PIP review AR1 time frames

Hi Zaib

Just because the assessor wrote it, you don't have to agree with it. If you never fully straightened your elbow just say so. Describe the difficulties you have and back up what you're saying with any medical evidence and experiences you have. You can spend hours trying to pick the report apart wondering why the assessor said things that don't make sense or what exactly they meant. It's a waste of your time. What you're trying to do is show where you should have scored more points and why. If an aid wouldn't be helpful - you have to say why (lack of manual dexterity, grip strength, damaged muscles etc)

Just say although the assessor says they observed you bending your elbow fully and has stated you have full movement, this is actually incorrect. (And then go on to say why).

BIS

Hi Zaib

Different people take different approaches. Some people keep it brief and very concise and others do detailed but concise and you just have to do what works for you. My focus would always be on what will possibly give me more points. For example - if the assessor wrote that I didn't appear depressed when I was deeply depressed, I'd probably be annoyed and think they were possibly ignorant, but at the end of the day it's an opinion and it wouldn't gain me any more points if the comment was changed. I might mention it in one sentence but that would be it. However, if they said I had no problem with manual dexterity and therefore could easily prepare a simple meal, despite my severe arthritis I would not only quote what I had already written in my evidence, I would give them a further example and I would quote from the medical evidence.

As I said, you have to do what works for you. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of success, but if you are the sort of person who will sit and worry after you have sent your evidence in wishing you had said something, you should say it now. You can deal with an appeal if and when it happens.

BIS