Pip decision - declined

You have my sympathies Stephen.

I had a PIP assessment at home at the beginning of 2020. Due to feeling incredibly anxious, I'd had my adult son and a support worker present. The nurse who had carried out the assessment had noted on her report that whilst I had 'claimed' to be feeling anxious, I had appeared calm and not displayed any visible signs of distress, such as rocking in a chair or sweating excessively.

To put this into context, if I feel distressed when in the company of people I don't know, I will go out of my way to try not to make it obvious because I don't like drawing attention to myself.

I failed the assessment.To be honest, I hadn't known whether to laugh or cry when I read what the nurse had written in her report.

Fortunately, the local organisation that my support worker was employed by had links to a welfare rights officer. The WRO intervened and wrote a letter appealing the decision. I have no idea what had been written in that letter, but a few weeks later I was awarded PIP.

Should you choose to appeal the decision, which I feel would be wise, I will keep my fingers crossed for you. As Fibonacci Squid has stated, the system has been set up to fail the claimants, hence why so many claimants fail at the first stage and often end up having to appeal.

You have my sympathies Stephen.

I had a PIP assessment at home at the beginning of 2020. Due to feeling incredibly anxious, I'd had my adult son and a support worker present. The nurse who had carried out the assessment had noted on her report that whilst I had 'claimed' to be feeling anxious, I had appeared calm and not displayed any visible signs of distress, such as rocking in a chair or sweating excessively.

To put this into context, if I feel distressed when in the company of people I don't know, I will go out of my way to try not to make it obvious because I don't like drawing attention to myself.

I failed the assessment.To be honest, I hadn't known whether to laugh or cry when I read what the nurse had written in her report.

Fortunately, the local organisation that my support worker was employed by had links to a welfare rights officer. The WRO intervened and wrote a letter appealing the decision. I have no idea what had been written in that letter, but a few weeks later I was awarded PIP.

Should you choose to appeal the decision, which I feel would be wise, I will keep my fingers crossed for you. As Fibonacci Squid has stated, the system has been set up to fail the claimants, hence why so many claimants fail at the first stage and often end up having to appeal.

Glad to hear you got it in the end Shouldn't have to go through hoops to get what you need but I'm pleased they helped you. X