Confused about PIP payment after review

Cheesephetamine

So apparently there was an administrative error and hence why it was closed. I have been awarded enhanced daily living for another 3 years. They have completely stopped the mobility award. Even though I had standard on both before I will not challenge it as the lady told me that they have put the threshold for “overwhelming psychological distress” much higher now than it was before and there is a slight chance that when they review they will decide to stop all or lower the daily living. As it is still more than I was getting before, I’m gonna let it be…

Robbie64

Cheesephetamine said:

So apparently there was an administrative error and hence why it was closed. I have been awarded enhanced daily living for another 3 years. They have completely stopped the mobility award. Even though I had standard on both before I will not challenge it as the lady told me that they have put the threshold for “overwhelming psychological distress” much higher now than it was before and there is a slight chance that when they review they will decide to stop all or lower the daily living. As it is still more than I was getting before, I’m gonna let it be…

The best thing to do - and it's easy for me to say this as it's not my benefit that's been under review - is to wait until the letter arrives and you can see the reasons for why your PIP is as it is.

When you get the letter can you let us know why your lower rate mobility has been stopped and what points you have now been given? Were you getting 10 points previously for mobility? The threshold is the same, but it may be down to a different interpretation by a different decision maker / case worker. You may have gone to 0 points for that part of your PIP.

The arrears are defintely for the increase in the daily living component so it's worth checking out when that has been backdated to. When I did a quick calculation a few days ago, if I recall it seemed like it was back to mid December. Do you still have the review form paperwork and if so, can you check to see when it is dated from? The arrears should be backdated to that date.

HillStreetBlues

Cheesephetamine said:

So apparently there was an administrative error and hence why it was closed. I have been awarded enhanced daily living for another 3 years. They have completely stopped the mobility award. Even though I had standard on both before I will not challenge it as the lady told me that they have put the threshold for “overwhelming psychological distress” much higher now than it was before and there is a slight chance that when they review they will decide to stop all or lower the daily living. As it is still more than I was getting before, I’m gonna let it be…

I agree look at why they have stopped mobility.

With the extra payment they have either backdated both to when they sent you the form (as per working out in previous post), but from the decision date only now going to pay you care  or when they mistakenly closed the claim it triggered a payment.
A third reason is you have been told the wrong info on the phone call.

Hopefully clearer when the paperwork comes.

Muttleythefrog

Agree with above... first pleased we now understand what has happened. But I'd take what she said about the Overwhelming distress with some scepticism as it doesn't seem based on any changes to criteria and may be gossip or updated guidance... I'm also concerned about her trying to put you off challenging decision... frankly it is a disgrace as was of course what happened to the claim. Definitely consider your options when you see decision details and get a copy of the report they likely based it on.

Alice_Holt

Muttleythefrog said:

Agree with above... first pleased we now understand what has happened. But I'd take what she said about the Overwhelming distress with some scepticism as it doesn't seem based on any changes to criteria and may be gossip ... I'm also concerned about her trying to put you off challenging decision... frankly it is a disgrace .....

      Yes,  I wouldn't place any weight on those comments by the PIP person. 

   It seems inconsistent to have increased the DL award due to poor mental health, only to withdraw a previous Mobility award.

    If the OP still needs someone with them when undertaking an unfamiliar journey on public transport I'd get advice on from their local advice agency on whether the correct descriptor has been applied.

HillStreetBlues

I agree with all those who question the comments by the PIP person
The worse benefit advice normally comes from those who answer the phone for the DWP

poppy12345

I would take what someone says to you from a call centre with a large pinch of salt. If your health conditions haven't improved, it's complete nonesense to not be awarded mobility again.

Cheesephetamine

I went from being able to go on my own to very short familiar routes (IE the pharmacy on the street parallel to mine) to NEVER going out on my own at all as my mental health has deteriorated a lot since 2019. I only go out with my husband and usually it’s about two or three times a month being VERY generous. I expected it to be the same or increased but not to decrease to the point I get no money. But the lady did scare me cos on my first pip assessment I had to go to tribunal to get awarded lower rate on both as they had given me 0 points in all both in initial and review and I don’t want to go the whole process again

Spoonie_Turtle

Cheesephetamine said:

I went from being able to go on my own to very short familiar routes (IE the pharmacy on the street parallel to mine) to NEVER going out on my own at all as my mental health has deteriorated a lot since 2019. I only go out with my husband and usually it’s about two or three times a month being VERY generous. I expected it to be the same or increased but not to decrease to the point I get no money. But the lady did scare me cos on my first pip assessment I had to go to tribunal to get awarded lower rate on both as they had given me 0 points in all both in initial and review and I don’t want to go the whole process again

Definitely sounds worth pursuing.

The most likely outcome of a Mandatory Reconsideration is that nothing changes, it is *extremely* unlikely they would stop your daily living component.  So extremely unlikely I would almost go so far as to say it wouldn't happen.

There is a small chance the MR could be successful and award the appropriate mobility component.

Most likely scenario is you have to appeal, go to tribunal, your daily living doesn't change and they award you an appropriate mobility element.

[I believe also if the tribunal thinks it's likely you'd lose points, they let you know in advance so you can decide not to proceed, but losing points at tribunal is rare, especially when DWP themselves have increased your daily living!]