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PIP REVIEW AR1 FORM & ADDITIONAL SUPPORT MARKER

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6 years 1 month ago #205955 by libra1
I have just received my AR1 PIP review form 12 months ahead of my award end date, as expected. I was originally awarded standard rate daily living and no award for mobility in April 2016. After mandatory reconsideration, my daily living was increased to the enhanced rate in May 2016. My award is for 3 years until January 2019, with a review date of January 2018.

I am going to tick no change to all descriptors, as there is no change regarding my functioning for the majority of the time, given I have a fluctuating mental illness. I am due to see my GP next week to get an updated letter in support, but he will only be able to confirm that my underlying health condition diagnosis remains the same - bipolar affective disorder, and provide me with a current prescription list. He cannot address the descriptors other than what I have reported to him. Independent evidence regarding my functional impairment can only come from family members who care for me, as I am signed off from psychiatric services. Therefore, the decision maker either at the DWP or the Assessment Provider (in my case, Independent Assessment Services) will need to rely on my original PIP2 Form and the medical evidence provided 2 years ago to review my award.

The question I have is that I have been looking at the PIP Assessment Guide (Part 1 - The Assessment Process), and in particular guidance given to decision makers about the Review process during an existing award. I note that at para 1.11.5 on page 50, it says:

"DWP CMs will undertake paper-based award reviews in cases which
contain the Additional Support (AS) marker and where the AR1 has
been completed by the claimant and returned to DWP. "

I obtained a copy of the PA3 Report from the Health Care Professional at ATOS who did a paper based assessment when I claimed PIP. In it, she indicates that my functional impairment is likely to be present at the recommended point of review (2 years) and has also indicated that I may need Additional Support in engaging in any future claim processes.

Does this mean that my case has an Additional Support marker on my file?

I am due to complete and return the AR1 by the end of this month. Given I indicate no change, other than an update on current prescriptions (the medications themselves are exactly the same, except for dosage), and if I have an AS (Additional Support) Marker on my file, do you think this means that the DWP Case Manager is able to conduct a paper review without the need to refer it on to IAS?

I understand that the changes to the review/renewal process of PIP awards came in June 2016 and the guidance is that these new short forms are designed to avoid added unnecessary stress to the claimant in re-writing a full PIP2 Form, as well as save money in not having to refer a proportion of cases to the private assessment providers and speed the process along.

Am I naive if I believe this to be true?

Thank you for any guidance. Incidentally, I have read your advice on completing the AR1 Review forms and I lean towards erring on the side of 'the least said the better' when there is no change, thereby forcing the DWP Case Manager to look at the original Health Care Professional's advice as 'relevant medical evidence' because it went in my favour as well as my PIP2 and all supporting evidence.

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6 years 1 month ago #206004 by Gordon
Libra

Your post suggests that you to have the marker on your file, but you are still too early in the process for it's effects to be felt, so you will have to wait and see what happens when you return your AR1 form.

Be aware that this is guidance and is not binding on the DWP or the Assessment Provider, so you may still be asked to attend a face to face, if this happens then please come back to the forum for help.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: libra1

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6 years 1 month ago #206024 by libra1
Thank you, Gordon. Will do.

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6 years 1 month ago #206089 by libra1
I forgot to ask.... is there any feedback on how long PIP Reviews are taking from the point the AR1 Form is returned? I am in the London area, if that helps.

Originally, when I submitted my PIP2 Form for my initial claim over 2 years ago, the process from returning the form, paper assessment by ATOS and then the decision took just over 13 weeks. At the time, the DWP were saying the process would take 16 weeks. Thank you.

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6 years 1 month ago #206109 by Gordon
Libra

The AR1 form is not treated any different from the PIP2, best guess is 3-6 weeks to hear about a face to face assessment with the appointment being a further 1-2 weeks and then a Decision should be 2-4 weeks.

So a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: libra1

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5 years 11 months ago #210339 by libra1
Replied by libra1 on topic PIP REVIEW and FURTHER MEDICAL EVIDENCE
I got a text from the DWP 5 weeks after sending my PIP AR1 form back (ticking 'no change' to everything and enclosing an updated prescription list) to say they had received it with the standard information saying they may send it on to a third party to review.

Last week, I then received a phone call from a HP from Independent Assessment Services (IAS) telling me they tried to contact my GP (as the person involved in my medical care) by phone that day but the surgery would not discuss my case over the phone without my consent. She asked me if there was anyone else involved in my medical care she could speak to by phone. I said there wasn't and that I would contact my surgery to let them know they have my consent to speak to the HP. The HP then said she would write to my GP and send a form seeking further medical evidence and that I would not be sent to an assessment centre in the meantime, subject to reviewing this medical evidence. I spoke to my GP yesterday, who had only just received the form and would be completing it to send back to them early next week. I also received a letter from IAS to say they would be seeking further information from my GP and may be able to complete a report for the DWP without needing to see me at an assessment centre.

However, today, only a week after the HP from IAS spoke to me on the phone and sent out the form to my GP as well as the letter to me, I receive another letter from IAS giving me an appointment next week to attend an assessment. The letter states they have reviewed the medical evidence received and still need to see me. This is impossible. They have only just sent the form to the GP and he hasn't even returned it yet. I phoned IAS today to say the appointment must have been made in error. The IAS advisor told me on the phone that indeed, the appointment letter was sent the day after the form was sent out to my GP leaving insufficient time for him to receive it or complete it. The note on the system gives the reason for making the appointment as 'insufficient evidence'. I was told that the appointment at the end of next week, however, cannot be cancelled. I was told a note of this 'error' in not allowing enough time to obtain further medical evidence is now entered on the system and that I should ignore the appointment next week and wait to hear from IAS once they have reviewed the information from my GP. Is this right? Why can't the appointment be cancelled if it was made in error? In spite of my confusion, the IAS advisor (who is not a HP) assured me that I would not be penalised for not attending the appointment next week as a full note is on the system. She then seemed to say that if I didn't attend, my file would be returned to the DWP who would also see a full note on the system that the appointment had been made without allowing sufficient time for further medical evidence to be obtained having only just been requested. I was told not to worry and just wait to hear from IAS. Is this normal? It makes no sense that the assessment appointment can't be cancelled and I am advised to ignore it unless I hear from them in the meantime....

Should I phone the DWP to let them know what has happened?

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