Benefits/welfare problems.

Sunday afternoon here now. Wishing you the very best of luck that things will work out for the better this time.

Only two days to go!

Counting down with you!😊

Good luck Marilyn. I hope it goes well.

It is friday 6.24am...my assessment is between 10am and 12pm.
Last three days I have been really ill,my diabetic blood sugars were too high and that set of a virus infection,I felt really exhausted and had no energy,and my depression was really bad.I was anxious too.I was told by my legal team not to make an extra special effort with the housework to let them see how I can't always manage but I had to vacume cos the bits on the floors were attracting flies and I had to sort the cat litter so it didn't smell.I was told not to was my hair too but there was no way cos it had been hot and I'd been sweating and it stunk.I mean if their view is that if you are ill you don't do housework at all and don't wash when you need to even though you do so with difficulty, it is ridiculous,I can do some chores but it is exhausting and I am not well after exerting myself,it doesn't mean I am not ill.

I have a long time to wait till 10am maybe 12pm until the assessor turns up.I am trying to remain calm and keep my anxieties and fears at bay.I just want it done and this time hopefully the assessor will be more understanding.

So I got all worked up and worried as well as being ill these last few days,the assessor turned up,she was nicer than the last one,she listened to all my difficulties and said she will report as I said,so hopefully I will get a better result.I didn't sense any vibes off her that she was trying to catch me out though she made me repeat things and sometimes forgot what I'd told her but she said don't worry I wrote it down when you first said so if I forgot and write it twice I will have it when I write it up later.She asked about the difficulties I have with mental illness and my diabetes,socialising,cooking,washing,walking,going unfamiliar places...I had a chance to explain everything,I was worried I'd forgotten stuff but no it is cos I was anxious and expecting a hostile grilling and I got someone nice that threw me.I hope it goes ok. At least that is over.Now wait for another decision.

My niece comes back from US next friday so I have that to look forward to.

Friday early evening,I should be relieved,but I am still wound up,tense and in shock.
I wasn't expecting the assessor to be nice and to listen or ask me what she did.I am hoping I have a better result but my mind has trained itself to be anxious and expect the worst and I am still worried.I need someone trained to massage me cos I am in pain,my whole body,my muscles are full of tension and I can't relax.If I do get given money I will treat myself to a massage cos I need the relief.

I think this whole new PIP benefit based on how they believe your illness affects you is all wrong,it is not enough anymore to be diagnosed with a serious illness you have to convince them it makes you too ill to look after yourself without help.And the people that assess all have their individual attitudes and judgements some are hard can't get blood out of a stone types and some are caring so it is pot luck what you get.Everyone who gets assessed gets a different result if they are given a different assessor next time they are assessed,it is not uniform or consistent,it is all wrong.If I still get refused I will appeal all the way though.

Glad you felt she was nice. Fingers crossed for you. How long do you expect to have to wait for a decision?

Hi Deejay,
They said it shouldn't be too long maybe by August I will hear if usual timeslots apply but when I rang before and they had told me there would be another assessment and I complained my money had stopped the woman there said,have the assessment and after it should only take a couple of weeks to get back to you with a decision.So not sure could be earlier could be later!

Deejay I get upset about how worked up,worried and anxious I get about it all.I wish I could be fearless and courageous all the time about it,but my fear of scarcity kicks in and I get terrified and physically ill even.How can I change my attitudes?I am sure no one else here has a thread this long about benefits troubles,I am pathetic aren't I?

Here's to a fast speedy good result.

No you are not pathetic Marilyn. Different assessors can make the world of difference. I had one that made me cry a couple of years ago. I heard later that he was promoted because he saved the insurance company heaps of money. My last one in Dec last year was so nice and understood the mental health side. It does take time to settle down afterwards. Please try not to beat yourself up about it.

The truth of it is that they don't know you. They dont know how you are impacted. Hiding how much you are impacted does not help them to make the best decision for you. Hopefully now the day has passed you can settle a little bit.

Thanks Possum,I still do think its so unfair that two different assessors can find so differently in one person's case when they have chronic mental and physical illness.How can you say someone is not affected and finding things difficult to do when they have 3 chronic physical illnesses and 2 mental illnesses.

Oh well,today I am relieved the assessment phase is over and it is a weight off my mind.I am physically exhausted though,I went out to eat and to the mall to get pads and then came home.I am achey all over and have tension in my back and shoulders.I have so much work to do around the home and garden but I need rest too.So I figure the more I rest the more I will be able to do,that is the theory anyway.I was getting nostalgic earlier too remembering people from my youth,I liked them and they never really liked me I suffered abuse from them,makes me feel sad,they are probably all career driven successful people now and I am ill,disabled and on benefits.

Marylin, it is by no means pathetic. I have been waiting for months now myself for long-term disability. The lawyer has been to my house but still after 4 months the insurance company has not sent him my file. It's just the system- not a reflection of you. It's good you come here for support and others can learn from your experience. Hope you get the rest you need and tomorrow will be a good day.

Awwe Deejay I am sorry to hear that you are going through benefit woes too.It is a horrible experience isn't it?Yes, I am trying to relax today,will eat early evening and go catch a film at the cinema.Thanks for your support!

Hi.
I do hope it went ok for you. I’m sorry for the stress and anxiety it puts people under x
Hi I’m fairly new here and just noticed a couple of other replies I hadn’t seen, that you wrote after the assessment, apologies,
I’m glad you got that over with...best wishes x

They texted me saying it can take up to 4 weeks for them to inform me of a decision.
I requested the assessors report from 22 June and they said they will send it last Wednesday.I might get it tomorrow or Tuesday,some time this coming week anyway.The report will give me some idea if I will get an award or not.

Another day closer, Marylin😊

Marylin, any news yet? Still got my fingers crossed!!!

No news yet Deejay,they didn't even send the latest assessors report gonna chase them up for it tomorrow.

I got the assessor's report for the June 22 assessment.I scored 11 points for daily care which is standard rate PIP,I am only 1 point short for enhanced rate.I scored 4 points for mobility which is a big fat zero money wise.It is wrong cos my mobility is bad.My legal team advises me to write to the assessment company and the DWP raising my concerns before the DWP send me their decision,they say they often correct the decisions when they receive such letters.So I am off to the internet cafe on thursday to type up my objections and sent the letters off.Wish me luck.Thank you all for your support especially when you have so much going on yourselves,that is you Deejay,love and hugs!

I did the letter at the internet cafe.I corrected the factual errors in the second assessment report and challenged them for awarding me the incorrect number of points on activities where I should have scored more.I also complained cos they are saying I can walk further than I can.I told them I should get enhanced rates for both mobility and care.They should get the letter tomorrow.I hope that they will consider what it says before deciding what to award me for PIP.I am glad that I got that done.I hope to God I get a just and fair award now.I was one point short of enhanced for daily care so I should get enhanced for that really and for mobility.Fingers crossed.Just got to wait for a decision now.It cost me £13 to send both letters one to the benefits people and one to the assessment company special delivery today.

Great job!! Just keep swimming!

I hope that you will be able to get blood out of this stone. Surely your doctor and specialists medical records can confirm your claim. Fingers still crossed that this will get resolved sooner rather than later.

Just one more point! Too close now, Marylin. You CAN do this👍👍

No news yet.I phone the benefits people today,they say it won't be long until I get a decision,they received my letter about the latest assessor's report and what I thought wrong with it and they got a GP's report which I think they themselves requested.They are considering all the evidence but have not made a decision yet!I should get a letter shortly they said.