Received Assessment Report

Apple01

Hi everyone!

I requested a copy of my assessment report and received it today in the post.

Based on the report I got 8 points for daily and 8 for mobility. With a review in 2 years. There are a few bits in the report I am not entirely happy with. The assessor did tend to contradict themselves. 

But overall I am relieved because this process have been so daunting.

However, I know I must wait for DWP to do their part and make the decision. Is it common for them to just stick to what the assessors recommend? 
What are the chances of them deducting or adding points?

Thanks in advance! 

calcotti

Apple01 said:

Is it common for them to just stick to what the assessors recommend? 

What are the chances of them deducting or adding points?

It is common for the Decision Maker to follow the report but they can make a different decision.

livelife87

Apparently they tend to go with it. I'm in the same boat as you with 11 for daily living and 10 for mobility. Good luck!

rebel11

You need to consider a Mandatory Reconsideration, do it in writing, give 'real world examples' of difficulties faced each day. Make sure you get Proof of Postage.

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



  

leah1970

Can you get a copy of the assessment before a decision is made then? I was told you have to wait until the decision is made before you can request it. Having said that I’ve been given so much incorrect information by dwp I’ve done a FOI request to obtain all the information they hold on me and I recorded my assessment on Friday as I’m already (based on previous experience) expecting lies. I don’t say lies lightly but DWP previously tried to remove their own case at appeal as it was very apparent these could not have been mistakes as the medical evidence on my spinal cord injury and other health issues were so documented and clear that it wasn’t possible it was just a mistake to say nothing was wrong with me when they had been provided with the information. It didn’t look good when my medical practitioner walked into the appeal with me as they don’t usually attend in person. I already know from the assessment this will be another battle so if I can get the report before the decision I would find this really helpful. The info on this is confusing online as that also says you can only get the report after decision so I’m very interested in how you obtained it??

poppy123456

leah1970 said:

Can you get a copy of the assessment before a decision is made then? I was told you have to wait until the decision is made before you can request it.

Yes you can. Although if the worst happens and you are refused then concentrating on the assessment report isn't going to get you a PIP award. You don't need the report to request the MR.

leah1970

For me getting the report will help me manage my anxiety leading upto decision as I’m sure I will get an award my issues is after winning an appeal and getting enhanced on both when the appeal ran out they dropped it to just standard faulty living. Effectively deciding I had no mobility issues which is incredible when I have a very serious spinal cord issues and use a wheelchair. At the time I didn’t want the stress of another appeal but this time I refuse to be bullied or lied about. I’m fully expecting it to be MR and appeal as they have done it to me so many times but even before decision of the assessment is as monumentally inaccurate (as I have irrefutable proof) I not only will be less anxious as I will be expecting another poor award/decision but this time I will take serious legal advice. I need to understand in detail why they keep saying I have no mobility issues when medically it’s impossible that I don’t. It’s affecting my mental health because it’s off the scale gaslighting. I don’t want to keep having to prove something that is 100% fact, heavily medically evidenced and can’t fathomably be disputed. I can even let them off with my mental health even though that’s documented as well because there is some room for interpretation but a very clear very serious spinal cord injury that is unambiguous in any way is insane to say it doesn’t exist repeatedly. 

rebel11

That's the nature of the DWP. The whole PIP process is 'imperfect' and does no credit to anybody involved in it. I once spoke to the DWP over the phone. The person there said something they shouldn't have. I requested a copy of the conversation, got the recording, it had been edited out. So far as the DWP is concerned, anything goes. Until we get something better, we have to work with it.

