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PIP Tribunal Preparation: Autism, Depression, ARFID
- aliengirl
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1 day 22 hours ago #304617 by aliengirl
PIP Tribunal Preparation: Autism, Depression, ARFID was created by aliengirl
Hi,
I'm writing on behalf of someone I know (with their full knowledge and consent).
She is autistic, has depression with a suicide plan, and has symptoms of Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (although is awaiting formal diagnostic assessment for the latter).
In her recent review, (which included a phone assessment of 1 hour and 50 minutes duration), she was marked down for the "Preparing Food" and "Communicating" questions, despite emphasizing to the assessor that there had been no change to her support needs and difficulties in these areas.
She also feels that she has support needs around budgeting, reading, and planning and following a journey, due to being autistic but she scored no points in these areas during the review.
I've downloaded the guides and I know they will be really helpful, but I wanted to ask if anyone had any additional advice or experience they would be willing to share regarding how she can have her best chance of being successful at tribunal?
Many thanks.
I'm writing on behalf of someone I know (with their full knowledge and consent).
She is autistic, has depression with a suicide plan, and has symptoms of Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (although is awaiting formal diagnostic assessment for the latter).
In her recent review, (which included a phone assessment of 1 hour and 50 minutes duration), she was marked down for the "Preparing Food" and "Communicating" questions, despite emphasizing to the assessor that there had been no change to her support needs and difficulties in these areas.
She also feels that she has support needs around budgeting, reading, and planning and following a journey, due to being autistic but she scored no points in these areas during the review.
I've downloaded the guides and I know they will be really helpful, but I wanted to ask if anyone had any additional advice or experience they would be willing to share regarding how she can have her best chance of being successful at tribunal?
Many thanks.
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- BIS
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1 day 2 hours ago #304662 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP Tribunal Preparation: Autism, Depression, ARFID
Hi aliengirl
You say that your friend was marked down. Did she get hold of the assessment report (PA4) or did you get that information just from the decision letter?
You say that she is going for a Tribunal, but you haven't mentioned that she challenged the review with a Mandatory Reconsideration - which is the next stage. Did she do this? This should have taken place within one month of the decision-letter. You said recent review - so I'm not sure of the the timescale you're working to.
If you haven't got the assessment report, she should ring and ask for a copy because that should give you more information about why she wasn't successful. If she has been through the MR stage and they turned her down she should have received a phonecall to explain the reason.
If she has been through all this and you are now going to the Tribunal stage - then I would look at the guide on how to to challenge a medical report. You have to accept that the assessor was merely giving an opinion and show where she failed to acknowledge information that was given or understand what your friend said. The assessors that the DWP use are notoriously bad at dealing with claimants with autism. If your friend is high functioning, they are even worse. I assume she didn't have the assessment recorded?
BIS
You say that your friend was marked down. Did she get hold of the assessment report (PA4) or did you get that information just from the decision letter?
You say that she is going for a Tribunal, but you haven't mentioned that she challenged the review with a Mandatory Reconsideration - which is the next stage. Did she do this? This should have taken place within one month of the decision-letter. You said recent review - so I'm not sure of the the timescale you're working to.
If you haven't got the assessment report, she should ring and ask for a copy because that should give you more information about why she wasn't successful. If she has been through the MR stage and they turned her down she should have received a phonecall to explain the reason.
If she has been through all this and you are now going to the Tribunal stage - then I would look at the guide on how to to challenge a medical report. You have to accept that the assessor was merely giving an opinion and show where she failed to acknowledge information that was given or understand what your friend said. The assessors that the DWP use are notoriously bad at dealing with claimants with autism. If your friend is high functioning, they are even worse. I assume she didn't have the assessment recorded?
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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