PIP video assessment/Long Covid

Spoonie_Turtle

Well the less bad news is it's nothing personal - I know it feels personal as you've just laid bare your life to them and they've ignored all the most important parts, but they do it to … not quite everyone, but it's a routine outcome.

You know what to do now and you'll have help to do it which is good.  I hope you'll be able to fight until you get an appropriate decision.

ayupmeduck

From the sounds of it some HP are really bad, I understand the pressures but still! You can just look at past reports and think 'how the hell was this assessment allowed to go through'.

dp1

Realised I hadn't given an update. I had my phone appointment with a really nice man at Citizens Advice - I explained how I feel, what I'd written on my original PIP form, what I'd been asked at the assessment  - he was very thorough. We talked for about an hour then he said he'd fill in the MR form for me and phone me back to go over what he'd written. He rang back and read what he'd put on the form, which I was happy with and said he'd send them to me for signing. They arrived today - one to post and one to keep so I've got it signed and ready to post tomorrow.
He did say that it's very likely my application will be rejected again but advised me to then go to tribunal, as he thinks if I was talking to someone with medical knowledge I would be likely to get an award.
Surely it would make more sense if you just spoke to someone with knowledge of your illness when you first applied? I'll update when I hear from them again.

Muttleythefrog

dp1 said:

Realised I hadn't given an update. I had my phone appointment with a really nice man at Citizens Advice - I explained how I feel, what I'd written on my original PIP form, what I'd been asked at the assessment  - he was very thorough. We talked for about an hour then he said he'd fill in the MR form for me and phone me back to go over what he'd written. He rang back and read what he'd put on the form, which I was happy with and said he'd send them to me for signing. They arrived today - one to post and one to keep so I've got it signed and ready to post tomorrow.
He did say that it's very likely my application will be rejected again but advised me to then go to tribunal, as he thinks if I was talking to someone with medical knowledge I would be likely to get an award.
Surely it would make more sense if you just spoke to someone with knowledge of your illness when you first applied? I'll update when I hear from them again.

Pleased to hear you've had some good advice.

Just to clarify though... have you actually had the decision yet... remember the assessment report is not a decision.... it very likely will be the basis for the decision and the decision most likely will replicate it... but unless I'm having a frozen mind moment you cannot ask them to reconsider their decision until that decision is made. I presume since your last post the decision has come. Either way at least you're getting ahead of the game.

Good luck and as advised don't expect too much from the MR.... a tribunal panel though may be much more thorough and serious.

HillStreetBlues

dp1 said:

Realised I hadn't given an update. I had my phone appointment with a really nice man at Citizens Advice - I explained how I feel, what I'd written on my original PIP form, what I'd been asked at the assessment  - he was very thorough. We talked for about an hour then he said he'd fill in the MR form for me and phone me back to go over what he'd written. He rang back and read what he'd put on the form, which I was happy with and said he'd send them to me for signing. They arrived today - one to post and one to keep so I've got it signed and ready to post tomorrow.
He did say that it's very likely my application will be rejected again but advised me to then go to tribunal, as he thinks if I was talking to someone with medical knowledge I would be likely to get an award.
Surely it would make more sense if you just spoke to someone with knowledge of your illness when you first applied? I'll update when I hear from them again.

With a tribunal they are looking to get to the truth.

So they will ask you about your day, how far you can walk and the other criteria from the PIP points
Go there with a clear understanding of what points you score where.
They might ask you the same questions, but phrased a different way to see if your answers are consistent.
 

lassfarfromhome

Hi OP, just wanted to say, if your MR isn't successful it is absolutely worth going to tribunal.  I have a similar condition to yours and went from no award to standard for mobility and daily living after a tribunal hearing.  There's a great group on facebook called "UK M.E. and chronic illness benefits advice group" which has lots of info.  Remember you need to be able to perform the descriptors reliably which means as often as necessary, in a timely manner, safely and to an acceptable standard.  You should emphasise that you are not just exhausted but suffer from PEM where performing the activity makes your symptoms worse (assuming that is correct).

lassfarfromhome

ps of course it would make more sense if someone who understood your illness considered your claim, but they wouldn't be able to deny so many claims then (and hope that people will be put off going to tribunal as many are).  

dp1

lassfarfromhome - thanks for your reply. It's good to know you were successful at tribunal. 
You are correct - everything I do impacts on how I feel and it's difficult to do anything 'as often as necessary', as I'm sure you know. The system just seems to make things as difficult as possible. I'm not on facebook.
Muttley - yes I had their decision - Zero points!