PIP Appeal Advice?

Black-star1

Hi,

I was was awarded PIP daily living (standard) in August scoring 9 points but in my self assessment I received 14. I wanted to know what to expect when reporting a change of circumstances as my conditions have worsened since my assessment?

pmlindyloo

Black-star1 wrote: »

Hi,

I was was awarded PIP daily living (standard) in August scoring 9 points but in my self assessment I received 14. I wanted to know what to expect when reporting a change of circumstances as my conditions have worsened since my assessment?

This will not be an appeal but a supercession.

You need to know that they will look at the award again and can change it so you may lose your current award or may be awarded the higher amount.

The self assessment often gives you more points that the actual assessment itself as you may not be aware of everything that they take into account.

Before you telephone I would go to CAB and ask then to go through the descriptors where you think you should have more points. You will need medical evidence to back up your claims.

If you want to give us the details of where you now think you meet the descriptors and why, we could try and help further.

Black-star1

Preparing Food - 4 points awarded
Taking Nutrition - N/A
Managing therapy - 1 points awarded
Washing and bathing - N/A
Managing toilet needs - N/A
Dressing and undressing - N/A
Communicating verbally - I have ADHD and have extreme difficulty communicating verbally. I though I do speak fluently as the assessor mentioned I struggle commicating my thoughts in a structured way which often means I go off topic, forget what I was saying, or being unable explain in chronological order which does become distressing and embarrassing. Those who know me can decipher but others do struggle. Often those who know me end up explaining what I was trying to say. I have a letter confirming my ADHD.
Reading - I'm dyslexic but can read but may take me longer in order to make sense of it, and can write but use word processing to use a spell checker. I scored no points as I have GCSE's in subjects where reading/writing aren't the main focus, I also received extra time. I unfortunately don't a letter confirming dyslexia as this was done years ago.
Engaging face to face - awarded 2 points
Making budgeting decisions - 2 points were awarded although I'm unable to make simple budgeting decisions alone. I have high debts, a bad credit score and often fail to buy food and pay bills on time due to poor money management. I now am taking part in one to one money management.

Planning and following journeys - no points were awarded although I have severe anxiety and cannot get public transport alone or would need company when around a group of unfamiliar people. I received no ponts as I traveled to work. I failed to mention I didn't travel alone in the assessment but did mention this in my appeal. I'm now unemployed due to my conditions deteriorating and only go out when I have company. Atos paid for my cab as I couldn't get public transport but as I came alone they said I was capable. Following route of a journey in unfamiliar areas is difficult as I cannot follow maps, take/remember directions. I've had panic attacks when alone so now always have someone with me or get a cab.

I hope this helps

Alice_Holt

Are you getting JSa / ESa ?

When you go to the CAB (as pmlindyloo suggests) ask for a benefit check.

Have a look at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449043/pip-assessment-guide.pdf

For an enchanced award of Daily Living you will need 12 points. Where do you think the additional points (up from your existing 9 points) would come from?

For Mobilising this could apply:
Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. 4 points.

But wouldn't get an Mobility award as (again) 8 points are needed for a standard award.

Alice_Holt

If you do decide on a supercession, I think you have to be very clear where you score the additional points to get the enchanced rate. Have illustrations / examples to describe in your PIP form,and to tell and talk about to the HCP at your assessment. It helps to have medical evidence to support the additional points which can be attached to the PIP form.

Having your local CAB on your side will be useful if you need to appeal the DWP supercession decision.

Alice_Holt

Reading; From the DWP PIP assessment guide:

Activity 8 – Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
This activity considers the claimant’s capability to read and understand written or
printed information in the person’s native language. To be considered able to read,
claimants must be able to see the information - accessing information via Braille is
not considered as reading for this activity.
If the claimant cannot read, this must be as a direct result of their health condition
or impairment e.g. visual impairment, cognitive impairment or learning difficulties.
Illiteracy or lack of familiarity with written English are not health conditions and
should not be considered.

Notes:
Basic information is signs, symbols or dates, e.g. a green exit sign on a door.
Complex information is more than one sentence of written or printed standard size
text – e.g. “Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on your
mortgage or any other debt secured on it. Subject to terms and conditions.”
The ability to remember and retain information is not within the scope of this activity.
Consideration must be given to whether the claimant can read and understand
information both indoors and outdoors. In doing so consideration should also be
given to whether the claimant uses or could reasonably be expected to use aids or
appliances, such as a blue screen to read text when indoors and a portable
magnifying glass to do so when outdoors. If despite aids the claimant cannot read
both indoors and outdoors, another descriptor may apply.

