PIP is it worth bothering? It's a headache already

blackadder lol priceless

Pencils up the nose & pants on the head? Wibble?

Remember 

1. Be accompanied by someone else, because you're unable to leave the house and travel alone.
2. Wet wipes in your ears, because you cannot cope with normal sounds in the outside world. 
3. Dark sunglasses to protect  your eyes from daylight.
4. Have a meltdown if questions become difficult. 

Good luck. 

I'll also be taking Harvey, my 6' invisible emotional support bunny with me.

the advice above about looking unkempt etc came from a woman i knew who worked at DWP she said the worse state you looked dirty smelly etc the better i know that's not easy for some NDs but its worth it for a short time she told me 1 guy turned up in suit and tie said he come on the train and bus he was refused applied again 6 mths later turned up dirty and stinking said a friend dropped him at door as he couldn't find his way anywhere without help and yep awarded benefit

too right plastic as my dad used to say Nil illegitemo carburundom ie don't let the Ba$£&rds grind you down lol

Too true - I went in being truthful and honest - it is a core value of mine - I cannot process just how much these people are prepared to lie and falsify data.

I will use every trick in the book from now onwards.

I know it sounds like cheating but in my opinion if they're prepared to lie, cheat and bully then it's only levelling the playing field by doing the same to them and at the end of the day you're only claiming what's rightfully yours if they didn't act like heartless Ba£$&ards then people wouldn't have to stoop to drastic measures that's my opinion anyway

hi Julie you must persevere you really have to stand your ground it's hard but it's worth it and you can record the assessment it is your right they are actually supposed to be videoing them to assure transparency for you and them but i would get your phone or tape out and just say "im recording this interview as is my right" definitely take a friend with you tell them you couldn't have made it there on your own make sure you don't look polished and pristine the more dishevelled and unkempt the better i know it may seem dishonest but you have to play them at their own game

also have look at this site its extremely useful

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

I claim pip for back and shoulder problems ( nerve damage causing severe pain and constant spasms) I also suffer anxiety about going busy places I'm fine where I live it's a small village that I grew up in but if I have to go in to town I have to take someone with me or I suffer panic attacks I can't walk more that 100 metres with out stopping to let pain ease before continuing. 

I was advised to claim by my back to work advisor for esa (not on any more as partners working ) they told me when I get my interview to describe my worst days don't mention the good ones. I only got standard rate for living and nothing for mobility as I force myself to walk without aids but it is still an extra £54 a week that does help. However I do dread the reviews as still not had corrective surgery and the panic attacks going there are horrible 

As far as I know, you are NOT allowed to record the interview.

Be careful - if you have strategies that appear to work around problems, then you have no problems. You shoot yourself in the foot.

They also look for weaknesses in your illness claims - anything to deny your problems are actual problems.

As autistic people are usually people-pleasers, there is a high risk of minimising your problems by saying you are coping ok.

DO NOT fill the form in on your own - you are likely to make fatal mistakes - get an appointment at the CAB and get their experts to help you/fill it in for you.

It's deliberately vague to be able them to mess you about. Look on some forums about the questions they ask and what the 'right' answers are.

Thank you for the response.

I shall try and make sure someone is with me at the interview. Are you allowed to record it on a voice recorder? 

I do also need to ring the CAB about some of the questions to clarify. For example does an orientation aid for the planning journeys include sat navs and maps on phones. If I didn't have access to at least one I wouldn't go anywhere new and still often need them on familiar journeys. Also how many times do you have to have travelled it for it to be familiar - once before, twice before ten times before?Also I can often walk (well hobble) 200 meters but also struggle to stand from sitting either needing to be lifted up by my hubby or haul myself up. Once I get going I loosen up a bit and its a bit easier - So what on earth box do I tick? I think I am going to go through the form and write down any queries and then ring the CAB and ask.

It's all so ambiguous.

I don't want to sound negative about the process, but.......

I am having a lot of touble with my pip - be aware that they claim to be understaffed so they 'appear' to be making deliberate mistakes to buy themselves more time.

They also like to say that their mandatory 28 days for response does not apply to them because they are short staffed.

They also like to post their responses back to you 20 days into YOUR 28 day time so you have only a couple of days to reply back before your time runs out. (with fake dates on the letters and obsolete phone numbers to make you jump through hoops).

They also like to pass the buck and 'accidentally' forget to update your file when you speak to them - so the next person denies you ever spoke to anyone - just to keep buying more time and generally delaying everything.

At your interview, the person will likely lie and falsify information and badger/bully you into saying you are fit to do xxx.(and even if you don't say what they want, they will lie on the form to say you did). Make sure you have at least one other person with you as a witness of what is said).

If you ask for a review, they will ignore all the medical evidence and letters from consultants and only look at the false data from the original interview. (we demanded a disclosure of all data held about me to find this out).

Anyone would think there is a deliberate management policy to obstruct and deny claimants.

This is all been going on since February.

Also - they will NEVER ring you back.

I'm having to go to tribunal.  Possibly another 6-9 months expected.

BTW - I have Aspergers, severe ulcerative (pan)colitis, osteoporosis, crazy hypertension and a brain injury (menigitis) resulting in serious memory loss, CFS and chronic pain and, not surprisingly, anxiety and depression.

You MUST go through with it - but expect to be messed about, lied to, put under pressure to give in and generally given the run-around.

Make sure you have all your medical evidence before you start and get someone professional to fill the form in for you - there are correct words and phrases to use that say the same thing but score more points. CAB are very helpful.

My psychologist is so outraged by the way I'm being treated that she says she will make time to attend the tribunal and speak on my behalf.

Good luck.