Gettting PIP decision put on hold ?

JoeS2000

Has anyone managed to get a decision put on hold recently ?  I've been helping my disabled sister move from DLA -> PIP and although we put a huge amount of information into it, we got the letter through yesterday rejecting her for PIP - based on what I've read and heard about the system this didn't surprise me but the timing isn't ideal.  No idea how we're supposed to get help from GPs, social workers etc.. to find time to write letters and coordinate an appeal with the social services already flat out.  Like many people we're already isolating/sheilding so that doesn't help, and the text in the decision they wrote is so shambolic and unreadable I don't even know where to start to formulate a reply.

Wondered if anyone had called up recently and they had offered to put this on hold for a period with what is currently happening, without getting to the appeal stages ?

I see the request for a mandatory reconsideration notice, but that appears to want further information, and again not got a lot of time to do this seing at these letters always take a week, so only 3 weeks left to action this.

poppy12345

You actually have 13 months to request the MR with good reasons and due to the current circumstances, it will be good reason. However, doing this will only delay the MR process further and whether or not your sister want's to do this, will be her choice. Her DLA will now stop, which could affect any other benefits she or someone else is claiming.

For the MR she should put this in writing stating where she thinks she should have scored those points and her reasons why. Then add a couple of real life examples of what happened the last time she attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to her.

This link may help understand what the descriptors mean. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

She could also request the MR over the phone, of course this isn't ideal but neither is delaying the process. Only she can decide what to do.

Margaret_100

Yes I would agree get the MR in, it may take longer than usual for a decision but at least it will be in the pipe line. Don’t worry too much about the professional evidence for the MR, unfortunately a very high percentages come back with no improvement but once you have the MR decision letter you can consider an appeal where outcomes are considerably more successful. When requesting professional evidence ask the professional to describe how your sister’s disability/s affect her ability to care for herself and her mobility. 

Spoonie_Turtle

I seem to think you can send in evidence later on? As long as it has your sister's name and NI number on every sheet of paper.

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I seem to think you can send in evidence later on?

You can yes but whether they will wait for the evidence, is another thing. It has been known for them to make a decision without waiting for that evidence.

Spoonie_Turtle

poppy12345 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I seem to think you can send in evidence later on?

You can yes but whether they will wait for the evidence, is another thing. It has been known for them to make a decision without waiting for that evidence.

I don't mean making them wait, particularly, but if it takes around 10 weeks between them receiving the MR request and actually dealing with it, an extra (say) 8 weeks to gather and send in evidence would be useful. Even if you played it safe and made sure to send everything in 6 weeks after, it would still be useful extra time. That was my thinking, anyway - I haven't been through the process yet so I could indeed be totally wrong.

JoeS2000

Thanks for all the advice folks, will have a look at the descriptors and how we can tackle this - just hoping it can be postponed for a period as a dreadful time to enforce a change like this when we're all literally on our kness with this pandemic.

poppy12345

JoeS2000 said:

 just hoping it can be postponed for a period

I'm assuming you mean the MR request? If so then as advised, you do have 13 months to request this, with good reason.

JoeS2000

poppy12345 said:

JoeS2000 said:

 just hoping it can be postponed for a period

I'm assuming you mean the MR request? If so then as advised, you do have 13 months to request this, with good reason.

I was hoping the decision they've just made to not award PIP and to stop DLA could be postponed.  As it stands she will lose this money in just over 3 weeks time which is devastating for her.  I don't see how I can pull all the help needed from doctors, OTs, social workers when they are overloaded currently - whole system is creaking.

poppy12345

DLA will stop, unfortunately, there's no reversing that decision because it no longer exists. For the PIP refusal then her next step is to request the MR.

I totally understand the timing is really bad but evidence should have been sent when the form was sent. This link may help with the MR decision. Please also have a read of the link i posted above.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/mandatory-reconsideration/

born_again

Just to give the OP a hint at timescales now for MR.
I posted our MR letter in Beginning of March. Received text 2 April stating received and will be up to 10 weeks for decision.