PIP Manager Reconsideration

pmlindyloo

Scully38 wrote: »

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

You're welcome.

I can only report about our MP.

My OH regularly writes to him about all manner of things and the MP writes back with lengthy and well researched answers.

Other MPs, from what I hear, sometimes pass concerns onto other people 'in the office' but it is rare, I think, they don't reply at all. (after your votes!)

have never visited a surgery of an MP but several posters seem to have done so and had good responses resulting in action, particularly in the benefit field.

Guess it varies from MP to MP.

You often hear MPs talking about individual constituents in parliament so either a minion has given them details or they have taken a personal interest. Either way it has to be a good thing.

let us know how you get on.

Don't forget you can make a complaint about both the DWP and ATOS yourself and if you have a large CAB near you they should be very interested, as part of their social policy work, to document the inefficiency of either department.

bspm

Hi Scully

When did you apply for your blue badge? Are you on IB/DLA or anything related to PIP? ...............................

I was awarded a blue badge in 2008 and 2011 due to spinal problems, I was not registered disabled and was not in receipt of any DLA.

My current blue badge expired in September this year, I had to go along to my local Social Services whereby I filled in a form, I was sent for three weeks later to have a medical/interview with an OT, she asked me questions, examined my spine and watched me walk, she then said she would award me the badge.

I am currently awaiting an assessment for ESA and I have just filled in a form to try to claim PIP, so to answer your question, no I am not in receipt of the benefits yet.

I have heard that it is not as easy to obtain a blue badge as it once was, which in my opinion is a good thing, however, it shouldn't be made more difficult to the genuine people that need it.

Diary

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..

i think you might be a bit optimistic in thinking PIP mandatory reconsiderations take only 3 months. Mine took exactly 4 months and was only that short because I got my MP involved, Once I involved my MP it took 3 days.

My case is relatively different in that I supplied NO medical - or indeed any evidence whatsoever. I, and I alone believe it isn't my remit to chase and pay for reports from anyone that, in my belief, wouldn't be used. ATOS/DWP do state very clearly if they need any sort of evidence they will obtain it. After my face to face assessment I was awarded enhanced mobility but only 6 points in care, after reconsideration I was also awarded care at the standard rate. I cannot stress enough that this was MY way of looking at things. The MR was in itself very stressful and if I had to do it again I would involve my MP at a much earlier stage.

Bear in mind had I submitted any evidence I might have been awarded care from the outset and might never had had to go to mandatory reconsideration. If/when I have to do it again I would take exactly the same route.

pmlindyloo

I believe that individual councils have different criteria and assessments for blue badges.
Iif you use this link the first thing they ask is the name of your local authority.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge

bspm

I was told I had been awarded the badge before I had to pay the £10 charge?

kittykat17

bspm wrote: »

I was told I had been awarded the badge before I had to pay the £10 charge?

You're right - you don't pay until they are ready to send your badges out. Mine cost £11 in July - think they increased the price earlier this year.

Scully38

Diary wrote: »

i think you might be a bit optimistic in thinking PIP mandatory reconsiderations take only 3 months. Mine took exactly 4 months and was only that short because I got my MP involved, Once I involved my MP it took 3 days.

My case is relatively different in that I supplied NO medical - or indeed any evidence whatsoever. I, and I alone believe it isn't my remit to chase and pay for reports from anyone that, in my belief, wouldn't be used. ATOS/DWP do state very clearly if they need any sort of evidence they will obtain it.

This is what's frustrating, they aren't consistent, I read all the policies on PIP and you're right, DWP should write to our GP's, but mine never did. They even stated on the 'information received' bit, that they only used the interview. So I don't know if they asked and got no response, or they couldn't be bothered to get a report. Their own policies are clear on this, but who can I complain to about them breaking their own policies? I'm assuming that I can tell my local Councillor when I go to their surgery all the !!!! ups they made.

It doesn't surpries me that it will take longer than 3 months to be honest, I just hope they backdate it. I'm just concerned about the blue badge and having to go to yet ANOTHER medical and interview...

After my face to face assessment I was awarded enhanced mobility but only 6 points in care, after reconsideration I was also awarded care at the standard rate. I cannot stress enough that this was MY way of looking at things. The MR was in itself very stressful and if I had to do it again I would involve my MP at a much earlier stage.

Bear in mind had I submitted any evidence I might have been awarded care from the outset and might never had had to go to mandatory reconsideration. If/when I have to do it again I would take exactly the same route.

It was a hard decision to ask them to reconsider especially as they could take away my care component that I was awarded. I only got 4 points for mobility.

I am very nervous about the reconsideration process, not necessarily the timescale, but that I could potentially have to have more medicals, interviews, or go to court. It annoys me that we have to fight for this 'need'.

bspm wrote: »

I was told I had been awarded the badge before I had to pay the £10 charge?

So they only ask you to pay after they make a decision? I got told I have to pay upfront before the decision is made.

kittykat17 wrote: »

You're right - you don't pay until they are ready to send your badges out. Mine cost £11 in July - think they increased the price earlier this year.

Yeah I think you're right they did increase it, and I think what you pay depends on the various councils.

nannytone_2

they arent doing anything wrong by not contacting your doctor though.
they 'can' if they wish to but it isnt an automatic thing. if they feel there is enough information on the form they are within their rights to base their decision solely on the form. that is why it is so important to give them all the evidence you can because there is no assurance that they will seek corroborating evidence.
it was the same with DLA .... sometimes they wrote to doctors and sometimes they didnt

Diary

Scully38 wrote: »

This is what's frustrating, they aren't consistent, I read all the policies on PIP and you're right, DWP should write to our GP's, but mine never did. They even stated on the 'information received' bit, that they only used the interview. So I don't know if they asked and got no response, or they couldn't be bothered to get a report. Their own policies are clear on this, but who can I complain to about them breaking their own policies? I'm assuming that I can tell my local Councillor when I go to their surgery all the !!!! ups they made.

DWP/ATOS never wrote to anyone involved in me and every single time I was asked for further information I simply referred them to their own form and said my GP/whatever is waiting for your letter.

Despite my somewhat hard stance on what I believe was right thing to do for me, the MR was particularly stressful and as I said I would've involved my (conservative) MP at a much earlier stage. I had an added advantage in that I audio record everything to do with DWP/ATOS and when I wrote to my MP I included some of the more ludicrous conversations I'd had with them. I also got a formal apology for the length of time the MR took.

I have had a blue badge for a long time but never until this year received any kind of benefit. I renewed mine just after my enhanced mobility PIP part was granted so cannot really comment on your difficulties with that. I paid 10 pounds at the end of September and the council asked to see and took copies of my award notice.

bspm

So they only ask you to pay after they make a decision? I got told I have to pay upfront before the decision is made........................

The £10 charge (Yes I paid £10 on 17th September this year) is for the badge, why would they ask you to pay for it until they have told you that you are entitled to it?

I was told that the reason the charge has risen is because it is sent off to be printed by the same people who print passports and not done by the Council now?