Clarification on PIP report

Hi Katiee,
I just feel sometimes I need to Screammmm! Now breathe...
I really despair with DWP at times. The real answer to your question is you already have evidence but no one's interested. Just to put this all into context I know if someone who was sectioned twice within a year for 2 reasonably long periods each time. When released there was a lot of help provided and a care plan. Zero points were awarded because there was no evidence of ongoing mental health crisis. (Well no, because all of the intensive help provided helps to avoid this, but it's a knife edge and trigger activities have to be avoided.) These sort of examples happen all the time. Trouble is it's really annoying for claimants (and their advisors!)
Don't worry about the 1 month time limit. Any MR/or subsequent appeal must be considered if lodges within the first month. However a late MR or appeal can be sent in up to 13 months after the decision date if you can show good reason. Ill health, bereavement or other family crisis, late receipt of medical reports or DWP papers could all comprise a reasonable excuse.
Writing an MR letter
Fist state This Mandatory Reconsideration is late because....
Then a couple or so paragraphs about your health issues, explain the intensive counselling, what happened, did it work etc. Explain when and how you were diagnosed. Eg was there some sort of eureka moment when you realised that you couldn't do what friends were doing etc, explain any deteriorations, medications if any. Etc etc.
Mentions the aids, access to work
Then you could say (yes I have actually written this before on MR)
I enclose the following medical reports
1. X report dated...
2. Y report dated...
....
10. Z report....
Then say These are copies of the reports submitted again. These are resent as they appear to have been ignored previously.
Next, using a spare piece of paper initially, work out 4 or 5 bullet point criticisms of the assessment report. Give examples. You can use this to group ideas together. Using focused bullet points is much better than an essay! Once formulated, write the bullet points and examples into the actual MR letter.
Finally explain each relevant descriptor activity and say how you can't do this and what has gone wrong in the past etc. Then you can indicate the correct score. You can give a more in depth criticism of assessment or decision at this point. (But try to be brief, just a few sentences basically expanding on the bullet points perhaps .)
Remember to consider the 4 criteria -
Safety
Reasonable time
Repetition
Acceptable standard
Remember to put name and NI number on all pages.
Now, whether an MR will work is debatable. It can work, but often DWP just maintain their initial stance. That said occasionally they change their mind. But if not remember it is just part of the process, and success at tribunal is very achievable.
Let us know how you get on.
I hope this helps.
LL26