PIP REVIEW

Tim72

I've just received a pip review through the door ,as I've never had a review my last award was for 5 years ,so my pip is up in July and never having had a review I was hoping some of you good people out there may have any suggestions for me ,thanks Tim72.

poppy12345

You need to fill out the form with as much information as possible about how your conditions affect you, Then add a couple of real life examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. Use extra sheets of paper if you need to but put your name and NI number on everything you send.

Go through the evidence and only send what's relevant to your conditions and how they affect you. Sending huge amounts of evidence that isn't relevant isn't helpful because chances are it won't be read.

If you don't have enough time to return the form you can ring to request an extra 14 days. Expect another face to face assessment because most people have them.

coachman12

My advice is to get an up-to-date assessment report from your consultant ( GPs carry little weight with DWP agents' re PIP ). A very recent consultant's letter in detail will carry more weight than anything you might say in the form). If you see a consultant privately , it will enable you to have enough time to get your reassessment form back in time, whereas NHS waiting lists might make a consultant's report too late. And it will be crucial.
Send every bit of info you have, especially letters and assessments by health professionals of any sort. More documentation, photocopies of every scrap of supporting evidence is essential.These reassessments for PIP are NOT routine assumptions that you will continue to receive PIP. It could easily be stopped if you do not do a lot of work beforehand and when you fill out the form.
Fill out the form in as much detail as possible. Provide a promise ---and proof---that your condition has not changed ( or has got worse ) over the past 5 years.
Carry out your own assessment to see if you reach the number of points required to meet PIP criteria( you can find out how many points you need and the aspects which create those points by googling a self-help site).
Prepare yourself for a face-to-face reassessment by whichever agency DWP is currently using, eg Atos, Maximus, etc. and if you have trouble with face-to-face assessment , you will need to find compelling medical support to try and avoid being called for an assessment by DWP agents.
Hope this is of some help. And good luck.

Tim72

Thanks both my medical proof is only 6 months old both from hospital consultants and both long letters outlining the problems I have ,the one letter even says on it I will be in a wheelchair within 6 to 8 months ,so there's no problems there I've also known this for a while now so it's no surprise to me ,but it seems they try and catch you out sometimes ,because even though I think I have noting to worry about ,you never know with that lot especially atos and capita bunch of cowboys the lot of them.

poppy12345

coachman12 said:

Send every bit of info you have, especially letters and assessments by health professionals of any sort. More documentation, photocopies of every scrap of supporting evidence is essential.

Sorry but i disagree with that. Every single piece of evidence is not needed. Less is often more and if it's not relevant there's little point in sending it. Before sending any evidence , go through everything to check there's no contradictions in any of the evidence.

A couple of real life examples for every descriptor that applies and a few pieces of evidence is all that's needed.

If i sent all of my daughters evidence i would end up sending more than 80 A4 pages, which is ridiculous and not needed. I sent two Consultant reports and her ASD assessment report, used real life examples and she had a paper based assessment and was awarded Enhanced for both parts.

coachman12

Tim72 said:

Thanks both my medical proof is only 6 months old both from hospital consultants and both long letters outlining the problems I have ,the one letter even says on it I will be in a wheelchair within 6 to 8 months ,so there's no problems there I've also known this for a while now so it's no surprise to me ,but it seems they try and catch you out sometimes ,because even though I think I have noting to worry about ,you never know with that lot especially atos and capita bunch of cowboys the lot of them.

That sounds good, Tim, as far as your reassessment is concerned. But I'm very sorry to hear of your worsening condition and wish you all the very best.

Tim72

I think that's what I'm going to do to be honest ,I've got two letters both 2 pages long of to different concultants which both show and explain my difficulties ,and the problems I have as you said less is more and they can't but help read it properly if it's only 2 letters there's no excuse for not reading that's in black and white in front of them.

Tim72

Coachman 12 thanks for that ,I've know since 2009 what would happen eventually,it's just one of those things ,I've had a bad back for year in 2009 I just couldn't move one morning well I could but was in exscrutating pain 2mri's later it's a condition I was born with congenital spinal stenosis,and because I didn't know this 25 years on the building didn't do it much good eather, just one of those things ,can't do anything about it now,the surgeon won't operate untill I lose bowel or blader control so I've got that to look forward to,he won't do the opp because he may cause bowell or bladder control,so untill that happens he won't touch me ,once that happens naturally hell then do the opp ,and I can't flame it on him ,and he can't see an opp helping my back so that's it I'm afraid ,cheers anyway coachman.

Alice_Holt

coachman12 said:

Send every bit of info you have, especially letters and assessments by health professionals of any sort.


   OP, you do need to exercise some discretion when including medical reports. Be careful that any attached letters do confirm the difficulties you have. Certainly at my local CAB we have seen cases where the DWP DM has used attached medical letters to deny an award.
So be careful with what you sent, as poppy says make sure there are no contradictions in your paperwork. Concise and to the point, is the way to go.

An alternative is to get a copy of your medical records from your surgery (now free under a GDPR request). 
https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/rights-restrictions/rights-and-restrictions/access-to-health-records/
But do remember that PIP is not about your diagnosis, but how you are affected and the help you need around the PIP descriptors : https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system
What can be useful is to include a letter from you carer / family member / friend confirming the help they give you around the descriptors. 
If you use aids (raised toilet seat, rails in bath, shower seat, sock grabber, perching stool in kitchen, etc) and happen to have an OT letter recommending these - that can be useful evidence.
With PIP reliably is very important (to an acceptable standard, in a reasonable time, etc). So this needs full explanation on any PIP forms.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831253/PIP-assessment-guide-part-2-the_assessment-criteria.pdf
(Page 67).

coachman12

Alice_Holt said:

   OP, you do need to exercise some discretion when including medical reports. Be careful that any attached letters do confirm the difficulties you have. Certainly at my local CAB we have seen cases where the DWP DM has used attached medical letters to deny an award. 

So be careful with what you sent, as poppy says make sure there are no contradictions in your paperwork. Concise and to the point, is the way to go.

An alternative is to get a copy of your medical records from your surgery (now free under a GDPR request). 
https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/rights-restrictions/rights-and-restrictions/access-to-health-records/
But do remember that PIP is not about your diagnosis, but how you are affected and the help you need around the PIP descriptors : https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system
What can be useful is to include a letter from you carer / family member / friend confirming the help they give you around the descriptors. 
If you use aids (raised toilet seat, rails in bath, shower seat, sock grabber, perching stool in kitchen, etc) and happen to have an OT letter recommending these - that can be useful evidence.
With PIP reliably is very important (to an acceptable standard, in a reasonable time, etc). So this needs full explanation on any PIP forms.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831253/PIP-assessment-guide-part-2-the_assessment-criteria.pdf
(Page 67).
____________________________
As someone who has been completing PIP forms for three friends/relatives, I find GP records are of little help. Nor are GP letters.
The same is true of letters from family members and those close to the applicant because DWP staff actually told me on one occasion that they are regarded as biased.
The self-assessment I mentioned in earlier posting is a useful aide-memoire. 
Anyway, I think you have all you need now, Tim. Come back sometime and let us know how you are getting on. Best Regards.

poppy12345

My daughters support worker wrote a supporting letter for her PIP review last year, which stated what she needed help/support with and this was used as evidence, so yes these letters can definitely be very useful.