So, now the long wait begins...

Hi everyone,

I just got back from the most awful PIP assessment I have been to to date. I have had two in the past, the last one I had was with a really lovely lady, who was genuinely concerned for me and advised me to try to get rehoused into a bungalow and she just asked the questions in a really informal way.

Today was a million miles away from that experience. This was in a physiotherapists’ office, where I was left waiting for 20 mins, but there was a sign up in there saying that once your name had been given to the HP, they would then spend 15 mins looking through my files and then call me in. She was so horrible, she asked questions and didn’t give me a chance to answer, she mumbled her questions, which she asked at the same time as she was typing (my mum came with me, and she to,d her twice that she couldn’t hear what she was saying, but it didn’t make her speak up at all). She just kept trying to trip me up all the time by asking questions that were totally unnecessary. I had told her that I don’t go out any more, apart from 2 school runs per week, when I just stay in the car and come straight home. She then said, so when you go out shopping how do you pay? So i said that I don’t go out. She then said so, when you meet new people face to face how do you feel. Again, I to,d her I don’t go out, I don’t meet new people. She just seemed to stick to the questions and have no sympathy or understanding. Several times, she made it clear that any decision was not hers, that she just sends off her report, so it’s not her decision....I took that to be her clearing her conscience for what a cr*p report she would be filing.

I am not holding out much hope I’m afraid, even though I told her that last time I was assessed I got standard daily living, and enhanced mobility, and that I am far worse now than I was two years ago.

I’m bracing myself for a tribunal! Feeling very low tonight.