PIP Manager Reconsideration

Scully38

I wonder if someone could help. I applied for PIP in November 2013, sent in my form and doctors reports. Received notification from ATOS in June to attend a face to face interview.

The interviewer said he had no paperwork to work from, so i'm assuming that's why the interview was over 2 hours. I explained to the health worker that I had grade 4 osteoarthritis and am waiting for 2 knee replacements, but that the hospital won't do them yet due to my age and the fact I can (apparently) only have it done once. I also told him that I have spinal degeneration L3, L4 and L5 and also have bony spurs on my facet joints which irritate the nerves in my back, which was confirmed by my doctors report.

I explained that I frequently fall over as my legs give way. I fall down the stairs, in the street, at work and have no prior warning of when my legs give out. I thought (naively) that he had written it down... silly me.

When I finally got their decision in July it mentioned nothing about the medical reports or about my spinal and knee problems, instead he/she put because I walked from the car park to the center that I obviously had no problems walking. In the initial letter it stated that it was 20 meters from the car park to the ATOS center. So according to them I had no problems walking, despite what the medical report says and what I told them at interview.

I never received a phone call from the decision maker, which I was told I would, so that they could explain their decisions. None of the report took into account my application form or doctors report (which I had to pay for), everything was based on the interview.

Is that normal for ATOS to make a decision based just on the interview? I rang up the number and spoke to a random person and said I wasn't happy with the decision (lower rated care and nothing for mobility as I walked 20 mtrs)... *headdesk*. I said I wanted a reconsideration as they didn't take into account everything else I submitted and asked why they didn't put it in their report. They told me they'd lost all my paperwork and would have to resubmit a doctors report. I thought (according to their policies) that they were supposed to request a GP report, are they now not doing that?

I got another GP report which confirmed everything I said about falling and not being steady on my feet. In fact the doctor even stated in his report that I needed a someone with me at all times.

I was told it was going to be another 3 months before someone could do the reconsideration. Is this normal? My legs are getting worse and I really need some help and to use my scooter (as at the moment, I can't lift it into the car, so at the moment my life consists of work and home. I thought we were supposed to recieve a reconsideration within 28 days max!

I rang the council as i'm applying for a blue badge, and told them what had happened, and he said it would be discretionary if I got a blue badge and would have to go for another medical even though I have my GP report purely because ATOS made the wrong decision.

I feel as if i'm just getting nowhere, can't have another decision for 3 months, can't get a blue badge as it's only fo people who get the higher rate of PIP!

Is anyone else having these problems with ATOS regarding the length of time for a reconsideration, and do I pay £10 for an application now before the decision is made and in all likelihood will fail because I receive nothing for mobility on PIP. I'm so frustrated at the moment it's going to be 14 months in total from start to finish! It's disgraceful and I feel in limbo..

pmlindyloo

Scully38 wrote: »

I wonder if someone could help. I applied for PIP in November 2013, sent in my form and doctors reports. Received notification from ATOS in June to attend a face to face interview.

The interviewer said he had no paperwork to work from, so i'm assuming that's why the interview was over 2 hours. I explained to the health worker that I had grade 4 osteoarthritis and am waiting for 2 knee replacements, but that the hospital won't do them yet due to my age and the fact I can (apparently) only have it done once. I also told him that I have spinal degeneration L3, L4 and L5 and also have bony spurs on my facet joints which irritate the nerves in my back, which was confirmed by my doctors report.

I explained that I frequently fall over as my legs give way. I fall down the stairs, in the street, at work and have no prior warning of when my legs give out. I thought (naively) that he had written it down... silly me.

When I finally got their decision in July it mentioned nothing about the medical reports or about my spinal and knee problems, instead he/she put because I walked from the car park to the center that I obviously had no problems walking. In the initial letter it stated that it was 20 meters from the car park to the ATOS center. So according to them I had no problems walking, despite what the medical report says and what I told them at interview.

I never received a phone call from the decision maker, which I was told I would, so that they could explain their decisions. None of the report took into account my application form or doctors report (which I had to pay for), everything was based on the interview.

