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PIP Award - Review Period

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5 years 6 months ago #217278 by PC Pilot
PIP Award - Review Period was created by PC Pilot
Hi to all,

Would appreciate your thoughts on award review periods when people have long term degenerative conditions.

I have just (Sept 18) received my initial PIP award having transferred from an indefinite DLA award (previously lifetime DLA and Mobility Allowance). The DWP have determined my entitlement to be enhanced rate Daily Living and enhanced rate Mobility but have made the award for only 3 years, with a review in just 2. This is in line with the assessor's 'recommendation' which also seems quite pointless and unduly stressful for me.

In their review period comments the assessor's report advises "his conditions are degenerative, it is likely his functional ability will deteriorate in the future. Therefore a review period of 3 years is recommended" .......Why??

On 18th June the DWP published a press release which reported “New guidance coming into effect this summer means people who are awarded the highest level of support under PIP – and where their needs are expected to stay the same or increase – will receive an ongoing award of PIP with a light touch review every 10 years”.

The award review period I have been given appears to fly in the face of this....................or am I missing something here?

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5 years 6 months ago #217280 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP Award - Review Period
Neil

First a disclaimer; I'm not suggesting that this makes any sense in the universe that we live in.


The assessor's recommendation is made independently of the Decision so I think your quote from the report answers your question on the three years "his conditions are degenerative, it is likely his functional ability will deteriorate in the future."

As to the press release. This statement was made by a Minister in the House of Commons, we have seen no indication that this policy has been implemented.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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5 years 6 months ago #217285 by PC Pilot
Replied by PC Pilot on topic PIP Award - Review Period
Hi Gordon,

Thanks for the prompt response and yes I fully appreciate your disclaimer for I too feel we are in some sort of weird parallel universe at least so far as treatment of the disabled and vulnerable are concerned!

I also appreciate that the assessor's recommendation is independant from the decision makers conclusion. I guess I kind of felt that given the 'independence' of decision and the nature of the award (enhanced/enhanced) they might have excercised some 'reasoned' discretion (especially in view of the Minister's statement in the house) and not simply to follow blindly......if only to save the public purse an uneccessary expense!!

Of course if it is 'usual practice' for the DM to blindly follow the assessor it also makes you ponder the potential conflict of interest here with assessors/assessment providers when 'recommending' against future assessments. No assessment, no job or revenue potential!!......a case of Turkeys voting for Christmas??

On your final point, is there any indication of when the 'policy' is likely to be implemented?? ....and whether it will be applied retrospectively to cases (like mine) which already satisfy the criteria? Even if only as a money saving measure!!

You are probably already aware of this 'supposedly' internal DWP guidance document (presumably for DM's) on the subject available elsewhere on the web

{Without intending to infringe any forum regulations....please remove if this is the case...}

they are available here

<dwpexamination.org/forum/pip-dla-topics/...ard-periods-for-pip/> and here

<www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/13254/#61743> might this be evidence of the implementation of the minister's words?

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5 years 6 months ago #217287 by ThisGovernmentsGoneToFar
Replied by ThisGovernmentsGoneToFar on topic PIP Award - Review Period
Hi, Neil,

Well done on getting your PIP. All be it a short one. To be honest I would to be rather upset by the length of the Award?

As for people getting Enhanced rate on both Daily L and Mobility and regarding the so called leave people alone with the highest rate and severity of you disability's.

It just reminds me of what they said about the ESA exemption category last September 2017, I've not heard of many if (any) even being exempt.

I'm awaiting my ESA assessment since mid June and I full well know I should be placed in that exemption group as I fit It in three different ways but I No won't be.

I truly now believe these policy's are just tell people what they want to hear to shut them up.

The point I'm making here they have know intentions of making the less fortunate exempt or put on long term PIP.... Smokescreen is what this is about, give people short awards in the hope they give up.

These assessment providers and the DWP are the biggest crooks going end of.

I was formely known as (GoingOffMyHeadWithThisGovernment) Won PIP November 2017 ongoing award HR both. Now kept and got my ESA Support group but took a while.

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5 years 6 months ago #217298 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP Award - Review Period

Neil wrote: On your final point, is there any indication of when the 'policy' is likely to be implemented?? ....and whether it will be applied retrospectively to cases (like mine) which already satisfy the criteria? Even if only as a money saving measure!!


Any change has to be implemented via the assessor as it has been done for ESA, the decision to reassess is based on a medical opinion and therefore the DWP DM is not really qualified to make. The latest version of the PIP Assessment guide is dated 16 July 2018 and I can see no differences in the entries for deciding the Award Review date from the previous version.

I'm not aware of any additional information as to when this will be implemented, it may be that the powers that be feel that the current guidance is adequate and the intention is not to extend review periods but to alter the way in which On-Going awards are managed.

I don't expect this to something which will retrospectively applied.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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5 years 6 months ago #217330 by PC Pilot
Replied by PC Pilot on topic PIP Award - Review Period
Hi Gordon,

Thanks for the valuable input as ever.

The following is an extract from the PIP Assessment Guide - Part 1 (dated 16th July 2018 as you referenced). I have underlined the statements I would have thought applicable.....am I misunderstanding something? Or is it simply being ignored?

No review required

1.10.2 It would be appropriate for the HP to select the ‘no review required’ option in the following circumstances:

•where the HP considers there to be no likely change to the functional impairment


•where the claimant has functional impairment which is not likely to substantially change in the long-term, allowing for short-term periods of functional change in the case of fluctuating conditions


•where the HP considers that the claimant has a level of functional impairment that will likely improve to the point where there is little or no functional limitation present for example after treatment, surgery or medication. The HP should indicate the duration of such treatment and the date at which there are likely to be little or no functional limitations present. This will help the CM decide the duration of a fixed term award


•where the claimant has high levels of functional impairment which are only likely to increase, such as with progressive conditions


1.10.3 The HP should clearly outline their reasons for selecting the ‘no review required’ option using the free text box – for example ‘the claimant’s level of functional ability is stable and is unlikely to change in the long term’; or ‘the claimant is due to undergo surgery within the next 12 months, after which an 8 week recovery period is anticipated. It is likely that the claimant will not experience their current functional limitations post recovery period’.

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