assessment reports for pip face to face

Would appreciate any advice. I requested a copy of my assessment report for my PIP face to face by telephone, then backed this up with a written request sent by recorded delivery over a month ago, however, have not received it. I am now at appeal stage and about to fill in form SSCS1 with my submission. How can I see the evidence when it is clearly being withheld from me? Do the DWP have a legal obligation to send my report to me when I have twice been let down? Should I note the DWP's ignorance on my appeal submission? Thanks for reading, any help more than welcome. Cookie.

In my first claim to ESA I had to pursue the assessment report as the decision was going to be appealed.Being very ill it was too difficult for me. My friend took it upon herself to help chase it up but by the time a response was received the report had arrived in the appeal bundle.

The report was questionable to say the least, there were factual inaccuracies and assumptions made by the Health Professional (HP) all the way through it. It took my friend a lot of time to work through the anomalies contained in the report.

I believe that a copy of the assessment should be sent to the claimant automatically as they are kept on file. Even if the decision is in your favour there may be inaccuracies that could cause problems later if they go unchallenged.

There was a lady who wrote on this site about an HP who recorded that she could bend down to paint her toenails, assuming she had done it herself. The fact was that her grand daughter had done it for her. Unchallenged the HP's incorrect information would have remained on file and shown the claimant in a bad light.

Thank you for replying. I have twice telephoned (chased up) the assessment report but still no joy. I do understand that the evidence will arrive with the appeal package, however, I requested the report at mandatory reconsideration stage and have since been awarded no daily care/mobility, so not having the evidence has impeded my claim. I find the DWP truly vile people to deal with, they lie and mislead, so you feel like giving up but you have to grind them down. Thanks again.

cookie wrote: Thank you for replying. I have twice telephoned (chased up) the assessment report but still no joy. I do understand that the evidence will arrive with the appeal package, however, I requested the report at mandatory reconsideration stage and have since been awarded no daily care/mobility, so not having the evidence has impeded my claim. I find the DWP truly vile people to deal with, they lie and mislead, so you feel like giving up but you have to grind them down. Thanks again.

Hi c,

As you state you should eventually receive a copy in the Evidence/Pack/Bundle !

Your only other alternative is to make a written request, which can be done using a SAR Form :

SAR Form Download

From this page :

DWP Data Protection Policy

Or you can make the request in the form of a letter, as long as you make it clear that you are making a formal SAR under The Data Protection Act 1998.

Address the envelope : FAO The Data Controller, at the Benefits Office dealing with your PIP.

Write DPA 1998 SAR in front, top, left corner of envelope.

Once received, they have 40 calendar days to comply.

Sending Documents to the DWP.

As they can take 40 calendar days to respond, although it is usually quicker, you may receive the Evidence Pack before the documents requested in The SAR, although you will still have The SAR as a backup.

bro58