Almost 1 in 5 PIP reports created by Independent Assessment Services (IAS, formerly Atos) were either unacceptable or were only acceptable after changes had been made to them. The shameful figures were released this month by Justin Tomlinson, minister for disabled people.
The figures showed that 19.4% of IAS PIP reports which were audited were found to be either ‘Unacceptable’ or only ‘Acceptable with amendments’.
A further 17% were acceptable but required the health assessor to be given feedback about aspects of their report.
That such a high proportion of reports are of such poor quality six years after PIP was introduced is a matter a matter of enormous concern, especially to claimants who are likely to lose out because of sub-standard assessments.
It lends additional credibility to the intention of the Scottish administration to move all benefits assessments in-house again.
The full figures are set out in the table below.
| Grades | April 16 - Mar 17 | April 17 - Mar 18 | April 18 - Mar 19 |
| Acceptable | 7,300 | 7,930 | 7,480 |
| Acceptable with feedback | 1,380 | 1,820 | 1,990 |
| Acceptable with amendments | 650 | 1,220 | 1,780 |
| Unacceptable | 460 | 620 | 500 |
| Total audited | 9,790 | 11,590 | 11,750 |
Comments
Our recomendation is to go on Freegle and Freecycle and request 'tape recorders for an assessment'. Then you may get someone like me lend you theirs for free or even give you one [remember you need two so you can give them one cassette and have one for you.] Cassettes aren't expensive on the internet but get plenty as one assessment ran 100 minutes so using up 4x C90s! Also don't expect the recording to stop them lying about you as it didn't for us, but what it does do is help you win your appeal in due course. If setting out to type out what was said, copy your tape and use that as the constant stopping will risk damaging your precious original. Should go without saying to have a friend or other advocate accompany you and manage the taping as well as being a witness to what can't be heard on tape eg the physical movements you do/don't [!] make in the examination. Also take a 2 socket extension lead as you sometimes need it.
For ESA they are responsible for the taping and will give you one cassette at the end, but be sure to request in good time.
Hope this helps
Denby
I called "three days in advance" but was informed that I was too late as they had to be "working days". I said all I have are my mobile phone and tablet and therefore, a digital copy will be available immediately. This was apparently not allowed. As the recording was for my own benefit, I told them that's all I'll be using.
On arrival at my appointment I again raised the fact that I was going to voice record the proceedings as last time the assessor's report contained shameful fabrications and the awfully long, stressful appeal process (which I won) was horrendous and made my conditions worse.
Long story short, the assessment did not go ahead and has been relisted for a couple of weeks. I made it clear that their insistence of technical equipment etc in this digital age was extremely unreasonable for ordinary, low/no income claimants and such equipment should be provided by (or at least paid for) by the DWP themselves if I am not allowed to use my own devices.
I can not go through the physical and emotional trauma of their wrongdoing again, and suspect that my particular case will have to be escalated as I'm pretty sure their demands are not in accordance with the law (where you must tell the other party that you are recording). I will also be writing to my MP and try to get the matter raised at a higher level.
Apologies for the length of this but as it's just happened, I wanted to find out whether any other members have had to deal with this issue?
I'll try and keep the site informed.