My dad can’t even hold a glass of water – but a PIP assessor took away his benefits
My dad can’t even hold a glass of water – but a PIP assessor took away his benefits
by pppppppppppppppppd
My dad can’t even hold a glass of water – but a PIP assessor took away his benefits
My dad can’t even hold a glass of water – but a PIP assessor took away his benefits
by pppppppppppppppppd
35 comments
He blinked didn’t he?
Ok no more evidence required here, he can metabolise oxygen!
These assesements are utter bullcrap, sometimes its instant and no questions asked and other times you gotta fight tooth and nail for it.
My son failed his DLA application two times now, he cant be left on his own because hes a danger to his own life as well to others when not being kept in check yet he scored zero.
His cousin with ADHD who does everything by himself, has no safeguarding issues got high rate care and mobility.
Its insanity
On re-assessment Assessor lied and gave my dad 0 points and mandatory reconsideration with a nasty sarcastic letter from his GP they gave him almost full points for both.
This is after the original assessment that we took them to the tribunal for that the judge awarded him PIP without even having to talk to my dad just looking at his medical records.
These assessments should be done by a doctor and we have plenty of medical students/GPs looking for work. Maybe I am an idiot but could we not hire those people to perform the assessments? I know it means they will be done properly and people will be given what the y are owed, however it will stop people being treated like scum for being disabled.
Devil’s advocate on this, and I have family member’s on PIP due to disability so I’m not ignorant to this.
Some/all of these points are also questions/debating points (I know we’re on Reddit, but sometimes people just take these things as statements a person will not be moved on, I am happy to have my view changed)
1. The issues this man experienced date back to before Labour were in power, so it’s quite a stretch to relate this to Labour.
2. I thought the proposed bill had been scrapped anyway, so what is the issue here?
3. It doesn’t help his case that he’s shown in two recent photos holding a small baby, and walking his daughter down the aisle. While I’m *certainly* not suggesting he isn’t disabled at all, two of the issues were relating to them disputing his ability to walk and/or hold items. Given he’s shown a) walking, and b) holding a baby of all things, this seems to fly in the face of the suggestion he can’t walk or hold things.
4. His PIP was re-instated after the 2019 error.
5. While I fully sympathise with people suffering from bipolar as close friend is going through this, “I didn’t fill in the form on time” for the 2013 benefits cut-off isn’t an excuse. If you don’t fill the form in, how do they know?
6. His daughter is his full time carer, so why didn’t she take care of this if he’s unable to do it himself?
7. She’s complaining about Carers Allowance being cut off, saying she looks after him “24/7” but then says she was “working too many hours” – which is it? It cannot physically be both.
I fully sympathise with her situation, it must be extremely difficult and unpleasant, but it seems like a bit of a non-story from her perspective as her father’s benefits *were* restored after a short period, and these issues took place before the current government were even involved.
The real elephant in the room here with benefits is not people like her and her father. Let’s be totally frank, there are people claiming benefits who could likely work, not many granted, but it’s still an issue, and this is what the government were trying (and miserably failing) to resolve.
I think there needs to be a little less punch-pulling and a lot more brutal honesty from the government on this issue.
I also still contest that we sack every single unqualified “assessor” and simply let the person’s GP or specialist sign them off, which they have to do *anyway* for the original claim. I’ve been saying this for years. Once had someone very angrily contest this idea on Reddit, and they got so worked up they accidentally let slip they were exaggerating their disability in order to claim…
How are people getting this for ADHD etc if it’s so strict?
My husbands palliative care nurse applied on his behalf as he couldn’t even sit up, never mind hold a pen. He received a letter 3 days after his death telling him he had to apply himself. Like seriously? The DWP have always been brutal and now Starmer and Reeves have now made it even harder. This is horseshit!
Reminder that it was New Labour that introduced these assessments and appointed ATOS to do them.
ATOS and their systems had been made illegal in Canada and other countries due to how unfair, discriminatory and flawed they were.
Yvette Cooper as SS for W&P insisted they make their system even more extreme and discriminatory in the face of massive opposition from many children and family charities.
