PIP assessor walked out!

Yeah, I think I did. The DWP were supposed to call back but didn't. I'm just lucky I kept the direct number (01634) for the assessor & that I know them quite well now! so they sorted it out in half an hour and put me through on paper. Cancelled assessment. I'd encourage anyone to keep the direct dial number (local) for the assessor, if they give it. Generally calling an 0800 number is a disaster!

They didn't say it was a mistake, again, but Mark rolled his eyes at everything. Me too. I have no idea how much (if any?) of the DWP sleeps at night, or whether they appreciate that it even causes people stress to be continually bombarded with WCA garbage! Or care. The woman at the DWP seemed to think Priti Patel of all people was a role model, same entitled, sneering smirk throughout.

It was amazing, this winter, that the DWP literally tried to eek out the last little scraps of (mid-rate) DLA before transferring me to (enhanced) PIP. Meaningless to their gigantic budget. I rly should've sent that "passive-aggressive" letter!

I only called (just off the cuff) because the decision-making was taking so long. But they had (according to the guy on the phone) deleted my claim (!) and extended my DLA! He seemed aghast, and tried to fix it that day. I think I missed out on some PIP, but I don't know how to narrow down when the decision was made, cos the DWP don't seem to know. Or care.

Anyway, I finally got a letter confirming my new Enhanced / Enhanced PIP a few days ago. And then a letter saying that my DLA had been extended, a few days later. Because, of course.

I might write a general guide to claiming PIP, if that's ok, maybe you can pin it? It's basically all the things I'd wish I'd known before I made my claim, that weren't in your guides. I'll try to keep the sarcasm at bay. I make no promises >____>

The one thing I rly noticed that everyone should watch out for is that pain is considered a non-event. Unless you take pain-killers, it is completely discounted. If you have intermittent pain (cramps), then it doesn't officially exist, it seems. I was just lucky that this didn't affect my claim. I'd advise everyone to get a presciption for painkillers, even if you don't "need" them.

Anyway, total success finally (!) for both PIP (which is reviewed after 10 years / unlimited or w/e) and ESA (3 years). Thanks a lot, guys, for all the advice and help!

Thanks, BIS, it's good to have that weight off. Bit difficult to celebrate with a lot of sars-cov2 in my bubbles, tho!

Is there any news about the whole ESA -> UC debacle that came in on Jan 27th or so?

I just wanted to know if I could finally move house (claiming full EESA support group etcs) without losing every (SDP, EESA et al) premium? Is it mandatory now, or can I (finally) escape the hellish flat I live in? =)

I'm not sure really about "transitional" (?) (does that mean temporary ?) payments or w/e. It seemed (from a quick look) that they can be taken away if you have another change of circumstance? Very confusing and opaque, as per.

because that could be viewed as being fraudulent

I don't wanna get too much into the weeds on this, but it would be useful to warn people that if they claim / make mention of pain, then they have to have been prescribed painkillers to avoid being brushed aside. That's the "B&W" way of putting it, I guess. I'm not sure if this is a new development, but it seemed to be a new form of Catch-22 that makes up the rest of the system.