PIP Assessment Report

Lincoln3017

Hello, looking for some general advice please!! I had my PIP phone assessment 2 weeks ago. Applied on 27.11.23.

i requested and have received a copy of the assessors report and which I agree with almost everything they have put. This would see me get nothing for daily living but enhanced for mobility, with a recommended review period of 2 years. 

The only thing is, when reading the report the assessor referenced that I had marked the box to say I could walk (aided or unaided) 50m, which is totally wrong. I meant to tick the same box as they have put in their assessment which is can’t walk more than 20m (I have been pretty much bed ridden since surgery in September 23). It was the electronic version of the PIP form I submitted and can only think that I hit the up arrow before moving on and, due to medications and side effects, didn’t properly check the form before submitting…… stupid I know!  

The assessor has clearly picked up that there is no way I can walk 50m and marked me in the correct section I thought I had done in my application. 

My question is, will the Decision Maker go with what I put or the assessor? This will have a huge impact on my outcome if they go with my erroneous entry. Should I contact the DWP or wait for the decision letter? I had the text from DWP the same day as my assessment (2 weeks ago) to say the report had been received. 

Going crazy with what the best thing to do is!! I don’t want to draw attention to my error if the DM will just go with the assessors report! 

Any advice gratefully welcomed. 

Spoonie_Turtle

They usually go with the assessment report.  If they don't (which is very rare) then it's a very easy thing to explain to ask them to reconsider the decision. 
Also what you actually wrote on your form should have a bearing if the decision maker isn't sure for any reason - presumably what you wrote reflects your actual situation.

Lincoln3017

Yes I wrote on the form that I couldn’t walk more than a few steps with both my crutches (had my foot amputated and now suffering with CRPS). I also, stupidly, didn’t save a copy of my application before sending so am only going off the comment in the assessors report, which suggests I put the mark in the wrong box. 

Just wasn’t sure if it was worth calling them and asking them to put a note on the case managers file, or just wait and do an MR if they go against the recommendation of the assessor! 

Thank you Spoonie_Turtle for a quick response 😊😊

Alice_Holt

I'm surprised the assessment didn't recommend a daily living award.

For the health conditions you indicate, I would have thought the following might apply:
i) Needing to sit when preparing food. Difficulties safely handling pans, etc when cooking food;
ii) Needing assistance / aids to get safely in/out of the bath.  Use of a shower seat / shower rails;
iii) Needing rails / toilet frame to hold onto when getting on/off the toilet;
iv) Taking a long time to dress due to pain.

If the outcome is only a Mobility award, then I'd seek some advice on the possibility of an appeal.   

Did you recognise that you had problems doing these PIP activities reliably, and did you detail these problems on the PIP2 form?

https://pipinfo.net/issues/reliably

Lincoln3017

Hi Alice_Holt. I did get some points for Daily Living, but it will be short, by 2, for an award. There are a couple of things within the report that I felt might have swung in my favour. 

Bathing, for example, I explained to the assessor (who was vey good by the way and I am not complaining about them at all) that I could not get in or out of the bath, maybe 1 day a week I would literally force myself (screaming) and that my wife had to aid me the entire time. That I have a chair in the bathroom which I have to sit in with my leg rested on a cushion to hand wash. They said ‘whilst assistance has been considered, this has been ruled out given the evidence from the SOH showing ability to use his aids, HOC showing no upper limb conditions and lower left limb conditions (amputation was my right foot) and FH showing he can sit to stand wash and can wash head to toe suggests on the balance of probability he can complete this activity with aids and not assistance. 

I don’t disagree that I can, most of the time, hand wash myself and that in my pip2 I said that I needed assistance due to the pain I was in and that my meds made me very drowsy, unstable. 

Same with dressing pretty much, although the assessor said I can do this unaided, I said that it was extremely difficult for me to dress without my aids and support from my wife. 

