The Perennial PIP Problem of Prognosis

Muttleythefrog

poppy12345 said:

It's looking like there was no assessment report. No text message to say they received the report, more often than not they do send one. It was receiving the last report that flagged it for me.

For my daughters last PIP review i had the decision letter 2 weeks after i sent the form. This indicated to me that they probably hadn't even received the form before the decision was made.

...and confirmed in call...

Yes I should have perhaps opened my mind earlier to that possibility and especially by looking at the texts.

Thank you.

I'll proceed to some printing and posting as it saves me something else to consider in the MR.

Muttleythefrog

UPDATE:

Thought it might be of interest to some members giving advice or otherwise for update on this.

I requested a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) of my review PIP award purely on basis on length of award as discussed in the thread that I would as I felt it too short. PIP were called some days after posting to confirm paperwork had been received in this regard and they confirmed it had while the agent insisted on taking basic instruction over the phone to raise reconsideration and point to evidence supplied.

Today I received a MR Notice decision in the post.
This document indicated the original decision was correct and so the award remains unchanged.
Scrutiny of the document caused me some concern. The letter details the evidence used but did not mention my Paper based MR request nor the Severe Mental Impairment form I had added as evidence. The decision in no way referenced my disagreement with the length of award nor did they justify their decision in this regard. Further, bizarrely, the said they had decided to award me PIP for longer (language of original decision) which was untrue.

This afternoon PIP were called by relative on my behalf to raise concern the Decision Maker had not seen or referenced the MR paperwork supplied and we were unhappy they seemed not to have carried out a MR at all on the basis requested. 
The agent asked for the date on the MR decision letter and this was given as 27/2/2024. The agent asked for confirmation of this date and then stated that the decision letter for the MR is dated 28/2/2024. She said the letter of 27/2/2024 had been sent in error and the actual MR decision she would read out the basic details of which she did. I expect the genuine MR decision letter to arrive soon.

Needless to say this is a deeply concerning error and I hope it is not being repeated out there. It seems inexcusable that a MR Decision letter is sent out with a named Decision Maker on it completely erroneously but exactly around the time expected given they indicated a decision should be taken by end of this week. 

HOWEVER:
My MR request has been a success. My 3 year award has been increased to 6 years. This was somewhat of a pleasant surprise and I was hoping for at best a 1 year further extension. Thanks to those that gave advice and a few pointers that seem to have been effective.

For those who may be interested and find it of potential use my argument in the MR request in summary was
(apologies for CAPS but copying from MR form):

1. THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN MY RELEVANT DISABLEMENTS IN WELL OVER A DECADE. 

2. TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE EXHAUSTED AND I AM NOT EXPECTING ANY MIRACLE CURES OR NEW TREATMENTS TO PRESENT AND I'D LIKELY RESIST THEM ANYWAY DUE TO PROBLEMS OF PAST. INSTEAD I SPEND MY DAYS TRYING TO MANAGE MY WAY THROUGH EACH OF THEM WITH THE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT OF MY CARER/WIFE WHO ASSISTS ME WITH THIS FORM. 

3. MY FIRST AWARD FOR PIP WAS FOR LONGER.

4. MY GP CONSIDERS THERE IS A PERMANENCE OF MY MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS (SEVERELY IMPACTING INTELLIGENCE AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING) - HENCE I FELT HIS COMPLETED SMI FORM WORTH PRESENTING FOR THIS RECONSIDERATION AS IT IS RECENT AND HE COMPLETED IT AFTER SEEING ME IN PERSON FOR ASSESSMENT.

5. REVIEWS CAUSE ME DISTRESS AND THIS RECENTLY COMPLETED ONE TOOK EXCESSIVE TIME DUE TO LACKING DWP RESOURCES THAT COULD BE BETTER UTILISED. MY REVIEW APPARENTLY DIDN'T EVEN INCLUDE A REFERRAL FOR INDEPENDENT ADVICE YET TOOK 8 MONTHS FOR A DECISION AFTER I RETURNED MY PAPERWORK LEADING TO AN INTERIM NEED FOR YOU TO EXTEND MY AWARD BY A YEAR TO GIVE YOU MORE TIME.

6. NO JUSTIFICATION IS GIVEN FOR SUCH A SHORT AWARD IN THE DECISION OTHER THAN VAGUE REFERENCE TO THE IDEA MY NEEDS MAY CHANGE. THIS COULD BE TRUE OF ANYONE.

7. FOR THE WORK CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT (CLAIMING ESA) I HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN CONSIDERED FOR 'LONGER TERM' (MAXIMUM PERIODICITY) REVIEWS AND THERE IS NO INDICATION IN OUTCOMES OF ANY CHANGE IN SEVERITY OF DISABLEMENT.

born_again

Thanks for the update. Glad you got the result 👍

HillStreetBlues

Muttleythefrog said:

1. There has been no change in my relevant disablements in well over a decade. 

2. Treatment options are exhausted and i am not expecting any miracle cures or new treatments to present and i'd likely resist them anyway due to problems of past. Instead i spend my days trying to manage my way through each of them with the extensive support of my carer/wife who assists me with this form. 

3. My first award for pip was for longer.

4. My gp considers there is a permanence of my mental impairments (severely impacting intelligence and social functioning) - hence i felt his completed smi form worth presenting for this reconsideration as it is recent and he completed it after seeing me in person for assessment.

5. Reviews cause me distress and this recently completed one took excessive time due to lacking dwp resources that could be better utilised. My review apparently didn't even include a referral for independent advice yet took 8 months for a decision after i returned my paperwork leading to an interim need for you to extend my award by a year to give you more time.

6. No justification is given for such a short award in the decision other than vague reference to the idea my needs may change. This could be true of anyone.

7. For the work capability assessment (claiming esa) i have typically been considered for 'longer term' (maximum periodicity) reviews and there is no indication in outcomes of any change in severity of disablement.

Congrats
I couldn't read the caps so converted it verbatim, thought I'd post it as may help others, hope that's OK.