I wasn't believed

sodhappy

im off work with back pain and depression and anxiety I went to have my interview with the DWP and the report I had back was I have low anxiety and depression and I refused to touch my toes and lie down but I didn't as I said it was painfull even to put my shoes on as my back is very painfull .what can I do 

mikehughescq

Wait until you have the actual PIP decision. You then have 1 month to do a mandatory reconsideration and, depending on the outcome of that, you will be able to appeal. It may also be worth a complaint just after the MR stage to feed into the appeal but a HCP coming to a different conclusion than the one you want them to is not in itself automatically grounds for complaint. 

Topkitten

Back pain is always a difficult area to prove and not just because it's invisible. There are many ways for it to occur and consequently numerous ways of treating it plus the fact that most people experience back pain in some form and tend to apply their own experience instead of looking carefully into your actual problems. The assumption, I guess, is that if they could cope so could anyone. They do not realise just how much pain it can cause.

I'm afraid I cannot advise on how to move forward as I am only just at the point of waiting to see if I need to see an assessor.

One thing that does bug me, which I assume it will happen if I see an assessor, and that is the number of people I meet for the first time and assume spinal damage causes back pain and then go on to tell me how they suffer it too so can understand. I haven't suffered back pain for the first 12 years of dealing with my condition and even now, during year 13, it is very minor and infrequent. However, describing what actually happens is a long-winded explanation and most people "switch off" when I try to explain.

I hope things go better for you.

TK

Pippa_Scope

Welcome to the community, @sodhappy!

So sorry to hear about your experience. As the others have said, please do keep us updated and let us know the decision, and we'll advise where we can.

sodhappy

It's to late to appeal now as it was in March but I wasn't sent a letter unti now 

mikehughescq

Nothing like too late to challenge the decision at all.

crocodillie

Complain to the people who did your assessment. Atos and capita have a complaints procedure. The more of us that complain about the lies, the more they will see things need to change .

sodhappy

Thank you everyone I will ring them up tomorrow and ask them to look at it again as not happy x

mikehughescq

sodhappy said:

It's to late to appeal now as it was in March but I wasn't sent a letter unti now 

If you only had the decision now then you’re well in time for challenging the decision and you need to concentrate on that more than a complaint at present.

sodhappy

I don't know where to start x

mikehughescq

Well have you done a mandatory reconsideration? The form leads you by the hand and you need to concentrate on the points you think you score rather than berating the HCP report. 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683380/if-you-disagree-with-a-decision-made-by-dwp.PDF

sodhappy

No I haven't x

Chloe_Scope

Hi @sodhappy

I understand that appealing a decision can be daunting when you don't know where to start. @mikehughescq has posted a great link which should make things a little clearer. Scope also have advice on this which can be found at:

https://www.scope.org.uk/support/disabled-people/benefits/appeals