F2F Experience

I thought I would write about my experience of my F2F as I found it helpful when someone else did. I arrived at the centre my husband drove we parked up and walked into the centre approx 10m. I was asked by the receptionist to provide identification and told to take a seat. The centre is quite small and there were 2 other claimants in the waiting area. First thing I noticed was an assessor came out in the waiting area introduced herself to one of the other claimants asked her name her partners name was in my opinion and my husbands also commented over friendly. We could hear voices in the consultation rooms not actual replies to questions but the sound proofing wasn't particularly good. I was kept waiting 15 minutes over my appointment time the assessors room door was open and we could see him typing on the computer looking at his computer screens making hand written notes. When the assessor came out they identified their profession as being a State Registered Nurse. I walked approx 10m into the assessment room on my own as was my preference. The layout of the chairs were across from the assessor he had 2 screens in front of him. He asked was I working ? I said no he then asked what I used to do. Asked if I smoked? Drank alcohol and then made a quip regarding did I take illegal drugs saying that probably not as I had enough prescription ones. Asked if I could stand to prepare food tried to lead my answers by saying do you have to sit down because it's difficult to stand and then eventually you have to just stop doing what you are doing. Asked if I cooked? Asked if I managed to wash every day? Asked if I could attend to my medication? He didn't ask me about my medications or any side effects from taking them. He didn't ask me if I suffered from fatigue, drowsiness or issues with my sleep despite all these things being listed on my Pip claim form. He asked me what I did during my day? He asked me if I could get into a bath and wanted to know why I couldn't? Asked if I had any shower aids to help me bathe/wash? He didn't ask me about washing my upper half or washing my hair which was also highlighted on my Pip claim form. Asked if I had a toilet seat aid, led my answer as to why I needed it? He didn't ask me about any aids I use to dress my lower half despite them being listed on my Pip claim form. He asked if I managed to get dressed every day? He asked if I felt anxious when I met unfamiliar people and how it affected me? He listed symptoms again I believe leading my answers. Asked if I was in a shop and felt anxious would I just leave immediately again leading my answers. Asked who I communicated with every day? Asked if I had my own bank account? Did I manage my banking myself? Asked if I drove? He said so you only go out to go to appointments again leading my answers. He didn't ask how far I could walk !!! But instead asked if I could walk for 2 minutes? I had seen this mentioned somewhere before so of course I replied that in distance I could walk up to 20m but as soon as I start to walk then the pain commences and increases with the distance that I walk and I would have to stop due to the pain experienced. I'm presuming he was trying to get me to say I could walk for 2 minutes in order to say that I could then as a result walk further than the up to 20m I had put on my Pip claim form. It will be interesting to see what comments and descriptor I score for that particular section. He asked did I use public transport? He asked did I manage to get around when in the house? Physical assessment consisted of being asked to put my hands together in a prayer position, upturn the palms of my hand, asking me to put my thumb and finger together and him breaking the connection, lifting both my legs whilst in a sitting position, putting my arms behind my back and lastly raising my arms. I wasn't asked to stand on my toes or my heels.

At the start of the assessment he could see that I was anxious he told me not to worry the assessment wasn't that bad. During the assessment I became distressed he did show some care and compassion asking me if I was okay provided tissues and asked me if I wanted a glass of water. He did comment that my hands were sweating when doing his physical assessment and that the assessment would soon be over. I did find it strange when he asked me about dealing with money I said my benefits get paid into my account and at that point he said oh so this is a DLA to PIP migration surely he would have known that to start with? He also commented at the length of time it took for me to receive an appointment for the F2F 23 weeks in total from submitting my Pip claim form.

My husband whilst sitting in the waiting area over heard one of the assessors asking the receptionist if she had managed to get hold of a claimant and saying that it was strange as they had put on their claim form they couldn't leave the house, had changed their phone number and the surveillance showed that they were clearly able to leave the house my husband was shocked that he could clearly hear this conversation.

I'm relieved it's over and next week I will be requesting my Assessment report which I am sure will make interesting reading especially in the areas I felt he was leading my answers. The assessor did say that he was sending my report over that day so I'm hoping that I receive the outcome before Xmas but that might be expecting too much as it's only 4 weeks away. I was in the assessment room for 45 minutes my husband said that the other 2 people who were called in just before me were still in. I haven't went into too much detail about my answers to his questions but if anyone has any questions I'm quite willing to shed light.

Esme999, my experience of my assessment was similar to yours in that I felt the assessor asked quite a lot of leading questions and she even tried to suggest how I should answer some of them. I think it is important that claimants remember that assessors are doing a job and 'tactics' may be used to gain trust where trust has not been earned. Just be on your guards' people.
My assessor commented at the start of my assessment that she was only doing the job to top up her pension. It quickly became apparent the quality and compassion of nursing her 'patients' must have received, the poor souls.

Gary what do you make of the leading questions almost providing answers to the questions he was asking? Also the time as opposed to the distance I could walk? Is this something that has came up frequently from forum posts?

My sentiments exactly Becky. Have you received the outcome of your assessment yet?