The DWP has confirmed it is testing sharing PIP assessment reports with claimants before making a decision.

Mims Davies, DWP minister for disabled people, announced the move last month in response to a written question from Labour MP Marsha De Cordova.

Davies explained that:

“We are currently conducting a test to understand the impact of sharing assessment reports with PIP claimants by default. As part of the evaluation, we will gather insight from claimants to understand whether sharing the assessment report provides them with the opportunity to clarify evidence so that we can make the right decision as early as possible and improve trust and transparency in the decision-making process. Once the analysis of that insight is complete, we will consider next steps.”

Were easily disprovable errors made in your PIP assessment report?

Or were there outright falsehoods?

If so, would you have welcomed the chance to try to correct them and do you think it would have made any difference to the decision if you had done so?

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    I think it's a good idea. Mainly because you get chance to change their decision before your money is stopped. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    I asked to see my report which was sent to me. The assessment was fair and accurate apart from assuming pain free strength when I pulled a chair away from the desk..This was painful due to OA hands.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    When I was reassessed in 2018 after the face to face, the assesser was told to get more evidence so she rang me and over the phone redid some areas of the form, meaning I got high level for unlimited periods think I was very lucky in that I got a really kind assessor 
    This could be helpful IF there is a proper and trustworthy way of correcting what is wrong, otherwise it would be a waste of time. And could possible mean the DWP saying that we had the chance to correct and we didn’t do it so it’s our fault, and therefor we can’t appeal.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    If you agree with the report, or agree with it after corrections, and the DWP then still make a wrong decision, will that go against you in any subsequent tribunal?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    As a welfare rights adviser, as a matter of course I tell clients when I'm completing their PIP form, to wait 2 weeks after their assessment and then ring up to get a copy of their assessment report.

    I have made several complaints to both the DWP and IAS as to the erroneous content, and downright lies in these reports,  for example a profoundly Deaf client "heard their name being called in the waiting room", a client who is housebound and wheelchair-bound opened the door to tge assessor. There was no mention of the lift installed to get his wheelchair from the road up to his front door,  or that he was in his wheelchair when he opened the door, or the fact that he lived in the ground floor room, and washed himself with baby wipes and had a commode as he could not get up the stairs.....

    All claimants should ask for a copy of the Assessor's Report,  and challenge anything they do not agree with, and share their experience with their MP.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    Some of the comments the assessor made when I read the report were outright lies or I felt hadn't listened to what I had said. Also, she said my medical reports didn't support as evidence for my illnesses. The proof is in the reading! She obviously never read my reports. Therefore, I would welcome being able to put the assessor's comments to test.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    A controversial opinion.  As someone who has worked in civil litigation for fifteen years and has spent seven years working in social security appeals (two as a presenting officer, five in my current role as a rep) I am used to people asserting that lies are being told and frauds are being committed.  I understand this, but allowing these attitudes to persist undermines claimant's credibility.  People feel they are being accused of malingering when they are awarded no points.  However, applying Occam's razor to the situation tells us that incompetent assessors who don't listen to what people tell them, who make mistakes when transposing information after they have done their seventh assessment for the day, and most egregiously, draw the most outrageous inferences from information they are given, is why assessments are so very, very bad.  Someone not receiving tertiary medical care or being 'stable' on their medication is not a basis for finding claimant evidence 'improbable', yet these poorly evidenced conclusions are not challenged because they sound clinical and lead decision makers to an easy decision.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    Absolutely essential! If I had the report every time I could have avoid every single MR…

    In 2010 I was eventually awarded ESA support group after MR, as “ONGOING” and DLA high care, high mobility INDEFINITELY back in 2010 but when transferred to PIP it was reduced and only awarded for 2 years - I asked for assessor report and Mandatory reconsideration and, with help, pulled it to pieces in a 9 page letter. DWP changed it back to high for both but only increased it from 2 to 3 years

