PiP/paperbased assessment?

Muttleythefrog

door123 said:

Muttleythefrog said:

door123 said:

Muttleythefrog said:

Sounds like you won the argument but they will want some supporting evidence from doctors to possibly confirm the problems.

I would potentially pre-empt Doctor(s) completion of the form by supplying them with some guidance notes...i.e. what the claimed conditions and disablements are relevant to PIP... might help them complete their form!

Do you mean I should contact the Doctors and make them aware that Capita will be sending them a form of questions?

Yes.... bear in mind medical professionals are not typically benefits familiar to the level needed to give always relevant or helpful information... yet some may be fantastic... and it may depend on how well they know the patient's domestic circumstances. it's hit and miss. It's a tactic some use to present some helpful notes to such doctors if they're going to be form filling for the DWP... they'll be aware of the medical conditions of course but they may not be familiar with the PIP related claimed disablements.

What are the chances the Dr's will provide adequate information - this is something you are better at answering than us as you presumably know the specialists they're writing to. But if you have concerns then try to intervene in some way to 'assist' with form filling... such as by providing some PIP claim related information. 

what if they
Don't respond at all to the questions asked?

Only answers some of the questions asked? 

That's for Capita's HCP to look at.... if they don't get sufficient information to provide their advice to the DWP then they will have to try getting it again or get it another way such as through in person(such as telephone) assessment that you may have averted in this case. A Capita HCP may be looking for some basic confirmation of the claimed underlying problems and not much more.. they may appreciate a specialist won't have deep knowledge of the domestic and day to day reality of the patient while they may be expert on the conditions suffered.

what if they
Write something different to what's written in the pip form?

That's always the risk with evidence.. contradiction. It's down to the Capita HCP to determine any significance or relevance and what they rely on for giving their opinions to the DWP. 

Am I at a risk that this is going to work against now I am really worried and panicking have made the wrong decision by asking for paperbased assessment?
May or may not. At the end of the day a Capita HCP determined a telephone assessment was necessary for fact finding to give opinion on the disablements in PIP activities to DWP. You argued to potentially have this evaded and they've seemingly agreed. They have as result decided to fact find from specialists involved instead. It's impossible to know if this is a good or bad thing until the outcome of the advice to DWP is known. Hence my advice is to try to avert any problems with the specialists by, if thought necessary, providing some notes to them on PIP relevant disablements claimed. PIP is focussed on disablements in daily life... Medical professionals are focussed on health problems and may or may not be well versed in the daily life disablements that apply.

I am really not sure what to say to the Dr's as they are the professionals I just do not know in words what to say. 

I am really panicking about this I nothing to hide but it's my child's award and it's frustration. Could I phone Capita and say I want to do the phone assessment. Is there still a chance if accepted they will still want to get info from Dr's?

I'm really pulling my hair out because of this.

Info for the doctors may be a simple one page document...that's all I'd advise... others may give other advice but being pre-emptive is an approach I would commonly recommend.

Include claimants details... their diagnoses listed and approx dates of diagnosis.. so you are in some common alignment with the doctor and they don't miss anything. Then just give some notes on what is claimed in the PIP application/review..i.e. for those activities where disablement is claimed to exist state very briefly what and why. Instead you might want to use the actual form they'll get as guidance to what to mention...refer below.. in fact I think last time I did this I sort of mirrored their form so if they wanted reference or to be lazy they had information from me.

Carefully study section 2.4 (PIP factual report) in the link as this tells you what they're going to be asked. (I assume the form is same for child or adult claimant)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-factual-medical-reports-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals/dwp-medical-factual-reports-a-guide-to-completion

On your question... to be honest I'd stick with the process now ahead...otherwise there's a chance you might start contradicting what may have been taken in note form and there is now a real risk you're too late anyway. I'd always be wary of making a successful argument only to a week later make a counter argument when trying to sound credible.

door123

Update.

Further to phone call from Capita on 3rd Sept telling me that we accepted the paperbased request but we need to contact 2 of the Consultants to complete. Ounce this is received we will then write the report.

I been in contact with both of my child's Dr's today and both have confirmed that they have not received nothing at all in the post. I today phoned Capita to ask when these forms were actually sent. The person on the phone said we phoned the Dr's in July we then phoned in August and we also sent a letter to the. Dr begging of August and have not had response. We have not sent anything further since 3rd September.

I explained to the person this is wrong information the person who spoke to me on the phone said he will be posting letters on the 3rd. No explanation. She said I will send forms in the post today.

I am really confused about all of this I thought because I requested a paperbased assessment this resulted in Capita getting in contact for more information. But it looks like they were trying to obtain more information before I requested a paperbased assessment.

I have taken the name of the person I have talked to today. What should I do in this matter?

