You cannot get PIP because;

Hi Ian C

The first stage to challenging a Decision (if you want to) is for you to request a Mandatory Reconsideration, this needs to be done in writing to the DWP, within one month of the Decision, to the office that dealt with your claim, have a look at our PIP MR & Appeal guide for details of the process, the PIP area also has template letters that you can use to make the request with.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

You should contact the DWP for a copy of the assessment report if you have not already done so, I would phone them but again follow up the request in writing. 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.

Your primary task is to show that you meet the criteria, there are many reasons you may have failed, you need to address each of these but don't get bogged down in criticising the assessment report unless you can clearly show that it is incorrect, it is a lot easier to argue the facts of the situation;

"the assessor recorded that I walked 50m, I did but they have failed to document that I had to stop every 10m for a rest due to breathlessness"

than their opinions

"based on my observations of the claimant walking I believe that they can reliably walk more than 200m.

When you have a better idea of the issues with your claim, come back to the forum and we will do our best to help.

Re your eligibility to PIP, it does not change because of your extended retirement date.

Did you send in any additional medical information with your claim, re arthritis or cancer? If you didn't, you should do.

BIS

Hi Ian C

Regarding the medical evidence - although it says in the DWP information they will contact your GP for further information they very rarely do this and in reality, they hope claimants will send in some information. So it sounds as if your PIP assessor may not have had enough corroborating evidence (certainly for the arthritis as I assume your McMillan advisor has only been involved in your care since your cancer diagnosis). You can always access your own records or ask your GP for a report.

While you wait to make contact with your McMillan adviser you would do as well to ask the DWP for your assessment report. I can take up to ten days to arrive and unless you can see how the decision was reached, it's almost impossible to challenge how the decision maker came to their conclusion. You can have your report without ever saying you are putting in for a mandatory reconsideration.

BIS