I believe this system is a foundational reason for the broken state of our country. It doesn’t help people into work. It doesn’t support those who are broken. It crushes people into despondency, fear and escalating illness.
Tried to get DLA 3 times, was told no, went to tribunal and handed my medical report from my specialist to the doc they had there and in about 3 mins of him reading it
then it got taken off me when a PIP assessment….. had to do the same song and dance again, only difference is i had a brain scan with a big black mark on my brain from my illness…. and they fast tracked me and gave it me in days rather then months
its insane how many times they move the goal posts to try and take what is essentially the only way you can survive from you in hopes that you die before you able to claim….. its depressing and im just waiting for these asshats to do it to me again
Seeing a few of these articles of late where they make it seem like this happened under this government but when you read it they took place years ago.
PIP is obviously a stick to beat Labour with at the moment so articles about people being denied payments instantly get associated with Labour. This took place in 2019 and was rectified. Slimy journalism
All the while, the government squanders money on so-called defence, which all it achieves is to turn us into nuke magnets. Worse, they hammer people like the guy in the article to pay for it.
Yeah, many should get more benefits, not less. But at the same time, we do need to stop some that are clearly just not willing to try to work or just scamming the system.
I myself worked with a guy at a takeaway, claim benefits/housing etc but also get cash in hand from the takeaway.
The DWP have recently had to pay a relative 5 figures in back pay after they took DWP to court, because DWP initially said that my relative didn’t qualify. After appeal that changed to qualifies for the minimum amount. My relative’s divorce solicitor put them in touch with another solicitor that deals with benefits.
Turns out my relative qualified for the maximum benefit. The whole thing from first application to pay out was about 5/6 years. So it was 5 years of back pay that the court awarded.
It’s bonkers. One of the clinical assessors that assessed my relative even documented the condition that would qualify for PIP, and the severity of the condition. But the ones who actually make the decision about awarding PIP refuted the clinician’s evidence and denied the claim.
> He failed to fill out his application form on time, and it took over a year to get a new assessment. The shock of losing his benefits sent him into a manic episode that resulted in him being sectioned, Ms Pomroy-Smith said.
> The second time, in 2019, his PIP was refused after reassessment, when claimants are reviewed to determine if they still meet the eligibility criteria to claim PIP.
> In the report of his claim, his assessor had stated that he could walk unaided and drink on his own, both claims that his family disputed.
Incase anyone is in doubt and didn’t read the article, it happened in 2019 when Tories were in power
The problem with PIP is mainly down to the assessors. They are literally judge, jury and executioner.
I have a Primary Immune Deficiency condition which is quite rare, so much so that even my GP doesn’t fully understand it.
My local Hospital doesn’t even have a department that can cater for me so I have to travel to another City.
So when it comes to my PIP assessment they have absolutely no idea what my condition is and more importantly, the effects it has on my daily life.
The DWP stopped my PIP years ago after they said I needed to be re-assesed re-assesed because I had two major surgeries in the space of 48 hours, spent 3 days in ICU, 10 days on the step down ward.
Why you ask, I have no idea..
After they made the decision I did a MR which was also rejected.
I had to wait 14 months for my Tribunal which took less than 15 minutes to rule in favour.
This was all because that assessor took the decision that I no longer need PIP even thou I had 3 letters, 1 from my GP and 2 from each Consultant I am under explaining my condition and what effects it has on my daily life.
When I was waiting in court for my tribunal there was woman in a wheelchair as she had to have one of her legs removed from the hip and they had denied her any mobility…
The system is fucked because the assessors have little medical knowledge and follow a script.
The best way I can compare it is like when you ring a support line and you get an automated bot, they only ask certain questions and if you say anything outside of the standard responses they want it gets ignored.
Helped my mother fill out her PIP assessment and was with her for her telephone assessment. Capita (who provided the assessment) assessor outwardly lied on the PA4 afterwards, giving her zero points across the board (the most amusing had to be medication, claiming she took none!)
