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ADP review, help deciding best course of action
- Estibeiro
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1 month 10 hours ago #314180 by Estibeiro
ADP review, help deciding best course of action was created by Estibeiro
Hi, Sorry to ask advice on this but one of the reasons I qualify for ADP (Scottish PIP) is that I'm not capable of making financial decisions, or even ordinary decisions a lot of time due to my mental health problems.
Last time I had a review I was not at all well, was not very informed and just ticked 'no change' and returned it. I later read that this risked me losing my benefit but I was lucky and did not (I receive the higher award for the first section and no award for the second section).
I've got a new review coming up and I'd seen the Benefits and Work published figures for how risky it is to choose 'no change' just on the basis of not getting renewed. And I also fear the proposed new rules that make only higher scoring applicants get benefits at all.
The truth is my condition is changed, for the worse I belief. I also think they were wrong originally in not awarding me anything for the ability to plan a journey section and scored me very low on the budgeting section but I did not have the resources to challenge it.
I've spent the last week giving a really detailed rundown of my abilities/disabilities but I look at the information I submitted last time and feel ongoing bewilderment at how they could read all that yet still not give me any points.
I'm feeling torn between opening raw places in me by resubmitting my information just to be knocked back and taking the risk of just ticking 'no change' again. I'm afraid my brain is turning to mush over all of this. Can anyone help me with offering their perspective on this please?
Last time I had a review I was not at all well, was not very informed and just ticked 'no change' and returned it. I later read that this risked me losing my benefit but I was lucky and did not (I receive the higher award for the first section and no award for the second section).
I've got a new review coming up and I'd seen the Benefits and Work published figures for how risky it is to choose 'no change' just on the basis of not getting renewed. And I also fear the proposed new rules that make only higher scoring applicants get benefits at all.
The truth is my condition is changed, for the worse I belief. I also think they were wrong originally in not awarding me anything for the ability to plan a journey section and scored me very low on the budgeting section but I did not have the resources to challenge it.
I've spent the last week giving a really detailed rundown of my abilities/disabilities but I look at the information I submitted last time and feel ongoing bewilderment at how they could read all that yet still not give me any points.
I'm feeling torn between opening raw places in me by resubmitting my information just to be knocked back and taking the risk of just ticking 'no change' again. I'm afraid my brain is turning to mush over all of this. Can anyone help me with offering their perspective on this please?
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- BIS
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2 weeks 6 days ago #314284 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic ADP review, help deciding best course of action
Hi Estibeiro
I'm sorry you have had to wait for an answer. I know you have posted a second post, worrying that your first one wasn't accepted, but no one was around who was able to answer your post. Posts don't appear until a moderator has approved and answered them.
I can't tell you what you should do about your form and whether you should tick no change or write a little information. You have to prioritise your mental health and do what feels right for you. I have two thoughts about your concerns and you can see if they influence your thinking.
1. You don't understand with all the information you gave them about your difficulties why they didn't award you any points. Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of claiments. There can be a variety of different reasons why they came to the conclusion - you could have had an incompetent assessor, you could have had some who didn't take the time to read your evidence properly, you could have had an assessor who doesn't understand your particular difficulties or it could be that you didn't show 'evidence' they wanted or 'explain' in a way that the assessor could accept. By the way, I am not trying to blame you in anyway - I only give all these examples to show that it can be a bit of a lottery and some luck to have an assessor see things in the same way as you do. Now will that happen again? As I have no idea why you didn't get the points you were expecting, it's impossible to know,
If it happens again it will obviously be devastating - so you have to decide what you can live with.
2. If you just tick no change - then they will look back at your previous form and they could make the same decision. If you complete the form with very similar information in addition to all the things that have changed/grown worse it will force them to read it afresh. (This is a new assessor not an old one). Will it still lead to a positive outcome> I don't know. But if it doesn't - will be able to say you tried and you won't be left wondering - should I have told them more?
I'm sorry that there is no easy answer for you. My view is that people have to do what works best for them at the time of filling in the form. If you can't manage it emotionally - so be it - but don't give yourself a hard time. And if you can't still make a decision - go on your gut instinct. People often underestimate the power of their gut instinct.
BIS
I'm sorry you have had to wait for an answer. I know you have posted a second post, worrying that your first one wasn't accepted, but no one was around who was able to answer your post. Posts don't appear until a moderator has approved and answered them.
