What chance of a telephone consultation.

Hi,

I just wanted to wish you luck on your assessment tomorrow but also I'd like to point out that I have the same illnesses as yourself plus a few more and I was awarded enhanced care and standard mobility. It was my first time applying for any kind of benefit so therefore I did have to fight that bit more and I had to go to tribunal.

I was reassessed this year though and without an assessment I was awarded the same enhanced rate care and standard mobility.
IF (and it's a big if) you are not awarded from this assessment. Please please please do not give up. You deserve this.
Good luck xxx

Well, I had my PIP assessment yesterday. I cannot say it was the worst thing I've ever experienced, the lady was a nurse and looked concerned and was polite, efficient and pleasant. However, I did have a Mental health advocate with me, predominantly as a witness, but she also took many notes too.
I was barely there in mind.
I had been awake all night with worry and had taken both diclofenic, amyltriptoline and and approximately ten diazapam plus 3 blasts on my inhaler, just to avert a panic attack or incontinence. Nevertheless I was almost speechless with fear, and had to ask the assessor to repeat questions several times.

She seemed most interested in my mobility issues, when I told her of my pins and plates in my pelvis, but as I clearly stated to her, I had no problems with walking the 20 metres, and that my only mobility issue was the one of having great distress at having to make a journey to an unfamiliar place and my need for another person.
This, I stated was evidenced in my Doctors letter ( I handed her a copy), and that fact that I had taken so many pills to get to the assessment that day. Also that I had been driven there by a friend, a journey which by car had still taken an hour and 40 mins! and was very distressing for me, having to make many toilet stops on the way.

I do not remember much of what I said in response to the questions asked but I made sure that I always elaborated a little on my reply, citing an example of the situation and stressing, (for the significant descriptors) that I needed prompting from another person ( even if I had no one) and/or supervision, both to cook any food or take any showers/baths. I then I referred in each of these descriptors, how my Borderline Personality Disorder, Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue /depression and lack of motivation affected the fact that I could not carry out these daily activities, reliably, safely and within a reasonable time frame.

I also supplied 6 days of diary sheets showing my average days, which she was most surprised and seemingly grateful for!

Dunno how it its going to go, but its all over for a while at least, and suffice to say I had a pleasant day afterwards and a long, long sleep after I got home, due to the excess tranx!................................So fingers "X".

Gordon, please can you tell me when should I apply for the Assessors report from the DWP, if there is a time limit for when I have the opportunity to do this,? if there is none then I would like a week to have some peace and recover before the next stage ( maybe, I am jumping the gun!)

The Mental Health Advocate said she will write up her report too and send me a copy. She has said she will be available to support me if I have to go to tribunal too, which of course cannot be ruled out yet.