PIP Review - paper-based assessment

Amathyst

Hi @peteuk I cough up quite often when eating, it's various amounts, as for choking because I'm so cautious when I'm eating now and take up to an hour to eat, I don't choke as often anymore, thankfully, as it's already caused me to avoid certain foods and drinks.

I've put that it can take me between 20 - 60 minutes when eating, that my son sits with me while I eat because I'm worried about choking, I've explained what causes it, what happens and that I don't eat a full meal a majority of the time (I never eat a full meal I'm lucky if I can eat half a small plate full at the moment but I wouldn't know how to explain that), I swish fluids when drinking, I've obviously put more than that but I've tried to give relevant info for all descriptors that I feel I fit just to see if it will help in regards to me having a paper-based review as it did with my ESA review, I even checked the previous report to see what I had said and it does match up to the info that I've written, so in my opinion, there's been no change because everything was mentioned previously in my last assessment.

My last report was disputed by the DWP and a GPFR was requested, I think I said further up that Capita requested it from the wrong medical centre and it took them 2 months to rectify and because my award was running out they went with the report anyway, when I appealed I'm assuming that they had the GPFR because they again acknowledged my mental health conditions. So if they check the report from the last time and what the HCP said, they aren't going to get accurate information, will they know that it was disputed and that decision was overturned by the DWP when I appealed?

Spoonie_Turtle

Amathyst said:

… So if they check the report from the last time and what the HCP said, they aren't going to get accurate information, will they know that it was disputed and that decision was overturned by the DWP when I appealed?

This is exactly why you should fill in the form fully detailing everything relevant to the activities.  You definitely should not rely on them knowing the tribunal's decision without you telling them (you can even include it on your form for the relevant activities too, where you agree the tribunal decided the correct descriptor).

Amathyst

Ok, thanks @Spoonie_Turtle I will go through it again tomorrow. Luckily it was overturned without having to have a tribunal. I'll add that to part 13 as well where it asks if you have anymore info.

It was reading and mixing with people that I either didn't get points back for or they lowered them, they removed 2 points from reading, never got those back and I did have 8 for mixing with people, they were removed and then I was only awarded 2, NOTHING had changed between assessments, they acknowledged it in the reasoning letter! but then tried to make out I spoke to the HCP fine when I hadn't! I literally had a panic attack and disassociated, and my son had to keep telling me what the man was saying because I feel like he was purposely mumbling because it was being recorded plus he had a thick accent, so no, I didn't speak to him properly at all.

I have stated on the form that I don't agree with what they did with reading and mixing with people. 

peteuk

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Amathyst said:

… So if they check the report from the last time and what the HCP said, they aren't going to get accurate information, will they know that it was disputed and that decision was overturned by the DWP when I appealed?

This is exactly why you should fill in the form fully detailing everything relevant to the activities.  You definitely should not rely on them knowing the tribunal's decision without you telling them (you can even include it on your form for the relevant activities too, where you agree the tribunal decided the correct descriptor).

When I assessed pip (over 2 yrs ago now) if the claimant was already claiming PIP then we had to note the previous assessment score for each activity and then work from there.  On the DWP system they will have access to all your previous documents (questionnaires, assessments, reports, letters, tribuneral outcomes etc etc.)  It will be apparent from the assessment that you went to tribuneral.  

As Ive mentioned in theory you can write no change, but as Spoonie says fill it in, fully detailing everything relevant.  

Amathyst

Yeah, I've been advised to write it like I'm doing a first claim which is what I've done, I've just put "no changes to my conditions"  or "no changes to my conditions this was explained previously" if they ignored the information previously and then I wrote about my conditions how they affect me, the help I need, any aids I use etc and have tried to remember real world examples for each descriptor (where relevant that is).

I'm going to go through it all again tomorrow, I was waiting for my advocate to request a supporting letter from a GP but she's not responded as of yet so my son might request it tomorrow via the NHS site because the medical centre is really poor at responding to emails. I do have a 2 weeks extension as well so the form doesn't need to be back until the 17/09 but obviously I'm going to send it so it has plenty of time to get there.

Thanks to those who have been advising me, it makes it less stressful when you have people helping and reassuring you

[Deleted User]

peteuk said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Amathyst said:

… So if they check the report from the last time and what the HCP said, they aren't going to get accurate information, will they know that it was disputed and that decision was overturned by the DWP when I appealed?

This is exactly why you should fill in the form fully detailing everything relevant to the activities.  You definitely should not rely on them knowing the tribunal's decision without you telling them (you can even include it on your form for the relevant activities too, where you agree the tribunal decided the correct descriptor).

