PIP Mandatory Reconsideration

I was transferred from DLA to PIP in January 2020. I studied all the relevant information on this site as well as googling information from many other places. I looked at information from organisations as well as other people's personal experiences. I had my assessment and received the decision from the DWP downgrading my award considerably. I immediately asked for a copy of the Assessors Report (which took over 3 weeks to arrive) and noted that there were many inaccuracies and informal observations contained therein. I would not have known that I could ask for this report had I not seen it here. It is vital that you ask for this report before you start any appeal type procedure.

I decided to submit a Mandatory Reconsideration and, again followed advice given on this site as well as elsewhere. The process took me a very long time and was exceptionally detailed. I itemised every Activity, Descriptor and Points based on the Assessors Report and the DWP outcome and against all of this indicated why I disagreed, giving valid reasons, what I think it should have been and the points I think I should have been awarded. Under each activity I added a list of aids and special adaptations I use in order to carry out the activity. I did this as a Word document in table format so that it was clear to see exactly what I was appealing against and why. At the end I did a general paragraph on areas where I felt not enough cognisance had been taken of the information provided and my views on informal observations.

The original decision was over turned on Mandatory Reconsideration. The reason I am posting this is because at one point, because it was so time consuming and I had to do so much research, I nearly gave up. My advice to anyone out there currently embarking on a Reconsideration is to take it slowly, do one activity at a time and really research it thoroughly. Make sure the information you provide is clear, concise and stick to the Activity you are working on (I read through mine and deleted several bits as I felt they were not relevant but could be slotted in elsewhere) and easy to read (the reason why I decided to do it in table format and not just as an appeal letter). Gradually you will get there, it takes a lot of patience and is very repetitive as I found a lot of the information was relevant to several of the Activities.

Good luck to everyone who is currently going for a Mandatory Reconsideration or Appeal - hope these tips help a little.