I didn't include all my conditions on PIP claim, is it too late now?

Henny5

Hello
I filled in my pip form but did not include all my health conditions, I am now regretting this as I have had my assessment and scored zero. Can I add the other conditions to my original application or is it too late? I suffer with mental health and struggled with the form but I think the other conditions need to be considered
Please can anyone help

poppy123456

No, not if you didn’t mention them on the form or during the assessment. 

Alex_Alumni

Hi @Henny5 thanks for reaching out It might be helpful to keep a note of what you haven't included, so that you can talk about in your assessment.

It can be hard to remember everything, but having it written down to prompt you might help. Scope also has information on preparing for your PIP assessment, so please take a look if you'd like.

Henny5

Thank you for this advice, I've had my assessment and didn't do well at all, I was so stressed by having to talk about my depression that I got extremely upset which then had a knock on affect on all my answers, I just wanted to get off the phone. My report said I was absolutely fine, could do everything, go out, socialise etc which is not true. The decision came through and it was the same, zero points. So much lack of understanding and misrepresentation, it's caused me so much stress, I havent been well since and just don't know what to do. 

poppy123456

A lot of people find it extremely difficult to talk about how our conditions affect us. We are so used to managing the way we do with our usual routines and a lot of the time it's difficult to put into words how we are affected.

You can challenege the decision by requesting the Manatory Reconsideration. (MR) You should put it in writing stating where and why you think you should have scored those points. If there's any obvious contradictions in the report you can mention a couple of those but then put that report to one side because it won't get you a PIP award.

You should include a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened that last time you attempted each descriptor that applies to you. Adding detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. You should aim for at least half an A4 side of paper per descriptor that applies to you. Remember also, they won't take into consideration any worsening of conditions.

The most likely outcome of the MR will be the decision remains the same, if this happens you can request the Tribunal.

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

It does also help to have some understanding of the PIP descriptors and what they mean. This may help, though it's a lot to read but worth it. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

Henny5

Thank you for your reply. I feel I have really messed the whole thing up. I am not good at filling in forms and did not tell them all of my conditions as I thought they would think I was exaggerating. I think I just played everything down due to feeling so uncomfortable.
If I try for reconsideration, should I just stick to the health conditions they know about or should I explain that I didn't tell them about the others I have. 
I am the sort of person that finds it hard to 'talk' and tend to brush things off making out I'm OK, but I'm not.

poppy123456

It’s too late to include any health conditions you didn’t previously mention. Therefore including any information about those will not help your MR or Tribunal.

You’re not alone in feeling the way you do with talking about your health conditions. Many people play down how they are affected, even when they don’t realise they are doing so. 

calcotti

I see no harm in adding information about health conditions that you did not report as long as those conditions were already present. It is fine to explain that you don’t like talking about your health and have realised that you missed off some of your conditions.

However remember that the award is based on the difficulties you experience rather than the health conditions that you have.

poppy123456

Surely if health conditions weren’t mentioned in either the form or during the assessment then you can no longer add any information about them once the decision is made? 

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

Surely if health conditions weren’t mentioned in either the form or during the assessment then you can no longer add any information about them once the decision is made? 

I wouldn’t be deterred from doing that provided the conditions already existed. Similarly medical information obtained following the initial decision may help understanding of the medical issues previously raised. DWP and tribunal may choose to disregard the information but if the information is provided it becomes their choice.

As I see it the role of the DWP or tribunal is to make a decision based on the fact. If there is more information that helps establish the facts at the time then it is appropriate to provide it. In the same way that additional anecdotal information becomes more evidence,

The MR is an opportunity to make good deficiencies in the initial PIP2, whatever may have caused those deficiencies.

I’ve occasionally had to do an MR which basically starts with “The claimant has no recollection of what they previously told you so the MR is based on my recent conversation with the claimant and sets out everything they have told me about the difficulties they experience etc..” 

Henny5

Thank you for your reply. 
The other health condition is fibro myalgia and mild osteoarthritis. As I say I didn't put them down as, along with my other conditions, looked like exaggeration and on top of that I didn't have medical evidence. I have since got hold of that evidence from the consultant I saw, dated 2019. He referred me to physio but I couldn't go due to having chemotherapy and being very unwell, then covid hit and I was classed as extremely vulnerable, and unwell ever since (hence the claim).
I really don't know where or how to start with the reconsideration process, I feel as if it just looks strange not to have put it down. 

calcotti

Saying what you’ve got is not an exaggeration. Sending information that you didn’t previously have is not strange.

in my opinion you can’t do any harm by including it.
If you are struggling to prepare an MR please see if you can get help https://advicelocal.uk/

Henny5

I will have a look at the link
Thank you so much, it gives me a bit of hope as I was going to give up and not bother. 
Thanks again

poppy123456

Thanks Calcotti I appreciate that explanation and it does make sense. 

calcotti

If anybody says ‘you didn’t say anything of this before’, your response is a combination of ‘I found it very difficult making my claim’ and ‘I find it difficult talking about myself, and  ‘I didn’t have the information I’ve now sent you’.

rebel11

I think a lot of people do this (forget to tell the DWP stuff, on forms, during assessments etc), simply because they've done it previously at some point, they subconsciously think they've told the DWP previously, so don't do it again.  

Henny5

Thank you
When I send the reconsideration in, should I send the assessors report with it, there are so many faults in it, I have made notes on them so not sure if it's the right thing to do. I also have evidence of a shoulder operation and physio from 2013 which still causes me trouble, would I tell them about that?
I feel its going to be a very long letter. 
Sorry for so many questions. 

poppy123456

You don't need to send the assessment report to them because they already have a copy of that. If there's any obvious contradictions in it then it's fine to mention a couple of those, then put it to one side. Concentrating on that will not get you a PIP award.

Any evidence which you think will help should be sent. When writing the letter try not to tell your life story and concentrate on where and why you think you should have scored those points.

Include a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each descriptor that applies to you. Adding detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see and what the consequences were.

rebel11

Right, you can counter the errors, but with 'real world experiences'. They will have the assessors report.

You need to give examples of how your shoulder effects you from day to day, e.g. you tried to lift a pressure cooker, but couldn't, you felt pain in your shoulder, you had to take painkillers', the fact they you've had an operation on your shoulder doesn't matter to them.  Make sure you use paragraphs.  Make sure you get Proof of Postage. 

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

poppy123456

rebel11 said:

, e.g. you tried to lift a pressure cooker, but couldn't, you felt pain in your shoulder, you had to take painkillers',

For preparing food carrying items around the kitchen or to where it will be eaten is not included in that activity.

rebel11

poppy123456 said:

rebel11 said:

, e.g. you tried to lift a pressure cooker, but couldn't, you felt pain in your shoulder, you had to take painkillers',

For preparing food carrying items around the kitchen or to where it will be eaten is not included in that activity.

I didn't say anything about moving it, washing it, opening it, closing it etc.