- Posts: 99
× Members
PIP Reviews advice
- Jaged
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
3 weeks 8 hours ago #313194 by Jaged
PIP Reviews advice was created by Jaged
Over the years I've had a few pip reviews for a life long illness that is getting worse, so my day to day activities have been affected and continue to be as my illness gets worse.
All my reviews have been consistent regarding my illness and how it's affecting me. I've had F2F assessments and an over the phone assessment plus a review that didn't need either.
My issue is over the years I've had (with all the same information & evidence given) higher mobility removed and enhanced daily given. Other reviews I've had higher mobility given and the enhanced daily taken away.
I don't understand this when they've always been given similar information apart from the worsening, in all reviews and it is an illness that gets much worse.
Because the different elements got switched I presumed what I was getting was the highest amount because the kept removing one but putting the other in.
Surely this isn't right?
How can for years they say you're entitled to higher mobility (for an illness that affects mobility and gets worse with age) to the next review when you're older, say you don't need higher mobility when you're acturely worse and vice versa for the higher living standard?
They've been switching them out putting higher mobility in and removing higher daily living, or giving higher daily living and removing higher mobility.
Never awarding both.
This is very strange when my review forms plus evidence have always been consistent, don't you think?
All my reviews have been consistent regarding my illness and how it's affecting me. I've had F2F assessments and an over the phone assessment plus a review that didn't need either.
My issue is over the years I've had (with all the same information & evidence given) higher mobility removed and enhanced daily given. Other reviews I've had higher mobility given and the enhanced daily taken away.
I don't understand this when they've always been given similar information apart from the worsening, in all reviews and it is an illness that gets much worse.
Because the different elements got switched I presumed what I was getting was the highest amount because the kept removing one but putting the other in.
Surely this isn't right?
How can for years they say you're entitled to higher mobility (for an illness that affects mobility and gets worse with age) to the next review when you're older, say you don't need higher mobility when you're acturely worse and vice versa for the higher living standard?
They've been switching them out putting higher mobility in and removing higher daily living, or giving higher daily living and removing higher mobility.
Never awarding both.
This is very strange when my review forms plus evidence have always been consistent, don't you think?
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BIS
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 10293
2 weeks 6 days ago #313225 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP Reviews advice
Hi Jaged
I understand your frustration, and you're certainly not alone in that happening. Although I can't say for certain why it keeps happening, I can suggest a plausible explanation.
When an assessor reviews a claimant, they are giving their 'opinion' and although they have guidelines for how they should assess claimants, it is quite possible for an assessor to award points in one area which the next assessor removes next time there is a review. Claimants will say nothing has changed, and often nothing has, but the opinion is different. Now that may come about because they interpret the written evidence differently, or because of what the claimant says.
Now I admit yours is very odd to be awarded either mobility or daily care and then swapped the next time round. Have you ever requested the PA4 (The assessor's report - so you can understand why they came to their decision)? If you have the PA4 it's easer to challenge their decision.
One thing you should be aware of - I know you have an illness that deteriorates with age - but an assessor won't necessarily have an awareness of your specific illness, and even if they do - deterioration is individual and so they won't assume that it has happened without you not only providing the evidence but arguing exactly how it impacts you. Something is clearly wrong in their understanding if you have enhanced mobility one year and then it is removed the next time, and you are suddenly given enhanced care.
If you haven't got a copy of your last assessment report, you can ring the DWP and ask for it. (If the last review you had was paper-based and it happened since the pandemic, there won't be a report.
BIS
I understand your frustration, and you're certainly not alone in that happening. Although I can't say for certain why it keeps happening, I can suggest a plausible explanation.
When an assessor reviews a claimant, they are giving their 'opinion' and although they have guidelines for how they should assess claimants, it is quite possible for an assessor to award points in one area which the next assessor removes next time there is a review. Claimants will say nothing has changed, and often nothing has, but the opinion is different. Now that may come about because they interpret the written evidence differently, or because of what the claimant says.
Now I admit yours is very odd to be awarded either mobility or daily care and then swapped the next time round. Have you ever requested the PA4 (The assessor's report - so you can understand why they came to their decision)? If you have the PA4 it's easer to challenge their decision.
