semi new re forum Q by Albert 66 1 day ago Paper+

Hi apples6

There is a window for you to write to the Decision Maker but you will need to be quick.

No, you don't have to wait for the decision, you can ask for your assessment report. I would give them about a week for it to be loaded up on the system before giving DWP a call but again follow up the request in writing. After you've asked for your assessment, it will take 6-10 days to arrive.

Once you have the assessment report you will have a better understanding of how the DWP Decision Maker has come to their conclusions and will then be able to argue against them.

Understand that the assessor is offering an opinion when they say that you can do the PIP activities, tackling these head-on is unlikely to be successful, you need to show that the basis of that opinion is founded on incorrect information, so try and refer to your evidence to undermine what they have said.

Also, try and stick to issues that lead to your scoring points, I often hear members referring to the assessors spelling, as an example, whilst it may show a lack of professionalism, raising it as an issue isn't going to help you get an award.

Lastly, make sure that you understand the criteria that you are being assessed against you can put the best case forward that is possible but you won't score points if you do not meet the PIP Descriptors, check out our guides www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

It is important that you understand that PIP is a very different benefit from DLA, the intention of the Government when they introduced the new benefit was to reduce the disability benefits budget by at least 20%, so the criteria is a lot stricter than DLA and the assessment process is now task orientated.

Gary