When I assessed pip (over 2 yrs ago now) if the claimant was already claiming PIP then we had to note the previous assessment score for each activity and then work from there.  On the DWP system they will have access to all your previous documents (questionnaires, assessments, reports, letters, tribuneral outcomes etc etc.)  It will be apparent from the assessment that you went to tribuneral.  

As Ive mentioned in theory you can write no change, but as Spoonie says fill it in, fully detailing everything relevant.  

Why are the scores so different for different people.  I got enhanced daily living for daily living but nothing for mobility.  Someone I know who has less serious conditions then me got nothing at assesment stage, nothing at appeal and then got enhanced everything at tribuneral.

He literally wrote 2 sentences for mobility and got enhanced I wrote a page worth of evidence and got 0. We both have similar conditions although his are less serious

I didn't appeal as I was scared of losing the points I had and needed the money then and couldn't wait months for a tribuneral

peteuk

[Deleted User] said:

peteuk said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Amathyst said:

… So if they check the report from the last time and what the HCP said, they aren't going to get accurate information, will they know that it was disputed and that decision was overturned by the DWP when I appealed?

This is exactly why you should fill in the form fully detailing everything relevant to the activities.  You definitely should not rely on them knowing the tribunal's decision without you telling them (you can even include it on your form for the relevant activities too, where you agree the tribunal decided the correct descriptor).

When I assessed pip (over 2 yrs ago now) if the claimant was already claiming PIP then we had to note the previous assessment score for each activity and then work from there.  On the DWP system they will have access to all your previous documents (questionnaires, assessments, reports, letters, tribuneral outcomes etc etc.)  It will be apparent from the assessment that you went to tribuneral.  

As Ive mentioned in theory you can write no change, but as Spoonie says fill it in, fully detailing everything relevant.  

Why are the scores so different for different people.  I got enhanced daily living for daily living but nothing for mobility.  Someone I know who has less serious conditions then me got nothing at assesment stage, nothing at appeal and then got enhanced everything at tribuneral.

He literally wrote 2 sentences for mobility and got enhanced I wrote a page worth of evidence and got 0. We both have similar conditions although his are less serious

I didn't appeal as I was scared of losing the points I had and needed the money then and couldn't wait months for a tribuneral

One of the reasons why I left PIP was because there was no set standards to benchmark from.  I totally understood it wasn’t the disease or diagnosis that was the qualifying criteria but the effect it has on the individual.   The assessment is usually based on what youve written in the questionnaire so for instance if you've stated you cant walk 20 meters then the assessment questions will be based on either proving is disproving the fact you can/cant walk 20 meters.  

You dont actually need to fill the questionnaire out to get an assessment.  Many claimants delay or dont send their forms back.  The report is written with three things in mind the questionnaire, answers at assessment and evidence provided.  

Amathyst

I wish I could leave it and ESA, I hate doing these assessments and forms and having to prove that you aren't well over and over and even when you prove you aren't well they pretty much call you a liar. That's how I feel at least.

Amathyst

It's ok for me to send the GP letter after I've sent the form?

It would appear that the manager or whoever still haven't addressed my medical record issues and my advocate is being slow and hasn't responded for the last week, she does tend to get ill and have other issues often.

Would it be a good idea to mention the medical record issues on the form? I don't have a very good relationship with the medical centre due to an ongoing complaint and issues. I don't trust them to listen or help me properly, I'm still waiting for them to address things properly after 2 and half years.

It's making my headaches worse...

Amathyst

A GP at the medical centre did write me a supporting letter for a paper-based assessment which was very nice of her however, she doesn't mention my struggles with talking to people nor has she mentioned that it would cause me "overwhelming psychological distress" which is what I've seen people on a different forum advise that a letter should contain.

She has said that I have significant anxiety which is in the form of agoraphobia, that I struggle to be in public places and that because of my traumatic experiences I lack trust for people, she obviously says more and at the end she says she supports my request for a paper-based assessment. The letter is pretty much on point unlike the last GP letter that I requested but it just doesn't have anything that shows that a paper-based would be better, imo it just shows that I can't go out to a centre.

I've emailed the person back who let me know the letter was ready and explained that I wasn't sure that I could use the letter and explained why.

Do I even need to send a supporting letter? I feel a bit bad because I feel like I'm wasting the GP's time, it's not like it's free though, it's £25, it'd be a bit difficult for any of the GP's to write a proper letter because they don't know me, the GP's there keep changing and partly because of my mental health conditions and the issues I've had with the GP's there, I've not seen or spoken to a GP since 2021.