Success but should I appeal?

The result of my PIP assessment is the standard rate for the daily living component (I was receiving the middle DLA care rate) and nothing for the mobility component (I was receiving the lowest DLA mobility rate). This means I will be getting less money than I did under DLA.

I was expecting not be awarded any mobility allowance because I have a mental illness and according to info on this site and elsewhere virtually no one with mental illness is awarded mobility allowance. I was awarded 4 points for mobility but this is not enough for an award.

Based on how my illness affects me I believe I should have received more than 2 points each for preparing food; washing and bathing and dressing and undressing which I often struggle with due to OCD, depression and anxiety. I also disagree with the 2 points awarded for engaging with others face to face and the 1 point for managing medication but I'm mainly concerned with the other three descriptors. While I'm relieved to receive an award after all the unfair and disappointing outcomes others have unfortunately experienced I don't think the Decision Makers Reasoning has acknowledged the level of support I need for those three descriptors.

I'm aware that challenging this decision might undo the award rather than increase it so I wondered if it was worth appealing considering that it seems very difficult to be awarded the enhanced rate for mental illness? Could the decision about those three descriptors affect my ESA assessment?

Thanks for all your help and advice with my PIP claim. I also received help from the CAB who have been very supportive as well. This has been a very frightening and torturous experience for me but I really encourage all those who are still struggling to get through it to persevere.

Hi Spectralis,

Well, I'm glad that you got some kind of PIP award but sorry that it was not what you had hoped for.

I'm afraid cannot advise you whether or not to appeal. You are correct in saying that there is a risk to doing so - however any adverse decision can still be taken to appeal (although you would not be paid anything meanwhile if the MR removed the award.) If you scored just 8 points your award will be more precarious than if you scored 11 and just need to find one more. In reality, the MR seldom does more than 'rubber stamp' the original decision but I can't pretend there is no risk at all

You can contact DWP and ask for a copy of the assessor's report, this will help you understand where and why you did/did not score points. However, it is entirely possible that you will have to submit the MR request before this has arrived.

I suggest you go back through the PIP guide to try and workout where else you should have scored points and how to explain that (or point to where you have already done so on the PIP2 form). The guide also talks you through the MR and appeal process.

You should bookmark/favourite this topic on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future. Then you can come back with any further questions or queries about your PIP. It helps us enormously if everything relating to one claim is kept in the same place and I hope it will help you too

Thanks for your reply. I scored 9 points which I think is very low considering the info I gave on my application and at the assessment. I'm very unsure whether to appeal and what the advantages might be of appealing apart from receiving the higher PIP rate which I might not be eligible for anyway.

Is the PIP assessment score considered in relation to ESA? If so then a higher score might make the ESA take how my illness affects me more seriously. Even though I should be overjoyed at receiving any award despite all the obstacles in the way I still feel angry that I scored so low in the three categories I mentioned. I have to weigh up whether to accept my anger at this award or go through the stress of appealing it. I wonder if others are in the the same position of considering whether to accept an award rather than go through the trauma of an appeal?

Thanks Gordon. When the CAB helped me with the PIP form they asked me to let them know the result so I'll ask them for their advice about whether or not to appeal. After watching the C4 program about PIP I have little confidence in the assessment process. The program exposed the very superficial and unfair methods of assessment for those of us with mental illness. I expect a reconsideration will be no better which then leaves a lengthy and frightening appeal process. I don't know if I can cope with that straight after a PIP assessment.

I have similar mental health problems to the ones you outline - I submitted my PIP form last sept 2015 - I also was awarded 4 points for mobility having previously been on lower rate mobility DLA - I went through the MR and an appeal - nothing was changed and I still only was given 4 points.