Is that normal for ATOS to make a decision based just on the interview? I rang up the number and spoke to a random person and said I wasn't happy with the decision (lower rated care and nothing for mobility as I walked 20 mtrs)... *headdesk*. I said I wanted a reconsideration as they didn't take into account everything else I submitted and asked why they didn't put it in their report. They told me they'd lost all my paperwork and would have to resubmit a doctors report. I thought (according to their policies) that they were supposed to request a GP report, are they now not doing that?

I got another GP report which confirmed everything I said about falling and not being steady on my feet. In fact the doctor even stated in his report that I needed a someone with me at all times.

I was told it was going to be another 3 months before someone could do the reconsideration. Is this normal? My legs are getting worse and I really need some help and to use my scooter (as at the moment, I can't lift it into the car, so at the moment my life consists of work and home. I thought we were supposed to recieve a reconsideration within 28 days max!

I rang the council as i'm applying for a blue badge, and told them what had happened, and he said it would be discretionary if I got a blue badge and would have to go for another medical even though I have my GP report purely because ATOS made the wrong decision.

I feel as if i'm just getting nowhere, can't have another decision for 3 months, can't get a blue badge as it's only fo people who get the higher rate of PIP!

Is anyone else having these problems with ATOS regarding the length of time for a reconsideration, and do I pay £10 for an application now before the decision is made and in all likelihood will fail because I receive nothing for mobility on PIP. I'm so frustrated at the moment it's going to be 14 months in total from start to finish! It's disgraceful and I feel in limbo..

Did you get the name of the person who said that they had lost all your paperwork? And who was it that lost all your paperwork? DWP or ATOS?

It is not ATOS who make the decision, ultimately it is the DWP decision maker based on the ATOS report.

You need to find out the facts as to who is responsible for this mess - ie losing the paperwork. DWP or ATOS.

So ring DWP (take down the name of the person who gives you the information and the time/date of the telephone call) and find out exactly who is responsible.

Then, personally, armed with the facts, I would go to your local councillor/MP and ask them to intercede for you. Hopefully this would speed up the process of your reconsideration.

Don't forget to mention about how this affects your ability to process your blue badge application.

Bananas777

I know this is a bit late in this case, but it is a good idea to photocopy any medical reports and application forms sent in to DWP & Atos so you have copies to hand and in case of them losing things.

Scully38

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Did you get the name of the person who said that they had lost all your paperwork? And who was it that lost all your paperwork? DWP or ATOS?

No I didn't, it was the health worker doing my face to face saying that he had no other paperwork, and that my application form and GP reports were missing.

It is not ATOS who make the decision, ultimately it is the DWP decision maker based on the ATOS report.

You need to find out the facts as to who is responsible for this mess - ie losing the paperwork. DWP or ATOS. So ring DWP (take down the name of the person who gives you the information and the time/date of the telephone call) and find out exactly who is responsible.

When I sent in the 2nd GP report to them, I did say in my letter that according to ATOS there was no other evidence to support my case and that they (DWP) lost it, that's what ATOS implied in the interview that he wasn't given any information, just my name and when I applied. I can't remember who I sent the information to when I sent everything back. So i'm assuming it's the DWP. I put in the letter to them that they hadn't taken anything into account that I sent and told them what ATOS had said in the interview. I heard nothing back at all from them, certainly nothing relating to the missing documents.

When I rang them up a few weeks ago to see if they had received my GP's report, they said they had and it was going to be another 3 months before I got another decision. I mentioned about my missing reports to the lady I spoke to at DWP, but she just said sometimes it happens, and that was the end of the conversation, she just said she couldn't give me any other information, and that there was going to be a long delay.

Then, personally, armed with the facts, I would go to your local councillor/MP and ask them to intercede for you. Hopefully this would speed up the process of your reconsideration.

Don't forget to mention about how this affects your ability to process your blue badge application.

Thanks I will, i've never spoken to my MP before, will my MP's name be on the 'they work for you website'?

Thanks for your help.

Bananas777 wrote: »

I know this is a bit late in this case, but it is a good idea to photocopy any medical reports and application forms sent in to DWP & Atos so you have copies to hand and in case of them losing things.

