up-dated, and pose any further queries that you may have by replying to this topic.

bro58

Hello. I have read your posts and although they are a couple of years old I wondered if you did eventually transfer from DLA to PIP and keep the enhanced awards for care and moving around. I also had polio, one leg paralysis, one arm weakened, as well as post polio syndrome and other medical problems. When I applied for PIP, from Higher rates DLA, I was only awarded middle rate for both care and moving around. I am now waiting for a Tribunal date to appeal the decision. I felt that my ATOS home assessment did not understand the first thing about polio and post polio issues. Just wondered if you had any issues with the whole process or would offer any advice. Thanking you.