We’ve taken it to reconsideration and I put in a complaint to Capita. They got back us apologising for the inadequate assessment, offered a new one, and £100 in compensation. Hoping the second one goes a little better and the assessor knows what they’re on about and actually listens. I’m willing to take it to tribunal, not just for the money but for what she deserves. How so many assessors give zero points is the reason why there was such a back lash to the proposed restrictions of PIP criteria; It would be a little different if the current process was actually honest and fair!
and yet people on here these last few weeks especially think getting PIP is easy peasy.
My uncle who has severe autism got taken off PIP because there was a question about whether or not he can plan and execute a trip via a bus. He said yes but the man could barely tie his shoes at this point, he didn’t understand the question at all. If he didn’t have loving siblings he’d be off PIP and be absolutely fucked because there is no chance he will ever be able to work.
These assessors should be named so they fear lying like they do…. They purposely ask vague questions to allow them to claim you can do things because you didn’t specify you couldn’t.
Always ask for a copy of the assessment before it starts, it’ll occasionally make them a little more truthful.
Ask them how to appeal if anything goes wrong, during the meeting, letting them know you won’t be putting up with their rubbish.
Find the descriptors before you go and make sure you are aware why they are asking the questions and can fire back with “no he/she cannot do this or will be in considerable pain”
And this is the system that Rachel Reeves wanted to cut further in a move that not even George Osborne was willing to consider.
If you’re in a constitutency that has a Labour MP, write to them. Let them know that we will not tolerate further cuts to the already-broken welfare system. I already have.
So many redditors will be happy to read this, based on other recent threads :/
£1 is too much to spend on the PIP bill according to many
My cousin has cerebral palsy: always has, always will. And yet she is annually assessed to see if there has been some miracle.
I doubt the government is even empathetic yet even aware of the things you guys are describing in the comments.
Horrible.
I heard the majority of appeals are won, obviously a pain but helps when assessor is just being a dick or trying to meet a quota or something
My wife suffers from Ataxia, and her mobility is an issue wheel chair, walking stick, her hand shake from the spasms and tremors, and her head as well, but her PIP was taken away.
When challenged and the assessors report demanded after a threat to go to court, because in going in for the assessment we insisted on a video and audio assessment. The report was full of LIES.
We went to the Tribunal after being robbed off twice and beat DWP hands down.
Now think on those who have nobody to fight for them?
I’m practically/legally blind, i was failed because i noticed a water machine in a narrow corridor on the way to their office. Once contested this one the one and only point, i wish i was kidding i didn’t even make it through the door before i was failed.
Find the pip assessor and make them require assessment.
We’ve been far too tolerant for far too long
I’m 19 working full time. I have scars on my feet and adhd so no real disability. I get 720£ a month pip. Why
No clue how true it is but my cousin said the assessor told them they have quotas. And they will need to appeal and the appeal assessors do not have quotas and are more likely to approve them.
My ex had optical ms and did 4 hours a week at Halfords, it physically exhausted her but she wanted to work.
Every single assessment asked if she could work more, was her condition getting better, no it’s getting worst all the time …
Was a disgusting experience often leaving her in tears
My dad has had a heart and kidney transplant and just submitted for his renewal, he’s been retired due to complications for several years now, I’m so anxious about how it’s going to turn out for him considering the recent situation
But there’s a “£22 billion black hole” they need to fill! It’s not Labours fault they’re doing this, it’s “14 years of Tories!”
Err…
PIP is for people of working age. He is 67, therefore a pensioner. That is why his PIP has been withdrawn.
He needs to apply for Attendance Allowance.
PIP assessments are humiliating and utter bullcrap. They call you up on the phone and ask a series of questions to try and trip you up and deny you PIP, not to find you appropriate accommodations (Which could include alternatives like DSA!)
The questions are basically: “Here is a situation, what do you do in this situation?” And if you answer anything besides “I piss and shit myself and crumple to the floor and die instantly” then you get nothing.
It’s so fucked in that it 100% encourages embellishment, at best, and downright lying at worst. It’s set up to humiliate people who are legit and reward people who are frauds who know how to play the game. It’s often said the appeal is the real assessment because of how quick they are to deny shit the first round.
Do pip assessors get bonuses based on how many claims they deny?
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