I can't tell you what you should do about your form and whether you should tick no change or write a little information. You have to prioritise your mental health and do what feels right for you. I have two thoughts about your concerns and you can see if they influence your thinking.
1. You don't understand with all the information you gave them about your difficulties why they didn't award you any points. Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of claiments. There can be a variety of different reasons why they came to the conclusion - you could have had an incompetent assessor, you could have had some who didn't take the time to read your evidence properly, you could have had an assessor who doesn't understand your particular difficulties or it could be that you didn't show 'evidence' they wanted or 'explain' in a way that the assessor could accept. By the way, I am not trying to blame you in anyway - I only give all these examples to show that it can be a bit of a lottery and some luck to have an assessor see things in the same way as you do. Now will that happen again? As I have no idea why you didn't get the points you were expecting, it's impossible to know,
If it happens again it will obviously be devastating - so you have to decide what you can live with.
2. If you just tick no change - then they will look back at your previous form and they could make the same decision. If you complete the form with very similar information in addition to all the things that have changed/grown worse it will force them to read it afresh. (This is a new assessor not an old one). Will it still lead to a positive outcome> I don't know. But if it doesn't - will be able to say you tried and you won't be left wondering - should I have told them more?
I'm sorry that there is no easy answer for you. My view is that people have to do what works best for them at the time of filling in the form. If you can't manage it emotionally - so be it - but don't give yourself a hard time. And if you can't still make a decision - go on your gut instinct. People often underestimate the power of their gut instinct.
BIS
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- Estibeiro
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1 week 6 days ago #314391 by Estibeiro
Replied by Estibeiro on topic ADP review, help deciding best course of action
Thank you so much for giving me such a clearsighted response to my question(s). So sorry to have been pushy. I know you must be overloaded with anxious people in the current climate.
I spent hours over the last two weeks writing and re-writing my 'evidence' for review and it made me so unwell in the process. I was all set to submit it when last night I had a change of heart/mind and felt I was just going to choose the 'no change' option.
I can't find anywhere the list of percentages I thought I'd seen in a B and W newsletter for people who put no change and lost their award. Perhaps I hallucinated it! But my actual letter from Social Security Scotland yesterday says "If nothing has changed your payments should stay the same." I may have to put my faith in that one little sentence and hope for the best, dealing with any fallout when it happens IF it happens.
I feel reasonably at ease with that decision. I have a marked fear of triggering another assessment interview (social phobia being a high proportion of my disabling symptoms). This way I may buy myself some peace.
I have another couple of weeks before I reach the deadline. I shall see how it sits.
Thank you again, I do appreciate your kindness and patience.
I spent hours over the last two weeks writing and re-writing my 'evidence' for review and it made me so unwell in the process. I was all set to submit it when last night I had a change of heart/mind and felt I was just going to choose the 'no change' option.
I can't find anywhere the list of percentages I thought I'd seen in a B and W newsletter for people who put no change and lost their award. Perhaps I hallucinated it! But my actual letter from Social Security Scotland yesterday says "If nothing has changed your payments should stay the same." I may have to put my faith in that one little sentence and hope for the best, dealing with any fallout when it happens IF it happens.
I feel reasonably at ease with that decision. I have a marked fear of triggering another assessment interview (social phobia being a high proportion of my disabling symptoms). This way I may buy myself some peace.
I have another couple of weeks before I reach the deadline. I shall see how it sits.
Thank you again, I do appreciate your kindness and patience.
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- BIS
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1 week 5 days ago #314418 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic ADP review, help deciding best course of action
Hi Estibeiro
You were not 'pushy' at all. Being reviewed for ADP or PIP is scary because of what is at stake. It's normal for stress levels to go through the roof. Don't put yourself down.
I'm glad you've come to a decision. I don't know whether there are numbers regarding putting no change, but even if there are, I would stay away from looking at numbers like that. It won't help. As long as you're comfortable with your decision that's all that matters.
BIS
You were not 'pushy' at all. Being reviewed for ADP or PIP is scary because of what is at stake. It's normal for stress levels to go through the roof. Don't put yourself down.
I'm glad you've come to a decision. I don't know whether there are numbers regarding putting no change, but even if there are, I would stay away from looking at numbers like that. It won't help. As long as you're comfortable with your decision that's all that matters.
BIS
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