    Since then I’ve continually had to reapply for PIP, been downgraded and had to correct every assessor report and go for mandatory reconsideration, being put back onto high for both care and mobility but still only for 3 years at a time EVERY TIME! My conditions will never improve, and will only get a little worse each time as I get older… The last time they halved it they even refused the MR so I applied for, and was granted, a tribunal - lo and behold, DWP changed their mind back to high almost immediately

    I believe that it was because of this - that I mentioned the PIP tribunal application and decision reversal - that the assessor on my recent ESA support group renewal (which was NOT a “soft touch” review but the whole form again) was brilliant and wrote a truthful and accurate assessment recommending staying in the support group, which DWP has done

    THIS IS A FARCICAL and wasteful system for both DWP and claimant, time and money wise
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    I'm a benefits adviser for a charity and always ask my client's to ask for a copy of the report. Unfortunately due to their particular health condition they often forget to do this or are unable to hold on the phone for long enough to get to speak to someone. I have noted factually incorrect information about a person's medication and what it was for, the assessor noting someone maintained good eye contact on a phone call! I would welcome these reports being sent as a default.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    When my son took his claim to tribunal, with the help of the British Legion, the doctor had never heard of PTSD although my son had confirmation of this. The same doctor also went to sleep during the Tribunal. Award letter said my son was lying and his claim disallowed. This sharing of assessments would have helped him enormously 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    How would the proposed sharing be managed? If it was done in writing where information was properly recorded and could be challenged this might be useful. On the other hand if it took place by phone there would be no accurate record of the conversation and since it is obvious that not all calls are logged let alone accurately, it would be a case of the claimants' word against the DWP. 
    Also if this is to replace the Mandatory Reconsideration process it needs to be made clear.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    Considering the DWP completely ignored my notificating them of errors in the assessment report at the MR stage, I doubt this initiative would have any bearing on awards. In true DWP fashion they would be unlikely to take note of errors at this stage too. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    My telephone assessment was so upsetting. I was rushed through it and completely misunderstood. The report was full of lies, especially that I drive! I have never passed a driving test and not allowed to  drive for medical reasons. The Mandatory Reconsideration was unsuccessful. I have a Tribunal via video on the 24 April. If this was offered to me at the time, I would have jumped at the chance.
    I hoping this will save time and stress on all applicants
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    its all well and good sending the report out automatically, but those of us using your guides already know to request a copy.

    what it doesnt change is their processes - there is no opporunitiy to add information between assessment and decision, so they will still make a (wrong) decision and you will still have to ask for a MR.

    if there was an opporunity to challenge the report *before* the initial decision that would be a welcome change, or perhaps they could actually have those reports produced in a more accurate manner with those who produce them being held accountable for the terrible mistakes and outright un-truths they include.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    Would disputing them at this stage be considered an MR? ie before a decision is made? Or would there be another opportunity to repeat the same concerns about that report after the decision is made? And, if so, would that disadvantage the person if they have already set out their arguments about the original report and they still received a poor decision? Also, would the dwp update/amend the original report based on this initial feedback, then make a decision which is not an appropriate one, and then the person has less grounds to dispute in MR? Thank you for your work 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 6 months ago
      @Mks Based on my limited experience with trying  BEFORE award but AFTER report,( and anecdotal as it's not my claim though also on PIP, it's as an adviser  ) -

      At the moment, it's rare the Clmt does this but in a case where, being clued up they emailed the CHDA immediately and alerted then to serious defects, they withdrew the report and had it audited. It did NOT form the MR ( though unfortunately that's still happened , now awaiting Tribunal ). 

      In this case, the issue was one of applying the guidance ( so not a he said, she said which are far more hard to quantify ). The Clmt pointed out procedural and legal issues which were then partially corrected ( they rejected some ).

      I can see how it'll need set rules if this goes ahead - will it add ANOTHER "appeal" stage ? Or, just an interim one to CHDA not DWP ? The ability to request another Assessment, Assessor, audit ?

