Pip/Assessment

Muttleythefrog

My reading of that is that while they asked reasonable questions they in no way investigated sufficiently to make the determination they did with any solid evidence. I obviously can't see what you have written in your disability form but they presumably did and I wonder if it offered more detail.

However if you do end up doing a MR and ideally someone will help you... I would go through in detail (including real examples if possible) how you would plan and go out on a journey... useful to consider it in this way as an activity...

planning the route of a journey in advance
leaving the home and embarking on a journey
following the intended route after leaving home

This is an old link but still I think very useful for activity 11
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/pip_guidance_nov_2017_11.pdf

dp1

Pope - I haven't checked this board for a few weeks, I have Long Covid and was awarded zero points at my assessment and then zero at Mandatory Reconsideration. Citizens Advice advised me to go to appeal and helped me with my appeal letter - they were very helpful.
My assessor asked me if I had a pet - I replied I had a cat - she asked if I fed the cat to which I answered yes. Then she said 'So you can get out of bed to feed the cat?'

pope

dp1 said:

Pope - I haven't checked this board for a few weeks, I have Long Covid and was awarded zero points at my assessment and then zero at Mandatory Reconsideration. Citizens Advice advised me to go to appeal and helped me with my appeal letter - they were very helpful.
My assessor asked me if I had a pet - I replied I had a cat - she asked if I fed the cat to which I answered yes. Then she said 'So you can get out of bed to feed the cat?'

I really can't believe the assessors are allowed to ask trick questions also the same question again and again.

Indie_Kid

I had it where they asked me the same question again but worded in a different way.

peteuk

pope said:

I really can't believe the assessors are allowed to ask trick questions also the same question again and again.

But if you say you cant walk 200 meters  but then say you do the weekly shopping at a big superstore theres a difference in your answers so they have to drill down to get somewhere close to what the real capacity is.  It might be you take three hours to do the shopping or use the trolley for support. 

Dont forget it can also work in your favour as the evidence gained can also support a higher descriptor.   

The only one question area is those that youve said there is no issue.  So if on your form you say youve no issue budgeting, the assessor will check thats the case and that it still applies.   If you say Yes they move on. 

pope

We have not yet made a decision on your PIP claim. We will write to you when we have made a decision. You only need to contact us if your circumstances change.

Have received the above text this morning from DWP it's been 2 weeks since my pip assessment is this a standard generated text? 

Indie_Kid

Yes it is 

ayupmeduck

pope said:

Muttleythefrog said:

pope said:

I have just seen on one of the pages assessor has put. 

Justification For Descriptor 11 and 12

Recommendation and evidence used to support 

Although he reports anxiety affects 11, HOC shows he has relevant medication and is under the care of the GP and has had several sessions of CBT, He reports he doesn't leave the house because of his leg fracture which is not considered in this assessment, also he will get anxious and upset about the closure of a journey either familiar or not. Anxiety described in this assessment does not meet the threshold of OPD, no cognitive impairment was reported in this assessment. Therefore 11a likely.


What does OPD mean? Will this recommendation the assessor has put affect my MR when I put it in for mobility?

Thanks 

Largely repeating what pete has said but OPD is overwhelming psychological distress... it is quite a high benchmark (as the number of points awarded for descriptor 11e suggest) that would leave someone unable to go on outdoor trips most of the time. In this case the assessor determined the associated mental health problems insufficient and that going out was instead largely affected by a physical disablement which would not be relevant to activity 11. In very basic terms activity 11 looks at mental/cognitive ability to plan and go on journeys outdoors while 12 looks at the physical aspect. I understand they determined 12b applied and so recognise some disablement in physical ability to mobilise.

Not sure what you mean when you say "Will this recommendation the assessor has put affect my MR when I put it in for mobility?". If you ask for a reconsideration then like for initial decision (which I believe you still await), or indeed any later appeal, evidence is evidence and the HCP's report is one piece of evidence that would be relevant to consider... it's typically the evidence the DWP Decision Makers heavily rely on while an appeal tribunal less so. Evidence remains in the process and indeed future reviews can consider previous evidence.

Hopefully soon you'll receive a decision and then you can look to putting in your MR if it reflects a lower award than you think appropriate.

Will this recommendation the assessor has put affect my MR when I put it in for mobility.

Sorry for the above I was thinking about something else and kept on typing.


Yes there is a physical disablement have just checked my psychologists CBT report which mentions moderate depression and severe anxiety could I use this report to explain that cognitive mental ability does applies to me?

Sorry again if you feel I am asking the same question I'm just having difficulty getting my head around all of this.

OPD would be severe anxiety, panic attacks, distress, paranoia etc not going out on the majority of days even with encouragement.... It's a hard one to get point from.

pope

So to update I have today received my PIP decision letter they have awarded me standard rate of £61.85 a week for daily living from March 2023 to 28 August 2026.

I have been awarded nothing for mobility.

Towards the end of the decision letter it says your fibula fracture is likely to heal within a suggested time period that would mean this restriction would not meet the prospective test period, in which the restriction needs to be present for 9 months following a claim for PIP.The further evidence shows that your was reduced by surgery in July, and you have been advised to go onto full weight bearing on this leg. 

You said you have difficulty planning and following journeys. Whilst you report severe anxiety you are prescribed the relevant mental health medication and you report no abandoned journeys. You have prescribed Anxiolytic medications and the symptoms you describe do not meet the threshold of overwhelming psychological distress.

Healing time of your fracture does not meet the prospective test in which the restriction needs to be present for 9 months following a claim for PIP. I decided you can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres. This is consistent with your medical history, your description of a typical day the available evidence and telephone consultation on 29.8.2023. I have considered what your needs are on the majority of days. I cannot consider awarding you PIP for any help you need for anything not covered by the daily living or mobility activities.


What does the 9 months prospective test following PIP claim mean ? I have had my fracture since Sept 2022 and applied for pip March 2023. Surgery took place July 2023. Fracture has still not healed.

Thanks

kaMelo

You need to have had a condition for three months when you claimed pip and the condition is expected to last at least nine months after claiming PIP