My PIP Assessment Decision: What You Need to Know about the Assessor's Criteria

To anyone watching this video this will hopefully give you some faith or belief in the system.....

12 years ago when I was severely impacted by my MS (had no use of my hands, motor senses, nerve function, sensory ability or walking) I was declined PIP when I needed that help the most and I had a period of time when I couldn't work and had to rehabilitate. Fast forward 13 years to another bad relapse I wondered if I could put myself through the stress and trauma of applying for PIP again. I have a chronic illness that affects my everyday life and luckily soneone listened.

My advice is don't ever give up.

#PIP #disabilityawareness #benefits

[Foxingban]

anxiety isn't a disabilty the current system is a disgrace full of people abusing it

[robertginn]

I agree the lady assessment was very patient, but was refused because I sounded competent on the phone and answered all the questions honestly and basically confident and relaxed. Firstly I a qualified telephone sales person and because I was able to prepare for the call I came across well, but that was used against me.

[mirelle]

I wanted to say a big thank you for this video, i watched this a couple of times before i applied for PIP, I also filled out my form myself and had a telephone assessment, I was told by others expect to appeal i was honest about my condition and i was awarded pip.

[Emma-fqpv]

I’ve been trying to claim for invisible issues (anxiety and migraine) and the lady assessor was really lovely to me too, but also scored me zero points on everything. I’m aware PIP is a scam and they’re told to deny essentially every mental health case, but it’s absolutely soul destroying. I won’t give up though, I simply can’t afford to give up.

[keithdagnall]

I am glad you found a honest assessor. I only found one to be all the others wrote completely fabricated reports about my assessment

[lisamartin-flaven]

The first time I applied for dla I was given the lower rate and that’s after I went to court and appealed it. This time I was awarded the higher rate but I do feel like your made to jump through hoops. So very pleased for you Laura it’s amazing! 😊

[morganmbartram]

You had a good phone assessor. My assessor was friendly, but she denied me any points whatsoever. Whatever I told her on the phone, she told the opposite. I struggle with vertigo, fatigue etc, told her i struggled to bathe alone, cook alone, walk alone, etc, but even my reconsideration was refused. Struggling all round

[dionzoe]

Most helpful video I have seen on this, being validated is the best thing ever for everyone and for their mental health.

[adgeyuk]

I had a paper based assessment & was awarded enhanced on both with no interview.

[Mod-rwcw]

I did exactly the same . 100% honest and had a phone assessment. Been awarded but waiting to see how much !

[andyhudson]

Its basically a lottery: Depends on whos lap your case lands on, and what mood their in. Its a very unfair process, but luckily mental health issues are being taken more seroiusly now. Anxiety was the 7th most awarded health issue out of a listed 500- so i think pip claims are getting more fairer as time moves on. Its just a shame for the past claiments that have been over looked. Goodluck to you all though ❤❤

[chrisround]

Laura, I’m so proud to have found you, and wish you well. I’m about to start down the P.I.P. route due to being retired early on health grounds. I’ve become really Ill in recent months, and knowing that I’m not alone helps me.


Best wishes.


Chris R

[ghengis]

Took 38 hours filling in a form, over days
Assessment took half an hour on the phone.( I'd had higher rate for both) Complained to MP. Appealed. 2 and a half hours mandatory reconsideration with a 3 way call. It was horrific. I was reinstated, but it was months of horror, and through lockdown. All our experiences are different.
Glad yours was OK.

[jimcowley]

Hi sweet heart I've just done my assessment on Tuesday I had the same from a nice guy called mat God bless take care thanks Jim.😊

[robthomas]

Got my telephone assessment tomorrow so just doing some browsing as to what to expect as I’ve heard some bad stories. I have epilepsy which I’ve had for years but recently have unfortunately been diagnosed with heart failure. Both don’t do well around stress so I’m trying to stay relaxed! 🙏

[sallythorpe]

Thank you for this information. I have my pip assessment by phone on Tuesday afternoon. I agree people who don’t have apparent physical signs of disability are too easily disregarded and it is so unfair. I have heard some awful experiences about the assessment process and am losing (more than normal) sleep because of it. But you have given me some hope by sharing your journey. Thank you and I wish you health and happiness. Xx

[bunbwre]

What a lovely video. Thank you so much I have an appointment in a few weeks and it’s nice to know that the people are nice. I have been shown real kindness by the people at DWP over the last few months since I become unwell. I have been able to thank the people that helped me and that is a nice feeling as they need kindness as well. Good luck and I hope all goes well for you.

[Sirclive]

Thank you for sharing your experience and the website. I support people to apply for PIP so this is very useful to know

[jernejtkobal]

Congratulations. It's annoying these assestments are done by healthy people, few years back before I got these problems, I would have probably judged others in this condition just as bad as now they look at me. Hard to know how bad it can get if you haven't experienced it yourself.

[rachelcharris]

It's really good that you had a positive experience and there are some really helpful DWP out there now more so I suppose then in the past but it's not true that this happens in every case unfortunately. I have just gone through a pip review which I now have to go through to tribunal and the assessment was 2 hours long and it was like an interrogation. I had a support worker with me on the phone at the time in a similar way to you and she couldn't even stand the whole meeting it was so long and it was literally like a legal courtroom where she looked for any thing that I could slip up on even a minor thing and even falsified some information which I have proof of because I recorded the phone call. Quite considerably actually. I've never had a good experience with the PIP team sadly although I was granted it previously on it mandatory reconsideration but not this time. I've just applied for ADP as well in Scotland and the application form is twice the size of the PIP application with some really ridiculous questions which they agree or ridiculous as they are trying to work them out. However I think it's good just to paint a balanced picture for people that it really depends on who you get on the day and how many assessments they've done if they're worn out etc etc and it can be truly brutal and completely randomly unfair. Previously I've had 0 points and then gone to 8 points to get the award but without any real justification on the points. I've now got to go through my first tribunal and I'm learning about that as I go. But it is a very strange process so far and I have found the tribunals team to be very helpful which has helped. I know you did have a bad experience the first time and I know that my friend did have a good experience recently as well but when it's bad it's very bad 😔