PIP MR???

DTyaya

Please may I have some advice. 

I’ve just started receiving PIP and always had the intention of asking for an MR since I received my report back in December, however I knew I’d have to wait until I received the final decision letter which I did today. 

I qualified for Enhanced Daily Living and Standard Mobility which I was expecting since seeing the report, however I always felt that I should have qualified for Enhanced Mobility and the assessor contradicted themselves in the report. 

However earlier today I contacted Citizens advice to gain some help and advice with composing a letter to send to the DWP to ask for an MR. The advisor basically told me that because PIP is such a hard benefit to claim, he thinks they’ve been quite generous and I should be more a less grateful that I got enhanced for my daily living and standard mobility. 

This is my first time for applying for PIP and now receiving it, but without giving the wrong impression I’m a firm believer of at least fighting for what you and your professionals involved in your care believe you are entitled to. Whether the outcome is positive or not at least I can say I tried. 

However, he stated that I’m taking a risk in potentially losing points rather than gaining then. As he’s seen this happen a few times with people. 

Although we did not divulge much into all my other disabilities he’s opinion was only based off the descriptor which I wanted to challenge in regards to my mental health. He said I should not take DWP’s comments in the decision personal (which I’ve always understood from all my research regarding PIP) and look at it from a clinical point of view, but I’d still be taken a risk and I should be happy to get something. 

I’m happy with everything else in my PIP claim, but wanted to challenge just one descriptor. My question is, am I really putting myself at risk of potentially losing everything although all my evidence supports the descriptors I am currently in receipt of? 

Thanks in advance. 

Rubyroobs

Personally I wouldn't risk it unless i was extremely confident of scoring the extra points needed for enhanced mobility. How many points short were you ?

DTyaya

Rubyroobs said:

Personally I wouldn't risk it unless i was extremely confident of scoring the extra points needed for enhanced mobility. How many points short were you ?

I was short of 2 points. 

calcotti

DTyaya said: I’m happy with everything else in my PIP claim, but wanted to challenge just one descriptor. My question is, am I really putting myself at risk of potentially losing everything although all my evidence supports the descriptors I am currently in receipt of? 

Although you can state that you are happy with everything else and only wish one descriptor to be looked any reconsideration is a reconsideration of the whole award. A different Decision Maker will look at all of the evidence again and this can result in the loss of points previously awarded. It is not usual but can happen and therefore there is a risk.

[Deleted User]

DTyaya said:

Rubyroobs said:

Personally I wouldn't risk it unless i was extremely confident of scoring the extra points needed for enhanced mobility. How many points short were you ?

I was short of 2 points. 

 What descriptor do you need to meet? 

DTyaya

_shel said:

DTyaya said:

Rubyroobs said:

Personally I wouldn't risk it unless i was extremely confident of scoring the extra points needed for enhanced mobility. How many points short were you ?

I was short of 2 points. 

 What descriptor do you need to meet? 

The following of unfamiliar journeys due to having and panic and anxiety disorder. 

[Deleted User]

DTyaya said:

_shel said:

DTyaya said:

Rubyroobs said:

Personally I wouldn't risk it unless i was extremely confident of scoring the extra points needed for enhanced mobility. How many points short were you ?

I was short of 2 points. 

 What descriptor do you need to meet? 

The following of unfamiliar journeys due to having and panic and anxiety disorder. 

 Unless you have lots of medical evidence to back you up? You will struggle with this. Yes was challenged and won in Court but still extremely difficult to get. 

Alice_Holt

I'd echo the other comments. There is a risk - the whole of the award will be looked at again (not just the descriptor you want them to look at). Your award can stay the same, increase, or decrease.  I have seen awards be decreased at MR stage by a second DWP decision maker.

Did the Citizens Advice advisor you spoke to help you with the claim?   If they are familiar with your claim then you should take that advice very seriously.   
What exact descriptors and points did you score?

calcotti

Obviously the degree of risk depends on your existing point score. If you got 12 points for Daily Living then your Enhanced Rate DL award might be at risk. If, on the other hand, you got 16 points or more then that part of the award might look secure because you have points to spare although one would also need to consider how the point score is arrived at.

Spoonie_Turtle

DTyaya said:

_shel said:

DTyaya said:

Rubyroobs said:

Personally I wouldn't risk it unless i was extremely confident of scoring the extra points needed for enhanced mobility. How many points short were you ?

I was short of 2 points. 

 What descriptor do you need to meet? 

The following of unfamiliar journeys due to having and panic and anxiety disorder. 

Do you mind if I ask whether you got descriptor D or E? Sometimes it can be easier to challenge E than D, if you can demonstrate that having someone with you for familiar journeys enabled you to do them (which wouldn't be the case if any journey causes overwhelming distress even if someone's with you).

Oh, just re-read your post - do you mean familiar or unfamiliar?

But either way Alice_Holt and calcotti make excellent points.

DTyaya

Alice_Holt said:

I'd echo the other comments. There is a risk - the whole of the award will be looked at again (not just the descriptor you want them to look at). Your award can stay the same, increase, or decrease.  I have seen awards be decreased at MR stage by a second DWP decision maker.

Did the Citizens Advice advisor you spoke to help you with the claim?   If they are familiar with your claim then you should take that advice very seriously.   
What exact descriptors and points did you score?

Hi Alice

No citizens advice did not help with the claim. Originally when I made the claim last year September it was all new to me and I wasn’t actually aware of how much help and support was out there so I tried my best to do it all myself initially. However I’ve since learned so much. 

Today is the first time speaking with citizens advice and as mentioned before we didn’t really divulge into my other disabilities, although he asked what I was getting PIP for, but he remained more focused on the descriptor I wanted to challenge. So I could be fair to say that he does not have a full insight into my health or PIP claim. 

All points I scored for: 
DL 
You need prompting from another person to prepare and cook a simple meal (2points) 
You need supervision, prompting or assistance from another person to manage your therapy and that this therapy takes no more than 3.5 hours a week (2 points) 
You need to use and aid or appliance to wash or bathe (2 points)
You need an aid or appliance to manage toilet needs or incontinence (2 points) 
You need to use an aid or appliance to dress and undress (2 points) 
You need to be prompted by another person to engage with other people (2 points) 
You need prompting or assistance from another person to make complex budgeting decisions (2 points)

Mobility 
You can stand and then moving an aid or appliance 20metres but no more than 50metres (10 points)