One thing you should be aware of - I know you have an illness that deteriorates with age - but an assessor won't necessarily have an awareness of your specific illness, and even if they do - deterioration is individual and so they won't assume that it has happened without you not only providing the evidence but arguing exactly how it impacts you. Something is clearly wrong in their understanding if you have enhanced mobility one year and then it is removed the next time, and you are suddenly given enhanced care.
If you haven't got a copy of your last assessment report, you can ring the DWP and ask for it. (If the last review you had was paper-based and it happened since the pandemic, there won't be a report.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Jaged
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 99
2 weeks 5 days ago #313247 by Jaged
Replied by Jaged on topic PIP Reviews advice
Hi, I do have a copy from the review I did a couple of years ago, so if I send for the latest ones, from the review I've just had that I passed with a paper review it'll be interesting to compare the two.
Unfortunately, when the higher day rate was taken away and mobility was added back in, I wasn't aware I could ask for the paperwork.
I also was that scared of losing pip (as I didn't know how it all worked) I never questioned anything as I didn't want to upset the apple cart.
I just saw it as I've not lost anything not really thinking but I am losing because I'm not getting what I should be getting.
My illness causes mobility problems because of deformaties, fatigue and more.
It's a disease that attacks the nerves, so I have sensory loss, muscle wastage, muscle weaknesses, causing unsteadiness, dizziness, fatigue and forgetfulness because of fatigue, and it's the muscles weaknesses, wastage and fatigue that are getting worse with age.
So, no way should my scores look like I got better 3 or 4 reviews back.
They've switched from either giving me mobility or higher daily living. But since they took the higher daily living away and gave me mobility back, they've stuck with this.
In my last notes I requested it does reference them going off what the last assessor thought or scored.
I just find it odd I've got exactly the same scores again, even though I've explained how I've got worse plus added evidence.
Once section, I have real proof that shows a certain behaviour is happening and I was scored zero.
So, the evidence was ignored.
Anxiety is being ignored even though I've been prescribed diazepam over 15 years for anxiety.
So I'm having both physical and mental ignored even when there's evidence what they're ignoring exists.
Unfortunately, when the higher day rate was taken away and mobility was added back in, I wasn't aware I could ask for the paperwork.
I also was that scared of losing pip (as I didn't know how it all worked) I never questioned anything as I didn't want to upset the apple cart.
I just saw it as I've not lost anything not really thinking but I am losing because I'm not getting what I should be getting.
My illness causes mobility problems because of deformaties, fatigue and more.
It's a disease that attacks the nerves, so I have sensory loss, muscle wastage, muscle weaknesses, causing unsteadiness, dizziness, fatigue and forgetfulness because of fatigue, and it's the muscles weaknesses, wastage and fatigue that are getting worse with age.
So, no way should my scores look like I got better 3 or 4 reviews back.
They've switched from either giving me mobility or higher daily living. But since they took the higher daily living away and gave me mobility back, they've stuck with this.
In my last notes I requested it does reference them going off what the last assessor thought or scored.
I just find it odd I've got exactly the same scores again, even though I've explained how I've got worse plus added evidence.
Once section, I have real proof that shows a certain behaviour is happening and I was scored zero.
So, the evidence was ignored.
Anxiety is being ignored even though I've been prescribed diazepam over 15 years for anxiety.
So I'm having both physical and mental ignored even when there's evidence what they're ignoring exists.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- latetrain
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 9534
2 weeks 4 hours ago #313359 by latetrain
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by latetrain on topic PIP Reviews advice
Hi Jaged
Did you request a copy of the assessors report, PA4 as advised by BIS.
When you get the report you can see how the assessor has come to their decision, prior to applying for a mandatory reconsideration.
We would advise you to seek help from your local Welfare Rights Organisation: advicelocal.uk where they can take all your circumstances into consideration when giving you advice.
Gary
Did you request a copy of the assessors report, PA4 as advised by BIS.
When you get the report you can see how the assessor has come to their decision, prior to applying for a mandatory reconsideration.
We would advise you to seek help from your local Welfare Rights Organisation: advicelocal.uk where they can take all your circumstances into consideration when giving you advice.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Moderators: latetrain, BIS, Catherine12345, Chris, David, Forum Moderator