Medical Evidence /Reports For PIP Application/s :Time Frame?

Mandy53

Mandy53, I am sorry that you have had a distressing time with your face to face assessment. However, any application you make has to include everything you have regarding evidence etc, otherwise they do not necessarily look at it. In my recent PIP application I also included evidence which was 5-6 years old and this was accepted. I think if it is relevant, they will look at it - but you must send it in with your application.

Even if you have sent previous applications to the DWP, never assume they have that information at hand, or if they will look for it. I had a face to face assessment for ESA just 3 months before receiving my PIP forms. I stated this on my PIP form in the 'other information', as they are different departments.

I remember years ago when I had to go to a tribunal and at that time I had added problems which were post application that they had received - they pointed out that these would not be looked at as they could only look at the information given on the date when the application was made. Fortunately for me I was successful at that tribunal.

ATOS is no longer, it is 'CAPITA' now that they use. It is a distressing time I know. Whatever the outcome for you, I would keep your evidence and add your further changes in circumstances (if applicable to changes in your condition/difficulties) later.

Hi TOBRUK,
Thank you for your support which is appreciated. I didn,t submit the older reports as when i had the telephone questions when applying for PIP, the man asked if i wanted them to consider the information they have relating to my DLA so i therefore assumed that they had all the older reports hence would use these to look at my claim for PIP along with the newer medical reports. I don,t understand why the nurse assessor said that DWP don,t accept reports older than 5 years then said that they and DWP already have these older reports? I would interpret her comments as meaning that even though DWP say medical reports do not have to be recent and when such reports older than 5 years are submitted to them, they do not even look at nor consider these as supporting medical evidence when deciding on an award for PIP?
I am pleased that your award was successful at the tribunal and they looked at post PIP application medical evidence. As i didn,t have MAC when i applied and applied due to the other chronic lung conditions and other health problems i have then i would present this at the tribunal too.

poppy12345

Mandy53 wrote: »

Hi Poppy,
That is very interesting as the assessors name badge had Atos on it in orange letters ? I note that the appointment letter,etc states Independent Assessment Services so just wonder if it is actually still Atos just going under a new name ?

They are still ATOS, but with a different name.

poppy12345

Have you rang DWP and asked for a copy of the assessment report? This will give you some idea what the decison will be and if it doesn't go in your favour then you'll have the report ready to write you MR letter. Mostly they go with that report, it's rare for them to go against it.

Mandy53

Older evidence can certainly be submitted...I believe one of my reports was 10 years or so old.

The assessor referenced this in their report....using it as the basis for awarding me points for certain activities....and they also pointed out each time that the report is very old, but refers to an ongoing condition, so is still deemed valid.

The reports for physical conditions were accepted...those that referred to mental health issues were completely ignored....but this pretty much reflects the whole assessment process - it is MUCH easier to get the necessary points for physical conditions.

I would always recommend sending in all reports at the initial stage,...rather send one too many than one too few...they need all the proof you can muster!

Thank you for your advice and it is interesting that the assessor you had did look at your older report yet the one i had wouldn,t. I do know some do and others don,t but feel that all reports no matter how old should be considered in light of the DWP not stating anything to the contrary .
I,m sorry your mental health conditions were completely ignored :did you submit a complaint about this ? I did ask my GP for a report/letter to send with my application but he said it "didn,t work that way"? and he had to wait to hear from them first? although did give me a brief letter regarding my MAC diagnosis and for her to consider my pulmonary reserve for the assessor . When i saw him the day before he said he hadn,t heard from DWP or Atos, yet anyway however i don,t know if they will contact him as the assessor also said that the reason they and DWP don,t contact GP,S is because GPs ,don,t know anything regarding their patients mobility restrictions nor their abilities to carry out daily tasks,etc? She said that a GP merely sees a patient walk in ,is seen for 15 minutes then walks out again so a GP does not know how an illness affects a patient? I found this quite insulting to General Practioners. I told her that i see my GP on a regular basis(at least once a fortnight)and am usually in with him for more than 15 minutes and he sees how poor my mobility is and is aware of my care package which was sent to him by social work and that i discuss the difficulties i have showering, making meals,urinary problems,etc .I told her that the day before the assessment, i was with him for nearly 1 hour and that people with chronic ,long term conditions certainly spend more than just a 15 minute consultation with their GP. My GP still says that they/Atos and DWP will contact him. I did get letters from my respiratory consultant and social worker and my care plan /package which i sent with my application however as you say, i should have also sent the older reports too.