The concern I have is that the report states on mobility that I indicated 20-50m, but that I had extreme pain and couldn’t do the stairs (I am currently confined to the upstairs of the house). This was an error on my part as I meant to put the box which is 1-20m and which the assessor has ticked. Should I contact the DWP and tell them I marked the wrong box? I have read that the DM mostly goes with the assessors report but where I have seen they don’t, is when the PIP2 indicated someone could achieve more than the assessor says. In addition, things have worsened for me since the PIP2 was submitted and the assessment took place, but not sure if I should just wait for the revision letter or contact them to ‘explain’ 

I didn’t research PIP prior to applying and was heavily medicated when I completed the form too. Stupid I know!! 

Lincoln3017

Post seems to have autocorrected at the start, hopefully you get this gist of what I am saying!! Lol

Spoonie_Turtle

Cooking?  You'd surely need to sit at least, if you could theoretically get into the kitchen.  Concentration with meds, safety with knives / hot pans / etc.

Getting on and off the toilet without anything to hold onto?

What are the effects if you dress without aids/help?  Are you then too fatigued or in too much pain to do another of the daily living activities (such as feeling too sick to eat, or needing to recover before you could talk to anyone or hypothetically leave the house)?

Also the effects of medication count, not just the direct effects of your health problems.

This might help - be sure to check the PDFs linked therein https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/
- I know you've filled in the form and had your assessment but this along with the info about descriptors and reliably might help you see where you should have scored points.



The full info for PIP is here but it's a long read, not brainfog friendly although if you can manage in sections it could be useful.  Fully recommend reading the Reliably section if nothing else. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

I don't know the answer to the question about ticking the box on the form.  I guess it wouldn't hurt to contact them and tell them, but the decision may have been made by the time the info gets to where it needs to.  Your energy might be better spent looking at what daily living points you should score, in preparation for a Mandatory Reconsideration, because 6 daily living points for your situation doesn't really sound right.  And if you do an MR, you'll have the opportunity to mention that you ticked the wrong box on your form.

Lincoln3017

Thank you! Yes I said that, when I have been able to get downstairs (which I usually do the night before a doctors appointment as it takes so much out of me) I would be able to sit a peel vegetables if needed. They put that I would be able to prepare a meal with assistance. Same with toilet use, I said that I can take care of myself in terms of cleaning but that I have to sit and that I can only do this with the support of my aids and the handrail we (fortunately) already had at the house. 

I am currently taking 400mg Pregabalin 40mg dihydracodiene and 30mg mertazipine for my anxiety and depression. I was ‘only’ on the 200mg pregabalin when I had the assessment and I told them how unsteady, nauseous and drowsy they made me. 

I guess I was pleased that the report was suggesting I get something, (as not really thinking straight at the moment) rather than looking at what I might get with an MR and the delays that come with that, with no money etc. I then panicked when I saw that the mobility bit I have already mentioned as if they go with what I put on the form, I won’t get anything for either…… so would be an MR anyway I guess. 

For anyone reading this about to do their PIP claim….. don’t do it medicated, check and then double check the form. Basically don’t do what I have done and cause yourself even more worries! 

Lincoln3017

Also maybe the DM will see what the assessor has put for some of the DL elements and increase the descriptor…… can but hope! 

Alice_Holt

As you are taking medication for anxiety and depression, there are specific PIP descriptors that might also apply. 
For instance needing prompting (due to depression), engaging face to face (due to social anxiety), and for mobility - planning and following a journey (both depression & anxiety).

Be aware that any worsening of your condition after the decision date is not relevant, if you challenge the decision.

I think I'd make initial contact with your local advice charity,and see if they have a benefits specialist you could have an appointment with, once you receive the decision notice. 

If your reading of the assessment report is correct, and you haven't been awarded a Daily Living award - then I'd give very serious consideration to appealing that decision. Particularly, if this is your first PIP award - as it sets a precedent for subsequent awards.      

Some information re appeals:

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

Do come back and let us know what the decision letter says.

peteuk

There can often be a delay between completing the PIP 2 and the assessment, so the DM is likely to disregard the PIP2 as the higher descriptor is that of the assessment.  What’s not to say you were both right but in the 3 months plus between the two events you got worst.