PIP Result: Shattered

A little back history.

I was refused PIP at the first time of asking in December 2016.

I scored:
Care: 5 Points
Mobility: 0 Points

At tribunal in June 2017, the DWP report was set-aside and I scored:
Care: 15 Points
Mobility 10 Points

I received the Award Review in December 2018.

I subsequently received a text message indicating I “might" need a face-to-face.

In March the “might” became a “would”.

This was news I had dreaded of-course. Reading on this site I read that anybody required to attend a f-2-f after an AR1 was effectively making a new claim.

And so it was. I attended the f-2-f in May and received the brown envelope 10 days ago. I hadn't scored a single point. Not. One.

I requested the Assessors Summary and it was a vile mixture of supposition and half-truths. It didn't change anything though.

Losing PIP and also the Severe Disablement Premium element of ESA leaves me £600 down a month. If it were not for my family I would be looking for a new home.

Are these stunning reversals of awards becoming more common? My feeling is that these ‘sucker-punch’ decisions are made in the hope that they aren't challenged by the claimant. That people are just so over-whelmed that they simply do not contest them.

Well to hell with that.

I prevailed at tribunal once, and I’ll do so again.

In the interim there is the travesty of the Mandatory Reconsideration. I have an excellent GP who is prepared to write an additional letter of support, really digging in to the descriptors which his initial letter didn’t do.

I'm not naive enough to think that the DWP will reverse it’s decision at MR, but it has to be done.

Are there any others out there who had such a colosal reversal of fortune. If so how are you fairing?

Mine wasn't quite as bad as you- but for my MR to get back the points they took away I sent the DWP a copy of the original tribunal letter/decision and a letter from my GP saying my conditions were chronic and unlikely to ever improve . Did the trick - points reinstated at MR so no tribunal.

Good for you Ellen.

I did include the tribunal decision and a very good GP letter, alas to no avail.

My GP is writing a further letter, with more reference to the descriptors, for my MR. My specialist (in psychiatry) has been off for months now with no sign of her returning. I have seen the locum once, and have requested a letter, but all she can really do is skim the notes and write from that, so that's not going to be a game-changer.

I'm wondering if I should submit a formal new claim, I have precisely nothing to lose. Perhaps Gordon could help out there?

Hi David,

Just to say that the very same happened to me last summer. Zero points and the report was a pack of misinterpretations and lies.

I went to MR and won. I got my old award back - higher mobility and standard daily living.

I was very thorough and sent in loads of evidence including a new letter from my GP. I did record the process, but to be honest, I am doubtful as to whether it was ever listened to.

Please do not despair; if your GP can write you a good strong letter and you have more solid evidence, there is every chance you could win at the MR stage.

I wish you nthr

I'd been on DLA for 27yrs. Applied for PIP and scored 2 points. With help from the relevant guides on this site my MR was successful and I scored 27 points! It can happen, don't give up.