Do PIP assessors contact your GP/Doctor? what form do they send them?

gemmaking

When doing a PIP claim, sending back your PIP "how your health affects you" Questionaire,

1) Do the PIP always contact your GP Doctor?
or only sometimes?


2) and under what circumstances do they contact your GP?
(eg, if you didn't send much medical evidence, or your answers to each question wasn't really backed up with any reports for example?

3) What do the PIP questions ask the Doctor, on their form?

4) In your own case (or somebody you helped) then did the PIP assessors contact your GP?


5) and at 'which stage' do they contact them?
(before the face to face stage? or After the face to face stage?

6) When they write to the GP, what is the name of the form they send the GP?

(when I mean Doctor, it can also mean any other health profession, neurologist, etc)


answers to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 greatly appreciated

Thanks x

[Deleted User]

They rarely if ever contact anybody, it is upto you to send relevant evidence when you apply. So if you are applying or being re-assessed for PIP (same goes for ESA) don't expect them to contact anyone.

poppy12345

The onus is always on the claimant to make sure relevant evidence is sent to support a claim.


Are you or have you applied for PIP? There seems to be a lot of questions from you regarding PIP since yesterday.

Alice_Holt

gemmaking wrote: »

When doing a PIP claim, sending back your PIP "how your health affects you" Questionaire,

1) Do the PIP always contact your GP Doctor?
or only sometimes?


2) and under what circumstances do they contact your GP?
(eg, if you didn't send much medical evidence, or your answers to each question wasn't really backed up with any reports for example?

3) What do the PIP questions ask the Doctor, on their form?

4) In your own case (or somebody you helped) then did the PIP assessors contact your GP?


5) and at 'which stage' do they contact them?
(before the face to face stage? or After the face to face stage?

6) When they write to the GP, what is the name of the form they send the GP?

(when I mean Doctor, it can also mean any other health profession, neurologist, etc)


answers to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 greatly appreciated

Thanks x

1) Very, very, very rarely. The PIP medical assessment by an ATOS (or similar) HCP replaces the GP's report that was part of the previous DLA decision making process.
Generally this only occurs when the claimant is to ill to attend an assessment or to be assessed at home, is in hospital (and a decision can be made on the papers), has an infectious disease, or is terminally ill and a DS1500 has been completed by a medical professional.
https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/news/the-pip-claim-process-for-people-who-are-terminally-ill/

2) The ATOS HCP & DWP decision maker will take a poorly completed form as evidence that you have no difficulties with PIP activities, and will use that as a justification for awarding no points. If you look at a PA4 report - the section allocating points has a question along the lines of 'Did the claimant indicate any problems with his activity on their form'. If ticked Yes, then it is likely that no points will be given by the ATOS HCP.

3, & 6) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251667/gp-guidance-pip-factual-reports.pdf

We could be more helpful, if you told us where you are in the process?
Are you moving from DLA to PIP?
What health problems do you have?
How do these affect your day-to-day ability to perform the PIP activities?
Are you getting help with the PIP form?
Etc, etc.

sparkycat2

gemmaking wrote: »

When doing a PIP claim, sending back your PIP "how your health affects you" Questionaire,

1) Do the PIP always contact your GP Doctor?
or only sometimes?

Only sometimes.

gemmaking wrote: »

2) and under what circumstances do they contact your GP?
(eg, if you didn't send much medical evidence, or your answers to each question wasn't really backed up with any reports for example?

In practice they seem to rarely bother even in the circumstances they are supposed to.

In theory if it is a new claim not a reclaim and not a transfer from DLA and if they have no corroborating evidence the medical condition is real they should check with your GP or Specialist to make sure the claim is genuine.

Otherwise in theory but very rarely to never in practice if:

further evidence will allow them to negate the need for a face-to-face consultation

where they feel that a face-to-fave may be unhelpful because the claimant lacks insight into their condition

where claimants have progressive or fluctuating conditions

where they consider that a consultation is likely to still be needed but further evidence will improve the quality of the advice provided to DWP for example, because the existing evidence lacks detail or is contradictory or to corroborate other evidence

where, in reassessment cases, further evidence may confirm whether or not there has been a change in the claimant's health condition or disability.

gemmaking wrote: »

3) What do the PIP questions ask the Doctor, on their form?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-factual-medical-reports-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals

If you have a supportive GP/Specialist I recommend having an appointment with them telling them you are claiming PIP and are worried about it and giving them a photocopy of your completed PIP form so they are aware of all the problems you have in regards to daily living and mobility. That is what we did.

gemmaking wrote: »

4) In your own case (or somebody you helped) then did the PIP assessors contact your GP?