When considering whether a claimant requires an aid or appliance, HPs should
distinguish between:
• an aid or appliance that a claimant must use or could reasonably be
expected to use, in order to carry out the activity safely, reliably, repeatedly
and in a timely manner; and
• an aid or appliance that a claimant may be using or wish to use because it
makes it easier to carry out the activity safely, reliably, repeatedly and in a
timely manner.
Descriptor advice in favour of an aid or appliance should only be given in the former
case. An aid or appliance is not required in the latter.

Where a claimant chooses not to use an aid or appliance that he or she could
reasonably be expected to use and would enable them to carry out the activity
without assistance, they should be assessed as needing an aid or appliance rather
than a higher level of support.

A Can read and understand basic and complex written information either
unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses.
0 points
Within the assessment criteria, the ability to perform an activity
‘unaided’ means without either the use of aids or appliances; or help
from another person.

B
Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact
lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written
information. 2 points
For example: may apply to claimants who require vision aids.

C Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written
information.
2 ‘Prompting’ means reminding, encouraging or explaining by another
person. For example: may apply to claimants who require another
person to explain complex written information due to a cognitive
impairment.

D Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written
information.
4 points

‘Prompting’ means reminding, encouraging or explaining by another
person. For example: may apply to claimants who require another
person to remind them of the meaning of basic information due to a
cognitive impairment.

E Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all.
8 points
For example: may apply to claimants who require another person to
read everything for them due to a learning disability or severe visual
impairment.

Communicating verbally;

Activity 7 – Communicating verbally
This activity considers a claimant’s ability to communicate verbally with regard to
expressive (conveying) communication and receptive (receiving and understanding)
communication in ones native language.
Clarity of the claimant’s speech should be considered. In some cases the other
participant in the conversation may have to concentrate slightly harder than normal,
for example after a certain type of stroke it can be hard to articulate some sounds in
speech. The speech sounds different to normal but is understandable. This is to an
acceptable standard in the meaning of the descriptor. If the claimant couldn’t make
themselves understood and had to resort to hand gestures and writing notes this
would not be to an acceptable standard.

Notes:
Basic verbal information is information conveyed in a simple sentence. Examples of
a simple sentence: “Can I help you?”; “I would like tea please”; “I came home
today”; “The time is 3 o’clock.”
Complex verbal information is information conveyed in either more than one
sentence or one complicated sentence, for example: “I would like tea please, just a
splash of milk and no sugar, as I always have sweeteners with me for when I go
out.”
Verbal information can include information that is interpreted from verbal into nonverbal
form or vice-versa – for example, speech interpreted through sign language
or into written text.

Communication support means support from another person trained or experienced
in communicating with people with specific communication needs (for example, a
sign language interpreter); or someone directly experienced in communicating with
the claimant themselves (for example, a family member).
Individuals who cannot express or understand verbal information and would need
communication support to do so should receive the appropriate descriptor even if
they do not have access to this support. For example, a deaf person who cannot
communicate verbally and does not use sign language might need another person
to support them in another way – such as by writing verbal information down – even
if they do not routinely have such help.
The ability to lip read is not a consideration for this activity.

Note: The ability to remember and retain information is not within the scope of this
activity e.g. relevant to those with dementia or learning disabilities.
When considering whether a claimant requires an aid or appliance, HPs should
distinguish between:
• an aid or appliance that a claimant must use or could reasonably be
expected to use, in order to carry out the activity safely, reliably, repeatedly
and in a timely manner; and
• an aid or appliance that a claimant may be using or wish to use because it
makes it easier to carry out the activity safely, reliably, repeatedly and in a
timely manner.

Descriptor advice in favour of an aid or appliance should only be given in the former
case. An aid or appliance is not required in the latter.
Where a claimant chooses not to use an aid or appliance that he or she could
reasonably be expected to use and would enable them to carry out the activity
without assistance, they should be assessed as needing an aid or appliance rather
than a higher level of support.

A Can express and understand verbal information unaided.
0 points.
Within the assessment criteria, the ability to perform an activity
‘unaided’ means without either the use of aids or appliances; or help
from another person.

B Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear.
2 points.
For example: may apply to claimants who require a hearing aid or an
electro larynx. If the claimant is not using a prescribed hearing aid,
ask why. If there is a good medical reason such as chronic ear
infection, function without the aid should be assessed. If there is not
a good reason, expected function with the aid should be assessed.

C Needs communication support to be able to express or understand
complex verbal information.
4 points.
For example: may apply to claimants who require a sign language
interpreter.
D Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic
verbal information. 8 points.

For example: may apply to claimants who require a sign language
interpreter.

E Cannot express or understand verbal information at all e

Black-star1

Thank you. I'm in receipt of ESA awaiting an assessment.

The additional points would come from reading, communicating verbally and money management (my social worker has agreed to write a letter which should give me 2 extra points). Judging by the information you've provided that's the only extra points I'm likely to get.

I think it'll be worth going to the CAB anyway.

Black-star1

As I've already requested the form from pip, what will happen if I chose not to report changes?