Advice Please - PIP Renewal Form for DS

Spoonie_Turtle

UKTigerlily said:

mark55man said:

Hi

My son (now early 20s) was awarded PIP for 3 years for ME/CFS, Chronic Headaches and Anxiety, we just received his PIP renewal form.  For completeness (but not sure if it matters) for his UC he is characterised as  limited capability for work and work related activity ( LCWRA )

In all honesty nothing has changed for him if anything over the pandemic he has got more stuck in his rut and more prone to sleep and energy loss issues.

When completing the form do we just say that or do we need to go back to the original application and replay the wording from there?  Also will there be a separate assessment as we had the first time round?  Finally can I presume on that this is likely to be granted, or is this more unlikely in the current environment.   

Thanks in advance.  We have a couple of weeks to return the forms so we are keen to make a start

I just had a renewal form and was unsure whether to just state nothing had changed after every question, or whether to do it all in great detail. I called them, and they confirmed I just needed to state that nothing had changed, and send any evidence, so this is what I did. I sent a prescription list, a letter from my Consultant and my Mum about how it affects me, and also the copy of my last assessment, in case they didn't bother to look at it. They have kept me on the same level of award for 3 more years with no assessment, hth

They don't look at previous assessments/forms as far as I understand, so this is most likely what got you that result, helped by the letters confirming that things were still the same as before.  Simply stating 'no change' without further information is a recipe for disaster and leaves all the work to do if the resulting decision needs to be challenged.

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said: They don't look at previous assessments/forms as far as I understand, 

Which is completely bonkers given the way the renewal form is set up to prompt people to say no change!

poppy12345

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said: They don't look at previous assessments/forms as far as I understand, 

Which is completely bonkers given the way the renewal form is set up to prompt people to say no change!

The original renewal forms were worse than they are now. Although i agree it's still easy to think that all that's needed is to put no change and they could be worded better.

mark55man

Thank you again.  We do have quite a bit of extra information to share in terms of treatment so I will be balancing replaying the original information alongside this new data 

Alice_Holt

poppy12345 said:

UKTigerlily said:

mark55man said:

Hi

My son (now early 20s) was awarded PIP for 3 years for ME/CFS, Chronic Headaches and Anxiety, we just received his PIP renewal form.  For completeness (but not sure if it matters) for his UC he is characterised as  limited capability for work and work related activity ( LCWRA )

In all honesty nothing has changed for him if anything over the pandemic he has got more stuck in his rut and more prone to sleep and energy loss issues.

When completing the form do we just say that or do we need to go back to the original application and replay the wording from there?  Also will there be a separate assessment as we had the first time round?  Finally can I presume on that this is likely to be granted, or is this more unlikely in the current environment.   

Thanks in advance.  We have a couple of weeks to return the forms so we are keen to make a start

I just had a renewal form and was unsure whether to just state nothing had changed after every question, or whether to do it all in great detail. I called them, and they confirmed I just needed to state that nothing had changed, and send any evidence, so this is what I did. I sent a prescription list, a letter from my Consultant and my Mum about how it affects me, and also the copy of my last assessment, in case they didn't bother to look at it. They have kept me on the same level of award for 3 more years with no assessment, hth

You were extremely lucky that they did this. I wouldn't advise anyone to just put "no change" always cover yourself and treat every claim as a new claim.

For future reference, when you ring DWP you are ringing a call centre who have very little benefits knowledge and it's not really advised to ring them for any advice regarding benefits.

      Couldn't agree more.  

     My local Citizens Advice has many client's whose award has been reduced / taken away after writing just "no change" on the form and not giving full information (or as UKtigerlily thankfully did - additional evidence)  

     There follows many months for the client to negotiate the MR / appeal process and get before a tribunal.
During this long process, their PIP payments have stopped along with any disability premiums attached to legacy benefits. 
It may be that their Motability car needs to returned, etc, etc.   


  UKtigerlily -  Remember who you are dealing with - ATOS, Capita, Maximus & the DWP.  

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/secret-pip-files-show-one-in-three-assessments-by-capita-had-significant-flaws/

You need to take every re-assessment seriously, and give as little opportunity for those private companies to make a flawed assessment of your needs.

Muttleythefrog

Good advice here... so a general point that may help regarding the issue of no change. Suggest for describing problems doing so in electronic document to print and attach to form and on the form state 'no change - refer to additional attached page x' in relevant sections. (Ensure pages have name, NiNo, date, number and appropriate headers). That way not only do you provide full information (and get around lack of space!) and indicate no change but could save a lot of effort the next time you have to complete form at renewal.

mark55man

Hello.  Thank you for your help previously, I am now nearly done and within the deadline.

Just a couple of checks - is it usual to provide consent to speak to the GP.  Most of my sons medical issues have been dealt with at the local hospital although the whole team has changed there, so not really able to give any of their names either.

I am minded to give consent but then contact the GP to confirm he understands the position. 

Thank you

poppy12345

mark55man said:

Just a couple of checks - is it usual to provide consent to speak to the GP. 

Yes but they very rarely contact anyone for any evidence. The onus is on you to make sure it's sent to support the claim.

Robbie64

I would only withold consent in exceptional circumstances. The DWP can hold this against you by claiming that it has not been possible to obtain further information to progress the PIP claim. That is despite the fact that it is rare for the DWP to actually contact anyone.

peteuk

Spoonie_Turtle said

They don't look at previous assessments/forms as far as I understand, so this is most likely what got you that result, helped by the letters confirming that things were still the same as before.  Simply stating 'no change' without further information is a recipe for disaster and leaves all the work to do if the resulting decision needs to be challenged.

But they do look at the previous award.  Your previous descriptor for each activity has to be noted and the report reflect any chances in this.  If you have more than one historical award then they will use your current award to base the review from.