Poppy is correct concentrate on 'real world examples' of daily difficulties. But also highlight 'major' errors in the report. Write, 'It is untrue .............' or 'It is incorrect ...............', etc.   

leah1970 said:

Can you get a copy of the assessment before a decision is made then? I was told you have to wait until the decision is made before you can request it. Having said that I’ve been given so much incorrect information by dwp I’ve done a FOI request to obtain all the information they hold on me and I recorded my assessment on Friday as I’m already (based on previous experience) expecting lies. I don’t say lies lightly but DWP previously tried to remove their own case at appeal as it was very apparent these could not have been mistakes as the medical evidence on my spinal cord injury and other health issues were so documented and clear that it wasn’t possible it was just a mistake to say nothing was wrong with me when they had been provided with the information. It didn’t look good when my medical practitioner walked into the appeal with me as they don’t usually attend in person. I already know from the assessment this will be another battle so if I can get the report before the decision I would find this really helpful. The info on this is confusing online as that also says you can only get the report after decision so I’m very interested in how you obtained it??

Apple01

Hi @leah1970 When I first called to request my report I was told I had to wait for a decision. I knew that was wrong but I didn’t care to go back and forth. Instead I called back 2 days later and the person I spoke said it would be sent out the same day. Received it in 2 days.

Although I felt my assessment went OK, based on the experiences I’ve read on here I knew I had to get a copy of the report. So if they had scored me low or completely disregarded everything I said, I wanted to be prepared to go for a MR if necessary.

leah1970

Thank you @Apple01 I will phone them on Monday. I may be wrong and this anxiety is just as a result of continuous bad experiences with PIP but there were aspects of the assessment (I’ve recorded it this time) that concerned me so much I don’t want to spend weeks anticipating more misinterpretations/lying and is it/is not another MR, and can just know I’m going to be going to MR and focus on my health challenges to avoid giving DWP even more mental energy than they extract anyway. Hope you get the correct decision. 👍🏻

Cher_Alumni

Hi @leah1970

If you feel that having the assessment report would lessen your anxiety, then you are within your rights to request it. It sounds like you have had thoroughly bad experiences in the past and I can understand your current emotions. 

Please do bear in mind the advice posted above, that anecdotal evidence showing exactly how and why your condition means you satisfy the PIP activities and descriptors is more impactful than medical diagnoses. This is because conditions vary so broadly that to avoid incorrect generalisations you have to break it down and speak about your reality and functional ability. 

We wish you lots of luck for a deserved outcome and remember we're always here should you need to vent or have some advice from our members.

leah1970

Thank you Cher.

I completely agree with your comments. However in my case I have a very rare condition and I don’t think they are even generalising, I think it’s more a case of they Google my condition because they have never heard of it, they admit googling, and have very little understanding of a spinal cord injury. So I’m asked do I say hello to post my post man and how long does it take me to go out when I’ve clearly stated 20 times I don’t go out and when I do it is to medical appointments. With much support to get there! The last award was for no mobility at all when it is very very clear I use a wheelchair and my mobility is very limited when I do use crutches as a result I am virtually housebound. No award! My doctors reaction was quite funny! 

However I have been pleasantly surprised when I asked today for a copy of the report pre decision. Happy to send me one and informed if  am not happy with the assessment I am allowed to raise it before the decision is made. This would then lead to them speaking to the assessor before the decision is made and go from there. It has reassured me a little bit. I will have to wait and see, and I may be pleasantly surprised that the report does reflect how my disability affects me this time. It might help others to know they do give the report pre decision and in my case I was informed you can raise concerns before the decision is made. I think it probably comes down to how experienced/trained the person you speak to is. She was extremely helpful and informative. 

We shall see. Fingers crossed. 

poppy123456

leah1970 said:

if  am not happy with the assessment I am allowed to raise it before the decision is made. This would then lead to them speaking to the assessor before the decision is made and go from there.

Yes, you can ring PIP if the assessment report isn't what you expected it to be and put your thoughts accross or ask for a decision to maker to ring you before they make a decision. They don't always ring either.

However, it's not guaranteed that the decision maker will contact the assessors before making a decision. Sometimes, if there's obvious contradictions or errors in the report then the decision maker will decide to return it to the assessors but it's rare for this to happen.

 

If you were told this by someone from the call centre then please be aware that they are only call centre staff and it has been known for them tell you what you want to hear, regardless of whether that's correct or not.