pip Assessment award length

alwayssmile123

Hi all,

I'm hoping somebody can answer my question. For no real other reason Than to to get it out of my head.

I recently attended an assessment and the assessors report recommended 0 points on everything, and which the decision maker agreed with. I same with the MR.

The award length given was 3 years.

I've assumed that means her recommendation is that I am awarded nothing for 3 years?

What is the significance of an award length of 3 years on 0 points?

Many thanks

Alice_Holt

No significance. It's irrelevant.

You can continue with an appeal to the Tribunal Service, if you think the decision is incorrect.

You can reapply at any time, if your care needs become greater and a PIP award is appropriate.

If you decide to appeal to HMTC, I would suggest getting advice from your CAB.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/apply-to-tribunal/

rockingbilly

alwayssmile123 wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm hoping somebody can answer my question. For no real other reason Than to to get it out of my head.

I recently attended an assessment and the assessors report recommended 0 points on everything, and which the decision maker agreed with. I same with the MR.

The award length given was 3 years.

I've assumed that means her recommendation is that I am awarded nothing for 3 years?

What is the significance of an award length of 3 years on 0 points?

Many thanks

I have come across this before. The 3 year term has been set by the DWP that should you make a repeat claim and nothing has changed with the needs and difficulties they will treat the current assessors report as valid and refuse that repeat claim. Effectively they are attempting to bar you from making any repeat claim for the same circumstances within the next 3 years.
Whether they are legally allowed to do this I don't know.
Your best option is to appeal.

alwayssmile123

rockingbilly wrote: »

I have come across this before. The 3 year term has been set by the DWP that should you make a repeat claim and nothing has changed with the needs and difficulties they will treat the current assessors report as valid and refuse that repeat claim. Effectively they are attempting to bar you from making any repeat claim for the same circumstances within the next 3 years.
Whether they are legally allowed to do this I don't know.
Your best option is to appeal.

Thanks for answering Billy. That's quite tough to take, and although I have started the process of appeal with help, I am even more worried now.

Sounds like they have taken quite a dim view of my needs.

Sounds like it is rare too...so I have no idea what to think.....

rockingbilly

alwayssmile123 wrote: »

Thanks for answering Billy. That's quite tough to take, and although I have started the process of appeal with help, I am even more worried now.

Sounds like they have taken quite a dim view of my needs.

Sounds like it is rare too...so I have no idea what to think.....

I have come across this barring period more often over the past 6 months or so. In the past people went to the Tribunal and lost only to see them slapping in another claim days later.
As I have said I have no idea if the DWP are actually allowed to do this as opposed to treating each new claim on it's own merits. It was always the case that the more times you used to bombard them with new claims your chances of getting an award increased (you simply got better in filling out the forms and getting more evidence together).
It isn't personal to you, they are trying to dissuade you from claiming for at least another 3 years - it makes their life easier.
I believe that this is another example of the DWP making up the rules as they go along.

NeilCr

rockingbilly wrote: »

I have come across this before. The 3 year term has been set by the DWP that should you make a repeat claim and nothing has changed with the needs and difficulties they will treat the current assessors report as valid and refuse that repeat claim. Effectively they are attempting to bar you from making any repeat claim for the same circumstances within the next 3 years.
Whether they are legally allowed to do this I don't know.
Your best option is to appeal.

Be interested in any links you may have for this

As Alice says you can reapply straight away. If you are going to do that @alwayssmile123 I'd suggest that you get some help with the form

alwayssmile123

Thanks guys.

This. Process is cruel. I can't explain to you how disgusted I am claiming.

I've got help from CAB, who seem much more positive about my entitlement than I am.

the assessor made it clear with his behaviour how the assessment was going to g from the start. Forcing a yes answer when I tried to explain no, and I couldn't stop myself just going along with it.

I am claiming only on mental health....and what's difficult about this is that being in work and similar situations is when the biggest trouble occurs, situations I can't easily escape. with no work and no reason to be around people means I am going through the motions of an empty life which isn't a pip descriptor, it also means I have less to go on.

The assessor also ticked the extra support box. I figured that this was his way of covering his back should I challenge the decision. However the fact he has advised on 3 years means that isn't the case.

Thanks for all replies!

[Deleted User]

Complaining in that way (re the last para or two of your post) will acheive absolutely nothing.

I'm afraid what you have found is the way some assessors work.

When my Ex went for an assessment, he was seen by a doctor and I had similar problems wondering how this man could call himself a doctor, only stopped causing my ex considerable pain when I pointed out my ex was covered in sweat, he was causing this and could he please stop, and issued a report that was one lie after another.

The only thing you can do is go through the report line by line and disprove what it says. Going to the CAB for help is a VERY good move. They know how to word things. Concentrate on this, not on saying how amoral/unethical the assessor was. You are right, but it will achieve nothing. I hope you will be able to take someone with you to the appeal.

alwayssmile123

You are right Dean, hence why I have deleted.

The thing is I had periods after where my mind would not allow me to get away from dissecting everything that was done and said in that Interview (not assessment according to the DM).

CAB actually ignored the report completely, which in hindsight I am really happy about. challenging everything that is incorrect would pretty much mean going through the whole report.

It's going to be one year from my claim in March, time that I was hoping to improve things in my life.

Not only have I been unable to do that, but the stress of this all is too much. The way I have been constantly questioning everything about myself.

I can't help but worry about a potential tribunal and how the panel will view me, and I can't predict how I will be on the day or what will come out of my mouth.
Thanks again

alwayssmile123

How sad....

I've just worked out what they are doing. The information I wrote down and told the assessor. The assessment was in the summer and I was completely different and explained that.

For my MR, the DWP sent in on wrong paperwork so I could not appeal.

For the second MR they also sent it on wrong paperwork despite me explaining to them on the phone what had happened. I know they are incompetent but.....

However CAB explained to the tribunal what happened and it's been accepted. (Which clearly wasn't part of their script)

Clearly they know the timescales for getting a tribunal hearing, and clearly it will be in the summer...so low and behold they will get the same ME as in the assessment.

CAB also told me that these 'errors' are very rare....and it's all very logical, fits in with what I have reported and the behaviour of the nurse and DWP.

I'm very certain I am not being paranoid...it just all adds up.

Robbie64

rockingbilly wrote: »

I have come across this before. The 3 year term has been set by the DWP that should you make a repeat claim and nothing has changed with the needs and difficulties they will treat the current assessors report as valid and refuse that repeat claim. Effectively they are attempting to bar you from making any repeat claim for the same circumstances within the next 3 years.
Whether they are legally allowed to do this I don't know.
Your best option is to appeal.

From the way I am reading it, the 3 year term was set by the assessor and not by the DWP. If it was set by the assessor (and I'm assuming the original poster has a copy of the PA4 which is the assessor's consultation report) then it is simply the assessor's opinion of when it would be appropriate to review the claim. If nothing has been awarded then the 3 year term wouldn't apply and it isn't a bar on making any further PIP claim in that time period.