Thanks Bananas. I learned my lesson 2nd time around and have got copies of this report I sent them. My GP wrote a really good report and had obviously looked at the policies whilst writing it saying what I can and can't do, and stated that contrary to ATOS I wasn't able to stand, walk safely, repeatedly or to an acceptable standard. But I honestly don't know if they would take that into accound considering their healthworker said I could. I honestly don't know if they take ATOS's word or would take into account what my GP said.

bspm

I feel as if i'm just getting nowhere, can't have another decision for 3 months, can't get a blue badge as it's only fo people who get the higher rate of PIP!

I received a blue badge on September 17th this year, I am not in receipt of any PIP.

pmlindyloo

This might be useful to find your MP

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/find-your-mp/

when you find his/her name then click on the website and they should tell you how to make an appointment at the MP's surgery.

Scully38

bspm wrote: »

I received a blue badge on September 17th this year, I am not in receipt of any PIP.

When did you apply for your blue badge? Are you on IB/DLA or anything related to PIP? If not can I ask how you were awarded your blue badge? I spoke with the council who said they would have to asses me under the discretionary side as I didn't have PIP and that I would have to go for a medical and it was unlikely I would get a blue badge even though my GP states I can't walk more than 20mtrs, as the rules relating to blue badges are very strict. I don't want to waste my money paying for it if the only likelihood i'll get a blue badge is if I get mobility allowance. Not only that, I don't see why I should have to go through another medical, which I was told would happen, regardless of my GP report.

pmlindyloo wrote: »

This might be useful to find your MP

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/find-your-mp/

when you find his/her name then click on the website and they should tell you how to make an appointment at the MP's surgery.

Thanks pmlindyloo, I'll go and have a looksey and send a nicely composed letter, any tips? I tend to waffle when i'm frustrated (as can be seen from my very large initial post

pmlindyloo

Scully38 wrote: »

When did you apply for your blue badge? Are you on IB/DLA or anything related to PIP? If not can I ask how you were awarded your blue badge? I spoke with the council who said they would have to asses me under the discretionary side as I didn't have PIP and that I would have to go for a medical and it was unlikely I would get a blue badge even though my GP states I can't walk more than 20mtrs, as the rules relating to blue badges are very strict. I don't want to waste my money paying for it if the only likelihood i'll get a blue badge is if I get mobility allowance. Not only that, I don't see why I should have to go through another medical, which I was told would happen, regardless of my GP report.



Thanks pmlindyloo, I'll go and have a looksey and send a nicely composed letter, any tips? I tend to waffle when i'm frustrated (as can be seen from my very large initial post

I suggest that you make an appointment at the MP's surgery (can you take a friend to support you? I'm thinking of your disability)

First of all this will probably be quicker (MPs can be very slow in replying) and secondly face to face is always better as he can see you and read the letters from your doctor there and then.

Have you got a local councillor who you could contact too?

I believe in making them all earn their money

Scully38

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I suggest that you make an appointment at the MP's surgery (can you take a friend to support you? I'm thinking of your disability)

First of all this will probably be quicker (MPs can be very slow in replying) and secondly face to face is always better as he can see you and read the letters from your doctor there and then.

Have you got a local councillor who you could contact too?

I don't even know how to find out where their surgeries are or even if i'm allowed to go, can you just turn up or do you have to make an appointment?

I am notoriously shy when it comes to confronting people for my benefit. I was able to do it for my parents, but never been able to do it for myself My friend is what I affectionally call a rent-a-gob. So wish I had her confidence. She knows how things have been going and would probably be a very good support. Do they actually listen to you, and help you? Or is just a 'i'm turning up to listen to your problems, but i'm not interested and once you're gone i'll forget about you...'

I believe in making them all earn their money

:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p

pmlindyloo

pmlindyloo wrote: »

This might be useful to find your MP

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/find-your-mp/

when you find his/her name then click on the website address and they should tell you how to make an appointment at the MP's surgery.

This is how you do it.

Scully38

pmlindyloo wrote: »

[/B]

This is how you do it.

You're a little Gem, thank you. *huggles*