No.
It was a transfer from DLA to PIP.
And they had lost the original DLA evidence.
And a earlier ESA transfer from SDA was done with no access to the original SDA claim or DLA claim evidence, no obtaining information from GP or specialist and no face-to-face.
The condition is variable fluctuating and a condition that the DWP deem the claimant to not be a reliable source of information due to the nature of the illness.
So in theory for PIP and for ESA they should have contacted the GP or specialist. But they did not.
Just like ESA they also did not do a face-to-face for PIP.
The only corroborating evidence included with the PIP form was a recent prescription. The only corroborating evidence with the earlier ESA form was a recent prescription and a supporting letter from a relative/carer.
They also did not appear to have read the PIP form beyond diagnosis and a bit about medical history as the point scores appeared generic rather than related to what was on the form.
The award in my view was in effect a rubber stamp exercise based on the assumption the original indefinite DLA award and the ESA support group award were correct.
They made a ongoing PIP award to be reviewed in 10 years.

gemmaking wrote: »

5) and at 'which stage' do they contact them?
(before the face to face stage? or After the face to face stage?

If they have enough information there maybe no face-to-face.
I recommend giving very complete answers explaining everything including stapling extra pages of information to the form. While they do not appear to bother reading all the information it appears to result in no face-to-face.
If further information is sought from your GP or specialist it should be before the face-to-face.
Although in theory although very rarely if ever in practice it can be done by the DWP decision maker after the face-to-face if they feel they need more information.

gemmaking wrote: »

6) When they write to the GP, what is the name of the form they send the GP?

GP factual reports (GPFRs)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-factual-medical-reports-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals

gemmaking

Sparkycat2

The award in my view was in effect a rubber stamp exercise based on the assumption the original indefinite DLA award and the ESA support group award were correct.

Thanks people.

Sparkycat, ..."original indefinite DLA award and the ESA support group award "

How did the Pip assessors know that you were
on Indefinate DLA + ESA Support ?

or did you send these award letters with your pip questionaire form ? (as evidence) which they read ??

sparkycat2

gemmaking wrote: »

Thanks people.

Sparkycat, ..."original indefinite DLA award and the ESA support group award "

How did the Pip assessors know that you were
on Indefinate DLA + ESA Support ?

or did you send these award letters with your pip questionaire form ? (as evidence) which they read ??

The claims were made as part of the migration process. SDA to ESA, DLA to PIP.

Also put down on the forms what benefits were on. Did not include the award letters just stated what benefits were on. In theory the assessor and the DWP decision maker should be able to check and access other claims.

For PIP the DWP phone call informing of the impending move from DLA to PIP even asked if we would like them to use the DLA evidence to support the PIP claim. We said yes but then received a letter stating unfortunately they could not find the DLA evidence so could not use it. I can not remember if that letter was before the PIP claim form or included with the PIP claim form.

My main advice as far as getting an award without a face-to-face would be to include as much information as possible including attaching additional sheets of paper to the claim form. If they have enough information to make a decision without a face-to-face in theory they should do so. As long as the claimed level of disability is in line with what would be expected given the diagnosis, medical history. It also probably helped the claim that the level of disability is severe and the form was filled in with a lot of assistance, and additional information provided by relative/carer.