Mandy53

Have you rang DWP and asked for a copy of the assessment report? This will give you some idea what the decison will be and if it doesn't go in your favour then you'll have the report ready to write you MR letter. Mostly they go with that report, it's rare for them to go against it.

No Poppy, i haven,t yet requested this but will phone them tomorrow and ask for a copy. How long does it take for DWP to get this from the assessor ? I don,t think i will get an award at all and will have to ask for a MR although as you say, they do not go against that report no matter how conflicting it may be.

Mandy53

Never assume the DWP have any past evidence, always send it yourself. It's very rare for them to contact any medical professional about your conditions, it has been known but it's still very rare. Always send the evidence with your form, just incase the assessment provider doesn't accept it on the day, which is what happened to you. There's nothing you can do about it now as it's too late send it in. My advice would be to keep hold of it incase it's needed for the Mandatory Reconsideration.

A diagnosis makes no difference to a PIP claim because it's not about that. It's how those condtions affect you daily.

You can ring DWP and ask for a copy of the assessment report. Once they recieve both copies they'll send one out to you. This will give you some idea what the decision will be as mostly they go with that report, it's rare if they go against it. Good luck.

Yes, i will ring DWP and ask for a copy of the report,thanks. Thank you for your good wishes too which is much appreciated.I will keep hold of all the other reports including the ones i obtained after my application which the assessor said they have but i know they don,t as neither they nor DWP have not been contact with the consultant who provided them. I was also reviewed by my social worker a few weeks ago as the SDS requires a review every 6 weeks and she has appointed me more hours although i need to employ another P.A. as the one i have can,t do any extra hours. I received a copy of the social worker,s new outcome focussed review yesterday ; should i send this to DWP or keep it for the MR and send it then? I did tell the assessor i was reviewed and am being given more hours for my care.
I understand it,s about how an illness affects a person in managing their daily tasks and mobility and not about having having a health condition.Thank you for all your advice.

poppy12345

Sorry i find your posts very hard to read at times because when you're quoting posts from others, it's looking like it's your post and not showing as a quote.

They will only send you out the report once they recieve both copies. My daughter hasd a home assessment almost 2 weeks ago and it's still at audit with the assessment providers, very annoying. Length of time to send it back can be anything from the next day, to a couple of weeks.

Mandy53

Sorry my post replies are confusing as i don,t know how to enclose the replies to my posts properly so i copied and pasted them then replied ?
I suppose ,as you say, that it just depends on how long the assessment is with the admin before it,s sent onto DWP and all i can do is phone DWP to ask if they have it yet. I hope you get your daughter,s soon.

TOBRUK

Mandy53 wrote: »

I don,t think i will get an award at all and will have to ask for a MR although as you say, they do not go against that report no matter how conflicting it may be.

Hi Mandy, about 3 years ago when I had DLA 'renewal' forms, my 'care component' was reduced. I looked at the assessor's report and there were a few points in there they had written that were totally incorrect. As they note at the end of the letters something like: if you think this decisions is wrong ...

I wrote to the decision maker pointing out (in point form) what I disagreed with in that report, and why, giving an explanation in detail.

A week or so later I received a letter from the DM, they changed their decision and was awarded higher care component.

So it seems they do change their decision at times.

poppy12345

Mandy53 wrote: »

Sorry my post replies are confusing as i don,t know how to enclose the replies to my posts properly so i copied and pasted them then replied ?
I suppose ,as you say, that it just depends on how long the assessment is with the admin before it,s sent onto DWP and all i can do is phone DWP to ask if they have it yet. I hope you get your daughter,s soon.

To quote something, at the bottom of the other persons post there's blue boxes, Thanks, quote, report and spam...just click the quote like you click the thanks and put your reply under that quote.

I hope i get my daughters soon too, the wait is horrendous.