PIP - mandatory reconsideration advice

vitaminz

Hi all, since I was a young child I’ve suffered from Dyspraxia and Sensory Processing Disorder and I have a lot of supporting letters showing I was diagnosed, but any involvement from
health care etc stopped when I was 18 (I’m now 33) due to there being no further therapies to assist me.

Both of these conditions cause me issues with day to day life such as using cutlery (I don’t use any), getting dressed, and cooking. 

I’ve also suffered from mental health issues culminating in a crisis at the start of the year which has forced me to stop working and means I rarely go out. 

I applied for PIP based on the above conditions, and today I had my letter through telling me I have Standard rate mobility due to my mental health issues,  but have been awarded 0 points for all of the daily living components (I.e mainly my Dyspraxia/SPD troubles). Reading the reasoning from the assessor, they are saying I DO use cutlery, do get dressed without issue and do cook when I absolutely don’t and told them this

Should I ask for a mandatory reconsideration for this? Would it be worth supplying some medical articles/screenshots showing how dyspraxia/SPD causes the issues I have? Or would my GP write me a document supporting my claims?

calcotti

If you want to challenge the decision then yes you need to do an MR.

General articles about the conditions you are diagnosed with are not evidence. 

Your GP may write you a letter but will usually charge for it but GP letters are generally not  eye helpful. Your GP doesn’t see the difficulties you have doing the various PIP activities. The best evidence is your own detailed explanation of the difficulties you have with examples of what happens when you carry out or attempt the activities.

Alice_Holt

As calcotti says - general articles (and appointment letters) are not helpful.
You can get a copy of your medical records from your surgery without charge, by asking for a subject access request (chose an appropriate period to date):
https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/preparing-and-submitting-your-subject-access-request/

I suspect your general mental health, might also mean you could have scored points on the DL activities.
Do you need encouragement and prompting to do some DL activities in the same way as for going out? 

Be aware that the whole award will be looked at again, and decisions rarely change at MR stage. You may likely need to go on to appeal to a tribunal.

Some online info that may be helpful:
https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/pip-tool

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/challenge-a-decision-made-by-the-department-for-work-and-pensions-dwp

https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/pip-mental-health-guide/

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

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1092461/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-assessment-criteria.pdf

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-appeals

calcotti

Alice_Holt said:

As calcotti says - general articles (and appointment letters) are not helpful.
You can get a copy of your medical records from your surgery without charge, by asking for a subject access request (chose an appropriate period to date):
https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/preparing-and-submitting-your-subject-access-request/

In my opinion a Summary Care Record is generally sufficient and should be provided if requested without a full SAR,

tacpot12

calcotti said:

....

 The best evidence is your own detailed explanation of the difficulties you have with examples of what happens when you carry out or attempt the activities.

I agree with calcotti, but another good souce of evidence are any family members who see the problems you are living with everyday. It's definitely worth getting someone else who knows you to help you think about problems you have. 

You should ask for an MR as your account suggests that the assessor has not assesed you honestly. 

vitaminz

Thanks all, I did actually get my medical notes for my initial application at otherwise I’d have no evidence at all! But I guess it doesn’t explain how I am now as an adult

Spoonie_Turtle

vitaminz said:

Thanks all, I did actually get my medical notes for my initial application at otherwise I’d have no evidence at all! But I guess it doesn’t explain how I am now as an adult

Which is why your explanations of how it affects your life now are really important. 

Sometimes they try to use the fact that someone has no specialist input as a reason to justify low/no points, but you can combat that by explaining why (because there's nothing anyone can do, no adult provision, or whatever the situation is).

If you haven't already, I very strongly recommend reading the links Alice_Holt posted above.  The reality is that a successful claim tends to rely on the claimant understanding how PIP is assessed and exactly what they need to explain.  It shouldn't be that way, and assessors/DMs should just do their job properly in the first place, but you give yourself the best chance if you can tailor your case to which descriptors you believe apply to you.  [And if you're not successful at the MR stage, you'll have done the groundwork for a tribunal appeal.]

poppy12345

In all honesty, i wouldn't even send my medical records because there's nothing in there that could possible help any PIP claim.

vitaminz

Thank you both I’ll take those suggestions   my GP has said though they can write a lettter detailing how my Dyspraxia/SPD affects me now, and it’d cost £25. Is this worth it? It’s basically me telling my GP how it affects me and him relaying that in a letter so I’m not sure how worthwhile it is

calcotti

vitaminz said:

.. It’s basically me telling my GP how it affects me and him relaying that in a letter so I’m not sure how worthwhile it is

In my opinion that's not worthwhile - it amounts to hearsay. You can just tell PIP how you are affected yourself.

vitaminz

calcotti said:

vitaminz said:

.. It’s basically me telling my GP how it affects me and him relaying that in a letter so I’m not sure how worthwhile it is

In my opinion that's not worthwhile - it amounts to hearsay. You can just tell PIP how you are affected yourself.

Ah that was my worry, I’ll study the links provided and try to explain add on the descriptors. Thanks