PIP mandatory reconsideration letter

annabella123_2

Hi Guys,

I'm a regular user of the boards but I would rather stay anonymous for this. I have recently had to make a claim for PIP as I've got bad mobility issues I'm 30 years old and I have to use a walking stick due to an issue with my spine, I'm in rather a lot of pain. I got granted the standard rate of daily living which is great but I'm not really making a claim for the money I really need a blue badge as I can't walk very far now.

I have wrote a mandatory reconsideration letter I was just wondering if someone could look over it for me to make sure that it was ok before I sent it. I would really appreciate it.

Thank you

Dear Sir/Madam

Request for Mandatory Reconsideration

I am writing to ask you to reconsider your decision dated 11-09-2016 about my Personal Independence Payment claim.

I have Slipped disc and trapped nerve and anxiety and hearing loss and incontinence

I have a slipped disc and trapped nerve which makes it rather difficult for me to get around I am having to use a walking stick at the age of 30, I am currently awaiting a facet joint injection. I have had a change in medication since my assessment I am now taking morphine.

If I get to the nearest car park to work and there are no spaces I have had to drive home and call in sick as I am not able to walk from any further car parks. I am not applying for PIP for the money I really need a blue badge to help me stay in work and be able to get to places easier, I wouldn't be as anxious going to work if I had a blue badge as I would be able to get a space easier. I am not able to drive my own car as it is too low I have to drive my husbands car as it is a 4x4 which is easier to get into.

I have been off sick from work on many occasions which I am now facing formal action from work as my sickness is not something they can sustain. I suffer from severe anxiety I may not of shown this in my assessment due to being on a lot of anti anxiety medication. I have gone long periods of time without leaving the house due to anxiety and also the extreme pain I am in.

I have to use hearing aids to be able to hear people properly without these I am unable to communicate. I do lip read but sometimes I'm not able to do this if someone talks really quickly. I am incontinent due to the trapped nerve in my back so I am not always able to notice when I've wet myself. I have to carry around incontinence pads and spare underwear.

Pregablin 300mg x 2 daily - Neuropathic pain, general anxiety disorder

Nortriptyline 30mg 1 at night time- Treatment of depression

Tramadol 50mg 2x4 times daily - Pain relief

Morphine 10mg every 12 hours - Pain relief

I believe the decision did not properly take into account how my disability affects me.

I need either (i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication; or (ii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication or monitor a health condition. I have to use several pill boxes to ensure I have taken my medication, Before I purchased a pill box I sometimes forgot that I had taken my medication or didn't remember to take my medication therefore it causing issues with my health and I have also been in increased pain more than normal. Please see attached receipt for pill boxes.

I need supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe. I have to use grab rails when washing as I am very unsteady on my feet without my walking stick. I have to use my in-laws showers as they have ones you step into mine is over the bath. As you can imagine this is embarrassing I have to use it when they are available and also someone sits outside the door to make sure I'm okay.

I need to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence. I have to use incontinence pads because I wet myself without knowing. I have to carry pads and underwear with me constantly for when it happens.

I need assistance to be able to dress or undress my lower body. I am not unable to undress the bottom half of my body as I'm not able to bend that far down my husband has to do it. I am newly married and feel upset that my husband has to care for me in this way. I am not even able to put my own socks on.

I need communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information.I have to use hearing aids to communicate with others without these it would be very difficult. I do lip read but this can be very hard if I am not able to see someone face to face or if someone talks really quickly.

I need social support to be able to engage with other people.I get very anxious in social situations where I don't know anyone. I tend to sweat badly and rarely look at anyone in case they decide to talk to me. My anxiety means I spend most of my time at home because I am scared of having to engage with people.

I need prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions. My husband deals with all the bills I am given £10 per day this has had to happen recently as I spent a lot of money on Jamberry nail wraps. This has to cover my parking which is £5 per day and lunch at work. I spend money because it makes me feel better. No one noticed how much money I had spent until the nail wraps was coming through the door.

I cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid. I get very anxious about going out. I'm so worried about being late I'm often an hour or two too early. If I start at 9am at work I set off for work at 7am just so I can get a parking space. If I'm on a late shift at work then more often than not I have to pay £12 a day so I can park in the nearest car park otherwise I wouldn't make it into work and have to call in sick as all the other car parks are too far to walk for me even using my walking stick. There is a road along side work that I would be able to park on if I had a blue badge If I'm going somewhere new I look on google streetview to look at the pavements to see how uneven they are. I have had some CBT Therapy so I have some coping mechanisms to help me. I also have to use a sat nav to help me get there as I get really anxious about getting lost and then being late.

I can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. I cannot stand for more than 5 minutes. I cannot walk 50 metres unaided or without stopping and leaning on my walking stick or if there is a wall leaning on that until I feel I can continue. I am really unsteady on my feet without my walking stick it has to come with me everywhere which is really embarrassing for someone of my age. If I walk too far it causes me extreme pain and fatigue.

Thank you for reconsidering the decision.

baza52

you don't need higher rate to get a blue badge.
You can apply for one and they will asses you and award one if they think you need one.
My wife has just had her BB renewed and she only gets the low rate mobility of DLA.

Check your local councils website for details of how to apply for one.

annabella123_2

baza52 wrote: »

you don't need higher rate to get a blue badge.
You can apply for one and they will asses you and award one if they think you need one.
My wife has just had her BB renewed and she only gets the low rate mobility of DLA.

Check your local councils website for details of how to apply for one.

Thanks for that Baza my council need a score of 8 points to get a blue badge they only scored me 4 points not taking into account that I'm having to use a walking stick or other aids.

baza52

what council?

annabella123_2

baza52 wrote: »

what council?

This is what it say's when applying for one and you have to select one they only awarded me 4 points for mobility and the standard rate of daily living

I receive the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance

I receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as I meet a 'Moving Around' descriptor for the Mobility Component because I either cannot stand or can stand but walk no more than 50 metres. This is a score of 8 points or more.

NeilCr

To be honest I wouldn't mention anything about the Blue Badge in the MR letter. It isn't relevant to the decision and "may" give the DWP an out.

It's quite hard to comment on MRs without seeing the earlier documentation. Is there any way you can get into a CAB/advice centre to get their input?

annabella123_2

NeilCr wrote: »

To be honest I wouldn't mention anything about the Blue Badge in the MR letter. It isn't relevant to the decision and "may" give the DWP an out.

It's quite hard to comment on MRs without seeing the earlier documentation. Is there any way you can get into a CAB/advice centre to get their input?

I've called them the earliest they can see me is two weeks away which would be too late

NeilCr

Can't say I am oversurprised. A lot of CABs are overwhelmed at the moment.

With the MR I'd say address the areas where you didn't get points/got less than you thought you might and give examples. Looks like you might have done this - as I say I wouldn't mention you are doing this to get a Blue Badge

Ames

annabella123 wrote: »

I've called them the earliest they can see me is two weeks away which would be too late

You can write and say that you're requesting an MR and will be sending more information later as you can't see CAB for two weeks. They should (note: should) give you time to see CAB and gather any more information to send to them.

annabella123_2

NeilCr wrote: »

Can't say I am oversurprised. A lot of CABs are overwhelmed at the moment.

With the MR I'd say address the areas where you didn't get points/got less than you thought you might and give examples. Looks like you might have done this - as I say I wouldn't mention you are doing this to get a Blue Badge

If I took the bits out about the blue badge do you think that would be ok? They didn't take into consideration that I use pill boxes and said I manage my medication fine and don't need help, they didn't mention that I use a walking stick which is a big issue to me as I'm only 30 and have to use a walking stick which is embarrassing.

Thank you for all your help

NeilCr

Not trying to get out of this but it really is difficult to say without seeing other paperwork. It "looks" okay. However, I agree with Ames that asking if you can get an extension so you can get into CAB is a good plan