Does this sound normal, or has my PIP claim been mishandled?

pancakebatter5301

The DWP have just refused my claim for PIP after an eight-month long wait.

I understand it's fairly common not to get it awarded on the first try - and I've already submitted a request for mandatory reconsideration - but I still have some questions as to how my claim has been handled.

To cut a long story short, I came away with a score of exactly zero points across the board, and I'm struggling to get my head around how that's possible given the information I provided on my claim form. For example, I suffer from many anxiety-related conditions which have left me both unable to leave my house for almost a year and a half, and struggling to feed myself consistently on a day-to-day basis. It seems obvious, to me at least, that these are both things that would (should?) be classed as having a substantial impact on a person's daily living.

This is the first time I've ever applied for PIP, so admittedly I'm still learning how the process works, and perhaps my emotions are clouding my judgement. Does it sound like the DWP have made a reasonable assessment here, or have they been negligent? 

calcotti

They cannot be negligent in this. They are forming an opinion based on the information available. You may consider the opinion to be unreasonable but that isn't the same as negligence. The MR and appeal process is there to allow you to challenge the decision if you disagree with it.

pancakebatter5301

calcotti said:

They cannot be negligent in this. They are forming an opinion based on the information available. You may consider the opinion to be unreasonable but that isn't the same as negligence. The MR and appeal process is there to allow you to challenge the decision if you disagree with it.

Thanks. I suppose I'm just feeling a bit helpless, because I don't think there's anything I could have added to the reconsideration request that wasn't already written on the original form. I'll just have to wait for the outcome and hope for the best.

Alice_Holt

It's not uncommon to go from no points at assessment to an award at tribunal.

However, you need to be clear which activities, descriptors and points should apply to you.

This is a good guide to the process:
https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal

poppy12345

It will depend what exactly you wrote on the PIP2 form. If you didn't add a couple of real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. Including information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were then this is what you should have done for the MR.

DWP are also not repsonsible for the assessments.

Spoonie_Turtle

Your account is very common, you are certainly not alone in having what seem to be no-brainer claims being refused at first.

If it helps, my MR was basically restating pertinent parts of what I'd put on my form that had been completely ignored by the assessor.  It was frustrating, but necessary.

Do you understand how the activities are assessed and how descriptors are decided?
Here is a good, concise overview 
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-decisions-are-made/
And here is more a more thorough guide
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria 

As Alice_Holt says, you need to be clear which descriptors and points should apply to you.

calcotti

MR which is basically restating the same facts quite common, frequently in the form of "As I said in my PIP2 ...."
You may get a Decision Maker that takes a bit more time and changes the decision.
If not the appeal to tribunal may then also be little more than "I have nothing to add to what I have already said on my PIP2 and in my MR. I believe i am entitled to the following points ..."
Tribunal then reaches sensible decision.

pancakebatter5301

@Alice_Holt

Thank you for the link, I've saved it for future reference. Do you think it's likely I'll have to go to a tribunal?

@poppy12345

When I filled in the original claim form, I did add plenty of real world examples of how each activity is, and has been, affected by my conditions, and I included as much detail as I felt I could at the time. That's why I'm worried that simply reiterating that on the MR won't have been of much use to anyone.

And sorry, yes, I know the DWP don't do the assessment themselves. Slipped my mind when I wrote the OP.

@Spoonie_Turtle

Thanks for the reassurance and the helpful links - I'd seen the CAB page before, but not the gov.uk page, so I've saved it for future reference.

Were you awarded PIP following your MR?

calcotti

pancakebatter5301 said: Do you think it's likely I'll have to go to a tribunal?

No way of knowing. It depends on the outcome of your MR.

Spoonie_Turtle

pancakebatter5301 said:

@Spoonie_Turtle

Thanks for the reassurance and the helpful links - I'd seen the CAB page before, but not the gov.uk page, so I've saved it for future reference.

Were you awarded PIP following your MR?

Yes I was.  I still don't feel I was awarded all the points I should have been, but went from 4 to 12 points for both elements so there was no need to fight for any further points. 

Realistically, appropriate awards from an MR are not virtually impossible but are sadly still unusual.  If you are given an award as a result of your MR but still don't feel it's fair, you can accept it so you receive some money in the interim but still go on to fight for what you feel is the correct decision.  (I'm unsure whether you need to raise another MR of the revised decision before appealing or not.)

Spoonie_Turtle

pancakebatter5301 said:

@Spoonie_Turtle

Thanks for the reassurance and the helpful links - I'd seen the CAB page before, but not the gov.uk page, so I've saved it for future reference.

Were you awarded PIP following your MR?

Yes I was, although I should add the DM phoned me to try to clarify a couple of things before making her decision.  I still don't feel I was awarded all the points I should have been, but went from 4 to 12 for both elements so there was no need to fight for any further points. 

Realistically, appropriate awards from an MR are not virtually impossible but are sadly still unusual.  If you are given an award as a result of your MR but still don't feel it's fair, you can accept it so you receive some money in the interim but still go on to fight for what you feel is the correct decision.  (I'm unsure whether you need to raise another MR of the revised decision before appealing or not.)