Thanks

Muttleythefrog

I think all you can do is wait... ball is in their court really. Yes it is entirely possible the confusion arises as they may well have sought factual reports or further information otherwise prior to the request for this assessment to be paper based. If they didn't get a response then they would obviously be more likely to arrange an in person (such as telephone) assessment as they then appear to have tried to do.... at which point you've asked for paper based and they've agreed and sought factual reports from 2 doctors. Hopefully they will get suitable information back and soon. Perhaps another reason as per my previous postings to contact those doctors so they are 'tapped' (these kind of requests often end up on back burners administratively at healthcare organisations) from two angles including by you who can potentially influence their responses.

KxMx

I can't see that you can do anything more at this time, other than wait for the process to complete. 

Capita have agreed to try a paper based assessment and are waiting for additional information to arrive. 

door123

UPDATE

This morning I phoned Capita to query if the form has been sent to the Dr's I was told its been requested but not posted yet.

At 1pm today out of the blue a got a private number phone call which I answered it was from a functional specialist nurse from Capita. She said I don't to take much time but I want to ask a few questions I was on the phone for approximately 15 minutes. Towards the end she said I have enough information from you and the evidence you sent in to do this as a paperbased assessment. I will write a reporting sebd to DWP I asked what about the information your waiting for from the Dr's she said I'm not going to wait for that I have enough info.

I am really confused now with this situation. Also if she is going to send report to DWP will the make a decision on a award or wait for the Dr information?

Thanks 

KxMx

Capita have now completed a paper based assessment, without waiting for the previously requested additional information. 

The DWP Decision Maker will most likely use the report generated from the paper based assessment. 

Muttleythefrog

They've (Capita) struggled to get responses from doctors involved it seems (as previously) and have probably given up... I suspect that is common.. so instead tried to get the information they felt required to complete a paper based assessment by calling you. They've tried to avoid a full face to face or telephone assessment.

As above the resulting report is likely to be heavily relied on to take a decision at the DWP.

So again a waiting game although I would advise in the interim contacting the DWP (PIP helpline) to acquire a copy of that Capita HCP (Healthcare Pro) report as it can be useful for info and may indeed arrive before a decision giving a potential heads up. If you ever determine doctor(s) did respond to request for factual information either through GP medical records or DWP or otherwise I would also try to get copy for reference.

Hopefully... the decision will come in next couple weeks.

door123

Update 

I phoned DWP and requested the assessors report I have now received it and want to share what it says.

Descriptor 

Preparing food
E

Taking nutrition 
D

Managing therapy 
D

Washing bathing
F

Managing toilet needs
F

Dressing and undressing 
E

Communication 
D

Reading signs
E

Engaging with other people 
C

Budgeting decisions 
D


Planning and following journey 
F

Moving around
E


Taking into consideration ongoing difficulty with walking as a result of conditions along with ongoing input from physio and OT and Orthopedic team and prescribed medication.

It is therefore likely he can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres aided repeatedly and to an acceptable standard.

Restrictions have been demonstrated as a result of diagnosed conditions. Although evidence supports ongoing input from specialists taking into consideration the progressive nature of conditions there is possibility for change in the long term however change to functional ability would not impact on current award therefore no review is advised.


Can someone tell me what kind of award I'm looking to get? Also can someone explain what the last 3 paragraphs mean ?

Thanks

poppy12345

Based on the descriptors mentioned above Daily living score = 54 points … Enhanced 

Mobility 24 points = Enhanced. Maximum award for both.

No review is advised which would mean a 10 year ongoing award. 

Muttleythefrog

door123 said:

Update 

....


Can someone tell me what kind of award I'm looking to get? Also can someone explain what the last 3 paragraphs mean ?

Thanks

Wow. I'm not even going to do the maths as pretty obvious what the recommendations amount to... although Pete has saved me with his own... 

They're recommending points more than sufficient for enhanced award of both elements as clearly severely disabled (across every activity) and the prognosis suggest they do not think it worth reviewing again due to lack of any functional improvement expected... I imagine that would amount to a 10 year light touch review or the like which may be beyond further system changes politically driven.

Obviously this isn't the decision but I would be stunned if any award deviates from the recommendations in any notable way.

In one sense the disablements identified make for many daily challenges that nobody sane would elect to face or have loved ones face but I hope getting the report details has eased some anxieties over this assessment.

In regard to the requested doctor reports it now possibly makes a bit more sense... they perhaps wanted confirmation of underlying conditions and treatments while in the knowledge that there was fundamental severe wide ranging disablements... and in not getting responses maybe contact with you was sufficient for confirmation of some basic details they felt they could rely on alongside, as you put it, 'strong medical evidence' you had already supplied.

Be mindful of any additional support/concessions the award (assumed) may assist with