PIP assessment - 2 points!

Hi Gordon

Perhaps someone could start one. I for one would sign it and I think many there are many more of us that would.

Jan1955 wrote: My partner had a F2F and the assessor seemed to be obcessed with the fact that we had purchased the wheelchair ourselves ( why would you buy a wheelchair if you did not need one ) and the comments about the wheelchair was copied and pasted into several sections of the report. We have the report but its not very favourable to him, so many untrue assumptions and lies, she also said he takes moderate painkillers, our GP said he is on the strongest medication that he can have. We will challenge the lies with IAS once we get the decision what ever it is.

I believe the assessors like 'aids' such as wheelchairs to be prescribed as I guess anyone can go out and buy one whether they need it or not. You can get a wheelchair prescribed by a medical professional.

Hi Wing

Thanks for that. The reason I asked about your assessment providers was that I read something last week about Capita, not sure if it would be of help to anyone. It was basically that Capita take complaints very seriously, although there's not much feedback going on between Capita & DWP ... It may be worth putting in that complaint after all.

I've not had the final decision yet, so no MR. But I shall just change the letter slightly that I sent to them originally. It's difficult trying to get it right. I got straight to the point (no pun intended) & said how many points I thought I'd've got, like at least 2 points for the use of aids, & why I thought I should get those points. The assessors acknowledged me needing assistance in the report but gave no points at all. I said the simple exercises couldn't be compared to cooking a meal & lifting heavy pans containing boiling water. Plus I didn't crouch or do a power grip as reported by the assessor. I put other bits at the end of the letter like the medication that I do take. The assessors didn't report side effects, the dosage wasn't correct, there was no mention of counselling that I had rather than take medication. At the very end I put how I felt about my illness, hopefully someone out there has a heart, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm sure I've drivelled on uneccesarily, but there's no perfect letter.

There's always petitions on Twitter, you can begin your own.

All the very best to you all x

The wheelchair is only used outside on distances to far for him to walk, like the journey to the assessment centre. it was suggested by occupational therapy that a wheel chair would make things so much easier but the wait for further assessment was so long we decided to purchase one but we were able to reclaim the V.A.T. this was all explained to the assessor but it seems it was ignored. We have since requested a wheelchair assessment from OT as I can see we did not do ourselves any favours buying one, but you live and learn. I can see your point, but to copy and past the same statement over and over seems unreasonable.

Hi Jan1955

You would think that with all the cut backs in the NHS, they would be grateful that you buy your own wheelchair if you can afford it. Mine was given by a friend who no longer needed it. I was struggling to walk very far and getting very fatigued. It has been a god-send and I use it whenever I go out although I cannot propel it myself due to restrictive shoulder, my friend pushes me in it.

When I first applied for DLA some 20 years ago, I had to go to an Appeal and was in the wheelchair at the tribunal. I was lucky to have CAB support and they came with me to the tribunal. Whilst we were outside awaiting the tribunal's decision, she said to me I would definitely get a Mobiiity award because they always gave it to people in wheelchairs. To my surprise, the tribunal gave me High rate Mobility and High rate daily care both ongoing, until now. I don't know if things have changed at appeal but it would be nice to think they haven't.