kaya

I had an esa assessment last year and got a nasty little witch of a nurse as an assessor who lied her pants off about everything, falsified test results, made stuff up and put the results of tests she didn't do down, oh and did I mention directly contradicted surgeons reports and MRI scans ? I have bombarded the dwp with indisputable medical evidence to support my claim and every shred of it proves beyond a doubt that the little witch lied her pants off, nobody cares, nobody is interested whatsoever so im still waiting for my tribunal since they stopped my money in October, I have exhausted her employers internal complaints procedure and am reporting her to the NMC. The moral is that if they are going to shaft you the amount of evidence you provide has no bearing on the subject whatsoever. Few weeks back I had my pip exam and im sure that the descriptor boxes have been altered as well by "management" as they do not fit with the explanations given by the HCP, I have an audio recording of the assessment so I know im not going mad and imagining things(lots of meds) but they have still awarded me lower rate of care and nothing for mobility , while I will dispute this the fact that another hcp has decided I am ill and entitled to a benefit yet again makes the previous assessor look like a liar. A friend saw the same woman, he has won at a tribunal before and took a packet of diazepam and a bog roll with him (ibs and anxiety) and passed with flying colours after a 20 min medical, another guy I know who visited the same woman was found fit for work and the report stated how he has a daily shower, irons his clothes and was seen "removing his mobile phone from his pocket and manipulating it with ease" , he has asbestosis and does not possess a phone, iron or a shower, Im afraid its a lottery, one woman in the waiting room for pip was in tears after being asked by the assessor "has your MS got any better"!!!!!! The waiting room had two cameras mounted in domes in the ceiling observing peoples behaviour and also a nice little water machine with two bottles of squash next to it, I can imagine the report saying " we witnessed mr xxxxxx get up from his seat, unscrew the bottle tops and make himself a drink and carry it back to his seat"

poppy12345

kaya wrote: »

I had an esa assessment last year and got a nasty little witch of a nurse as an assessor who lied her pants off about everything, falsified test results, made stuff up and put the results of tests she didn't do down, oh and did I mention directly contradicted surgeons reports and MRI scans ? I have bombarded the dwp with indisputable medical evidence to support my claim and every shred of it proves beyond a doubt that the little witch lied her pants off, nobody cares, nobody is interested whatsoever so im still waiting for my tribunal since they stopped my money in October, I have exhausted her employers internal complaints procedure and am reporting her to the NMC. The moral is that if they are going to shaft you the amount of evidence you provide has no bearing on the subject whatsoever. Few weeks back I had my pip exam and im sure that the descriptor boxes have been altered as well by "management" as they do not fit with the explanations given by the HCP, I have an audio recording of the assessment so I know im not going mad and imagining things(lots of meds) but they have still awarded me lower rate of care and nothing for mobility , while I will dispute this the fact that another hcp has decided I am ill and entitled to a benefit yet again makes the previous assessor look like a liar. A friend saw the same woman, he has won at a tribunal before and took a packet of diazepam and a bog roll with him (ibs and anxiety) and passed with flying colours after a 20 min medical, another guy I know who visited the same woman was found fit for work and the report stated how he has a daily shower, irons his clothes and was seen "removing his mobile phone from his pocket and manipulating it with ease" , he has asbestosis and does not possess a phone, iron or a shower, Im afraid its a lottery, one woman in the waiting room for pip was in tears after being asked by the assessor "has your MS got any better"!!!!!! The waiting room had two cameras mounted in domes in the ceiling observing peoples behaviour and also a nice little water machine with two bottles of squash next to it, I can imagine the report saying " we witnessed mr xxxxxx get up from his seat, unscrew the bottle tops and make himself a drink and carry it back to his seat"

ESA and PIP are completely different. People work and claim PIP. ESA is for those with a limited capability for work.



ESA is about the work you can do, rather than the work you can't do.

tazwhoever

Alice thanks - message #4

Is Hepatitis B and taking medication for it included in infectious disease?

If so, I can wash and clean myself!

sparkycat2

poppy12345 wrote: »

ESA and PIP are completely different. People work and claim PIP. ESA is for those with a limited capability for work.

The claim information and evidence from one can however effect an existing claim for the other, as new evidence. For example people can be found fit for work by ESA and as a result also lose their PIP as the ESA claim evidence is used as new information that can effect their existing PIP claim. If the DWP can use claim evidence from one as evidence for the other then why not the claimant.

poppy12345 wrote: »

ESA is about the work you can do, rather than the work you can't do.

ESA is not a real work test. Someone could be blatantly incapable of any paid employment or even of meeting the conditionality requirements of JSA according to the incapability acknowledge in the ESA assessment points awarded, yet be found fit for work and told to claim JSA.
ESA is also not a imaginary work test as appropriate work related activity is not work. Yet being deemed capable of appropriate work related activity results in less money than Support Group, and being subject to conditionality.
ESA and for that matter PIP are about saving the government money in comparison to IB and DLA.