PIP assessment results back, should I appeal?

lidlfan

I got my results for my PIP assessment through this week and have gone from mid rate care and low mobility to standard care, a drop of £100 or so per month. I scored 11 points for care, which was one short of getting enhanced. I am diagnosed with schizoaffectve disorder . I got two points for mobility, just said that I take walks by myself most days but they are in local empty countryside areas. Anyway, should I appeal? What would my chances be having come so close? Can they deduct points at an appeal?

Diary

lidlfan wrote: »

I got my results for my PIP assessment through this week and have gone from mid rate care and low mobility to standard care, a drop of £100 or so per month. I scored 11 points for care, which was one short of getting enhanced. I am diagnosed with schizoaffectve disorder . I got two points for mobility, just said that I take walks by myself most days but they are in local empty countryside areas. Anyway, should I appeal? What would my chances be having come so close? Can they deduct points at an appeal?

You need to apply for a mandatory reconsideration first and then when unsuccessful go to appeal.

The points can be taken away or given at mandatory reconsideration (very unlikely at MR) and at tribunal.
No-one can tell you of your chances except that your award is very unlikely to be changed at mandatory reconsideration and most go to tribunal.

Given that you go out walking by yourself most days do you think 2 points in mobility is fair?

EmeraldEye

Where do you live?

Here in the North of Ireland a supplementary payment will automatically be paid to claimants who are awarded a lower amount on PIP than they received on DLA. (Other benefits are also eligible including ESA/HOUSING BENEFIT etc).

It's an additional monthly payment on top of the PIP monthly payment to reduce the impact that the welfare reform changes will have on people, so anyone who has lost benefit as a result of the welfare reform bill will be paid this supplementary payment.

Obviously none of that will be relevant to you if you live somewhere else but I thought I'd make you aware just incase.

antrobus

lidlfan wrote: »

I got my results for my PIP assessment through this week and have gone from mid rate care and low mobility to standard care, a drop of £100 or so per month. I scored 11 points for care, which was one short of getting enhanced. I am diagnosed with schizoaffectve disorder . I got two points for mobility, just said that I take walks by myself most days but they are in local empty countryside areas. Anyway, should I appeal? What would my chances be having come so close? Can they deduct points at an appeal?

Have you worked your way through the PIP descriptors?
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

As far as mobility is concerned, there are only two activities. If you can 'take walks by yourself' most days, then you will be awarded 0 points for Moving Around, presumably you got 4 points under Planning and following journeys, because you need "prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress". The fact that these walks are in 'local empty countryside areas' does not appear to be relevant; PIP assessments are based on your functional ability. But I am guessing here.

In truth only you, can really answer the question of whether any appeal would give you more money. You have to work your way through the descriptors and honestly decide what it is you can and cannot do, and identify where it is you think the error (if any) has been made.

nannytone_2

it isn't a drop of £100 every 4 weeks as standard care pays the same as mid rate care.
low mobility is just over £20 a week, so you have lost this only
( i know thats hard enough to lose)

as has been said, your first step is a mandatory reconsideration and to ask for a copy of the assessors report

rockingbilly

Diary wrote: »

Given that you go out walking by yourself most days do you think 2 points in mobility is fair?

I would say so. Being unable to walk 10 metres without suffering like myself, will not in my opinion get me any points for PIP Mobility simply because I could walk over 100 metres through the pain and suffering.

Alice_Holt

Have a look at:
http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal

Carefully go through the Daily Living activities to check if an additional points should have been awarded to bring you to 12 points. This would give you the Enhanced award for DL.
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

There isn't an equivalent PIP award to replace DLA Low Rate Mob. This only scores 4 points for "Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant." 4 points does not get an PIP Mobility award (8 are needed).

Be aware that your entire award will be reviewed. Points could be reduced (but with 11 points, you have 3 "spare" points for your current DL standard award).

If you think you can make a persuasive case at tribunal for the Enhanced DL award, and can get medical evidence to back this up, then an appeal is worth considering.

lidlfan

Is there a deadline I have to appeal by? I got my results on the 24th of January.

lidlfan

EmeraldEye wrote: »

Where do you live?

Here in the North of Ireland a supplementary payment will automatically be paid to claimants who are awarded a lower amount on PIP than they received on DLA. (Other benefits are also eligible including ESA/HOUSING BENEFIT etc).

It's an additional monthly payment on top of the PIP monthly payment to reduce the impact that the welfare reform changes will have on people, so anyone who has lost benefit as a result of the welfare reform bill will be paid this supplementary payment.

Obviously none of that will be relevant to you if you live somewhere else but I thought I'd make you aware just incase.

That's very interesting. In Scotland we don't have this, for all the SNP talk of being anti-austerity.

Torry_Quine

lidlfan wrote: »

Is there a deadline I have to appeal by? I got my results on the 24th of January.

You have four weeks from the date of the decision, the date will be on the letter with the decision. Mine was the 24th and I have until 21st February so you haven't much time.

poppy12345

lidlfan wrote: »

Is there a deadline I have to appeal by? I got my results on the 24th of January.

Mandatory Reconsideration comes before appeal and you have just 28 days from the date on the letter.