      Maybe nothing but it'll just give a bit longer to get ducks in order for the MR ?? 

      I'm also a bit cynical - are so many asking for them now ( due to advice from the likes of us and B&W ) that it's just easier for them to send em to everyone ?!! 




    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 6 months ago
      @Mks Whether it counts as an application for a decision to be revised is largely a question for the DWP to determine.  Obviously if it is captioned as such, it will be.  If not, it might.  There is nothing to stop multiple applications being made but why would you bother?  The DWP's overturn rate at this stage is very low and their hypothetical power to change their mind is simply a hook they dangle in front of claimants that wastes time.  My firm advice to all clients is that no matter how compelling they think their evidence is (and it usually relates to their health rather their level of functional impairment and is far less than compelling than they think) is that mandatory reconsiderations are a hoop that you need to jump through before they can appeal.  Remember, the appeal is effectively a second reconsideration request anyway as a further decision maker will prepare the response and if your evidence does actually move the dial, they can lapse the appeal at that point.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    My last assessment in 2020 was full of lies. The biggest lie was that the assessor stated that he had observed me walking more than 50m in one go during the assessment. It was a home assessment, I live in a small council bungalow. From my front door to my arm chair is less than 4m! The only walking I had done was to shuffle from my chair, while holding onto the walls and doorframe (3 doors in the hallway)to answer the door to him and then shuffled back to my chair. Then the same to let him out afterwards. 

    I can't stand how they get away with filling their assessments full of lies and we suffer because of it! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    DWP, or any other services that have personal information about us should be transparent. In this case I would definitely want to see the assessment findings. I welcome this wholeheartedly. UC still owe my son CLP from oct23 £300 . The level of incompetence is huge, or deliberate. So, they cannot be trusted. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    On one memorable occasion, the Assessors report asserted that my client walked their dogs several times a day.  The client had said they could only leave their home when their adult child came to their home with their dogs.

    I've had assessors refuse to allow appointees to take part in the assessment.  I've had assessors extrapolate that a client could walk over 200 m from observing them stagger into their kitchen rest and return to their sofa.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    Oh my yes it would help! My last PIP report wasn't just a work of fiction, it was high fantasy! 30 serious errors, including:
    - Not under NHS Mental Health Services (I had been for years, and still was. Letter from them in evidence. Also charity group therapy and private counselling for years. Letters from both.)
    - No change in MH medications: Um, yes, there was. (Letter from NHS stating that.)
    - No indications of self-harm or suicidal thoughts/attempts. (Discharge document from A&E after suicide attempt a couple of months before assessment not proof enough? Letter from counsellor discussing self-harm? No?)
    - No current treatment for chronic pain: Oh, so the letter from the NHS Pain Clinic stating that I was being seen there currently and had just finished a 3 week residential pain management programme... Uh... Never mind the prescription list.)
    - Looked healthy and well-groomed. (Pajamas, no haircut for ages, very underweight.)
    - No indications of pain. (Sweating, standing up regularly to stretch, taking tramadol during assessment, unable to sit properly, constant movement due to pain... Told him I was already on 2 tramadol, diazepam, ibuprofen, wearing TENS machine... Right.)
    - Did all exercises with no hesitation. (I had a lot of trouble and couldn't do 2 at all.)

    Etc. He clearly didn't believe me, read my form or look at my evidence. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 6 months ago
    I think this can only be good, i had an telephone assessment and the lady was lovely but when I asked for and received my PIP it stated that I wouldn’t be allocated points on my social phobias because I didn’t need my husbands support during the assessment and I didn’t ask for a break or get upset…..I don’t go out to social events outside of work, don’t attend wedding or funerals, I can’t function in groups…..but I’m fine on the telephone because people can see me, if I had a face to face I would be a quivering wreck, I was refused mobility because I was too close to getting my pension…..if I had, had the chance to clarify these points I feel I might have been heard….so it could only be a good thing

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