Need some help/guidance on how to appeal my PIP award

DFS

Hi everyone.
I hope someone can point me in the right direction.   My partner suffers with Functional neurologic disorder which causes her to have a fit/seizure daily.  Once the seizure stops, she needs me to assist her to bed and help get her undressed as she will be in pain all day and sleep for most of it.  She needs supervision when eating and bathing and needs an aid for her toilet needs.  She only got 6 points for the Living Allowance as when she filled in the form, she not not emphasise the toilet aid and also that she does not go outside unsupervised for her own safety as the fits happen unexpectedly.  The fits also cause her to have memory loss.
My question is, how can she update DWP with this information and get them to re-assess her needs?
I have looked up appealing the decision, but then I read up about having to submit a mandatory reconsideration letter first.

Yes, we want them to re-assess her with the additional information, but not sure if the mandatory reconsideration will just ask them to reconsider her current form that they have?

Do we have to resubmit a whole new pip form or just appeal?

Thanks
 

born_again

You would need to go MR route 1st, but add in the additional issues.

DFS

The thing is, she is not disagreeing with the decision based on the form she sent when she was renewing, she just wants to update her case with more detailed answers and then hope they will revise their decision based on that.

born_again

So is this a new claim?

Did she mention toilet aid & does not go outside unsupervised for her own safety on the form?

Only other option would be change of circumstances. But not sure how that would wash, given the current result.

Spoonie_Turtle

DFS said:

The thing is, she is not disagreeing with the decision based on the form she sent when she was renewing, she just wants to update her case with more detailed answers and then hope they will revise their decision based on that.

So add in those details when she requests an MR.

The MR request should tell them why she thinks the overall decision is wrong (i.e. not scoring her all the points she thinks she should be entitled to) and why.  Then if the MR doesn't change anything, the groundwork is already laid for appeal.

Is there any particular reason she didn't include them on her form in the first place?  Did she have an assessment and still forget to tell them about it?

And for context, you mention 'renewing', was this a review after already being awarded PIP?  If so, what was she awarded before and have things significantly changed since?

DFS

She finds her disability hard to deal with and talk about.  She is embarrassed to admit that she needs supervision and assistance with simple daily activities.  
She received the renewal form last year and got the decision letter yesterday.  She had forgotten what award she was getting and assumed it was for the Daily Living part and not the Mobility part so when she filled in the form, she did  not put anything new in the care section as she thought that was her current award, so filled in the mobility section. 
It turned out she was already getting the Enhanced Rate Mobility and only got 6 points for the Living Care part.
So now she wants to report further information for her Care needs 

Spoonie_Turtle

Oh dear, for future reference the renewal form needs to be fully filled in, not just 'no change'.  It's the DWP's fault for having a misleading form though, it shouldn't be on us to know that what they say is not reflective of what happens in reality.

If she has a copy of her original form then she can refer back to that to help.  But unfortunately she needs to know that the assessors and DWP need all of the information to be able to make the right decision, even if some of it is embarrassing.

[If she's on social media then she might find it useful to look at accounts of other disabled people (of different ages), to hopefully eventually realise there's nothing to be ashamed of needing help, but changing that view is a very personal, internal process and can't be rushed.]

Brie

I always think it's best to get assistance from someone like Citizen's Advice because they know how to talk about things in a way the assessors understand and so, hopefully, get the best result.  They are there to help and know that people can find these conversations difficult.

DFS

Thanks for all your replies Everyone.  So what would be the best way to go?   Fill out a MR form explaining in more detail the change in daily care needs,  
or
Call them on their 0800 number and just tell them about the changes over the phone?  Would that be sufficient for DWP to re-asses their latest decision?

I just think by verbally updating them, it could easily fall on deaf ears, where as a MR would be a physical document.

beanielou

Absolutely a MR in writing. 

born_again

DFS said:

Thanks for all your replies Everyone.  So what would be the best way to go?   Fill out a MR form explaining in more detail the change in daily care needs,  
or
Call them on their 0800 number and just tell them about the changes over the phone?  Would that be sufficient for DWP to re-asses their latest decision?

I just think by verbally updating them, it could easily fall on deaf ears, where as a MR would be a physical document.

Don't call them.
It tells you on the letter received, how to contest.

I would also suggest that you fill in the form rather than letting your partner do it. (or do it together) That way there is no chance of skipping over things 👍
If you can do it on a computer & print it out even better, as you have a copy to refer to.
This is how I do it for the Mrs.