PIP assessment

dp1

Hi some of you may remember I applies for PIP a couple of years ago and ended up going to Tribunal, where I only got 4 points awarded for mobility. I had already been turned down for LCWRA too. I have had Long Covid for over 3 years and struggle with fatigue and walking, amongst a list of other things. I manage to work for 14 hours a week in a small nursery.
I was awarded LCWRA at the beginning of this year and then decided to apply for PIP again...I have an assessment phone call next week.
Just wondering if anyone has any helpful advice and if anyone knows whether it will help that I already get LCWRA. 

Robbie64

It's possible that the PIP assessor may have sight of your ESA work capability assessment. If so, the reason why you got LCWRA may be relevant or at least helpful with your PIP application.

Spoonie_Turtle

Depends what you get LCWRA for, whether it overlaps any of the PIP activities or descriptors.

In terms of PIP, the main thing again is still reliability and the effects of doing the activities.  With Long Covid you will have to be very clear about how you can manage to work still, what effect that has - although PIP isn't about work, for a condition causing debilitating fatigue you will need to explain clearly so they understand how, and don't just assume that since you can work you must also be able to reliably do all of the ADLs assessed by PIP.  That's the default assumption you'll be up against and where you need to clearly detail why you qualify for PIP.

peteuk

Robbie64 said:

It's possible that the PIP assessor may have sight of your ESA work capability assessment. If so, the reason why you got LCWRA may be relevant or at least helpful with your PIP application.

I would disagree, when I was doing PIP assessments all I would look at is the questionnaire, evidence provided and previous PIP assessment.  If the previous claim had been taken to tribunal we were encouraged not to read the outcome. 

As for the Op - look at the actions and descriptors, link your conditions to what your restrictions are and how this affects your ability to do a certain task, 

Muttleythefrog

You could always introduce as evidence the WCA (LCWRA) report details if they are consistent or supportive with PIP claim disablements and it may well be considered. You may though have missed the boat, if you haven't already supplied, in terms of getting that evidence in play for this assessment if you're only a week out. In assessment you might find opportunity to introduce the LCWRA descriptor(s) awarded - I would look at which activity most suited and prepare. For example if LCWRA descriptor "Has, on a daily basis, uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace" or "Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the claimant" then I would raise in Mixing with People activity.

I personally have used WCA report for PIP assessment and vice versa to positive impact as they are referred to and used.

dp1

Thanks everyone for your help. I need to go through the form and cross reference it with the LCWRA one.
Last time I applied they were using the failed LCWRA as well, which took me by surprise, so I was hoping the fact that I now have been awarded it would help me to get PIP.
I didn't realise they would also look at my previous PIP assessment.

peteuk

dp1 said:

Thanks everyone for your help. I need to go through the form and cross reference it with the LCWRA one.
Last time I applied they were using the failed LCWRA as well, which took me by surprise, so I was hoping the fact that I now have been awarded it would help me to get PIP.
I didn't realise they would also look at my previous PIP assessment.

With reviews and reapplications they will use this as a bench mark.  It will be a very quick glance at the scores, and this is added to the notes by the assessor eg assessment in Apr 24  assessed required aids in this activity. If at the point of the assessment there’s been no change then they can simply add that and te score remains.  If changed since then they will explain why.

dp1

Thanks Peteuk
So I need to explain ways in which my health has worsened since my last assessment?

peteuk

I would explain the whole situation, each activity and how your conditions effect them.  Look at the descriptors ad note why you can or cant do the activity, or the level of of the discriptor you believe applies. 
eg for preparing a meal - my arthitis in my hands means I cant grip therefore I have extra large pan handles, use a spiked chopping board.   I see rhumatology every 6 months.
Then for nutrition dont assume they will aplly the same info. (although they should) 

tifo

peteuk said:

Robbie64 said:

It's possible that the PIP assessor may have sight of your ESA work capability assessment. If so, the reason why you got LCWRA may be relevant or at least helpful with your PIP application.

I would disagree, when I was doing PIP assessments all I would look at is the questionnaire, evidence provided and previous PIP assessment.  If the previous claim had been taken to tribunal we were encouraged not to read the outcome. 

As for the Op - look at the actions and descriptors, link your conditions to what your restrictions are and how this affects your ability to do a certain task, 

That's not the experience of most claimants, myself included.

In a previous PIP and WCA claim which both ended at tribunal a week apart in 2022, the DWP used both assessment reports in both PIP and WCA tribunals. The panel was OK with this and were jumping from report to report in their questions so I had to argue against both assessment reports which had given me 0 points. I lost the PIP appeal but won the WCA appeal. Almost the same info in both court bundles.

peteuk

tifo said:

peteuk said:

Robbie64 said:

It's possible that the PIP assessor may have sight of your ESA work capability assessment. If so, the reason why you got LCWRA may be relevant or at least helpful with your PIP application.

I would disagree, when I was doing PIP assessments all I would look at is the questionnaire, evidence provided and previous PIP assessment.  If the previous claim had been taken to tribunal we were encouraged not to read the outcome. 

As for the Op - look at the actions and descriptors, link your conditions to what your restrictions are and how this affects your ability to do a certain task, 

That's not the experience of most claimants, myself included.

In a previous PIP and WCA claim which both ended at tribunal a week apart in 2022, the DWP used both assessment reports in both PIP and WCA tribunals. The panel was OK with this and were jumping from report to report in their questions so I had to argue against both assessment reports which had given me 0 points. I lost the PIP appeal but won the WCA appeal. Almost the same info in both court bundles.

I can only go with the way I was taught and that was never to look at the Tribunal outcome, which made no sense to me at the time. Eg if the original pip assessment said 0 points but tribunal said 4 pts then I should be starting my report at the 4pt and then justifying either an increase or decrease.

I certainly wasn’t aware of ant WCA reports unless it was provided by the claimant as evidence for the PIP assessment. 

That said this was PIP assessment, what the DWP do at tribunal is another thing completely.