Yay, won my PIP mandatory reconsideration!

Lemonpie

I just wanted to reach out with some good news and maybe give a little hope to others going through a tough situation. I had been claiming PIP since 2014, but it was stopped after a phone assessment in February this year (I'd already had 20 months of stress waiting for a reply to the review I had in 2021!). The decision maker awarded me zero points on everything! Literally everything! I was pretty horrified, shocked, upset and extremely worried about my financial situation and what would happen to me. This was at the start of March...no warning, I only noticed my ESA was less than normal as I was missing the Severe Disability Premium. So I phoned the DWP and found my PIP had ended, I received the letter ten days later!

Thankfully I managed to get myself together enough to apply for the MR, but it was only from reading the posts and getting advice on here that made me feel I could do it. I was ready to give up as it felt so hopeless and so stressful, I just really wasn't sure I could do it. And the thought of putting myself throught it felt unbearable.

But I broke it down into manageable chunks. First I saw my GP and explained the situation. He asked me to write a letter detailing all the areas that needed to be backed up with medical evidence, and send it to him so he could write a letter on my behalf. 

I spent a day writing the letter to him, which I felt was less stressful than thinking about writing to the DWP, as my GP is on my side. This helped, as I'd practically written everything I then needed for the MR letter. I paid £25 for the GP's letter, but it was so worth it, he wrote a fantastic letter and I really feel it helped.

Once I had his letter (I picked it up three days after dropping in my letter to him...but I am lucky as my surgery is really well managed), it really boosted my confidence as he backed up everything I'd said, which was great, and I really felt he was on my side.

I started writing the MR letter by breaking it down into three sections. I started with my medical conditions, and under each subtitle, I wrote how that condition affects me physically and mentally, with some history of how it's affected my ability to do things, and examples of difficult situations I've encountered because of it. The next section was medication and treatment (I did this because the decision maker said that my lack of medication and professional input suggested I had no significant issues that would affect me day to day!), so I included all the medications I take, as well as those I don't take (only general headings such as sleeping tablets, anti-anxiety meds, ASD meds etc), and then either wrote about their limitations and why some didn't help me and why I wasn't on them, such as awful side-effects and allergies, and in some cases that there is no actual specific medication, e.g., there's no medication for ASD etc. I also added all the treatments I've received and talked about how they didn't work and why they made me feel worse. E.g. talking therapies don't work for me and they make me feel anxious and confused. I can't really identify how I feel most of the time, and the first question I was always asked at EVERY session was 'How do you feel today?'...so never a good start as it just showed how completely unaware and uninterested they were in my personal situation. 

In the third section I wrote all of the PIP categories and what score I felt I should have and why. I also said what the decision maker had said and stated why I disagreed with this (a short statement with references to the longer explanations in the previous sections).

Just writing the letter made me feel very positive as I couldn't see how anyone could possibly disagree or question it, after all it was all fact and I deal with these issues every day and how dare someone who has never met me tell me that I don't suffer psychological distress when making a journey...they have no idea! So it was actually good for me and reduced my anxiety. I took a few days writing this, and then a day typing it out as I wanted to make sure it was the best I could do.

I had a phone call a few days ago asking me about my bank details and any overnight stays in hospital/care homes/prison. This made me feel pretty positive as why would they waste their time phoning to check those datails if they weren't going to pay me? At least that was my opinion anyway. Well today I checked my bank account and I had a PIP payment of around £1400, and when I phoned the DWP the automated system told me my next payment is £514.60, so I know I've been awarded the enhanced rate for Daily Living and the standard rate for Mobility. I am so relieved, I can't say how good it feels to know I'll be OK and I won't have to leave my home! 

I just want to give other people hope as it's always hard to find positive comments with regards to MR! I kept hearing I'd probably be unsuccessful and would have to go to a tribunal...but I WAS successful and I didn't do anything other than write a really detailed letter. Maybe my assessor was confused or tired when she wrote the report, or maybe the decision maker was having a bad day...or maybe the DWP do this to the majority of people in the hope we won't have the strength to appeal. Whatever the reason, I knew the decision was wrong. I had good reasons and it was backed up with evidence and examples. So please, don't lose heart, take the time to get the facts together, write a letter (definitely get help to do this if you need it!), and stay strong!

So, based on a detailed letter and some support from my GP...and I'm so much better off for it! And I didn't need to take it to a tribunal. I don't know the length of the award yet as I haven't had my letter, I'm just happy that it's all over! I wish you all the same luck!

Finger's-crossed for you all!
Lemonpie x

Lottie1732

@Lemonpie Jolly well done. What a fantastic result!  I wish I could say my MR letter was as carefully thought out as yours but it was long and rambling.

Superbetty

That is amazing news, well done:-)

Lemonpie

@Lottie1732 If your letter contained all the info needed to get your message across, I'm sure it was just right. Good luck with everything anyway, I really hope you get a positive result too! I know it's a stressful time (I was so worried I was going to become homeless, it's happened before and I just couldn't face it again!), I'm so glad it's all over...but I'm even more glad I made the effort to appeal the decision as I nearly didn't!! 

It makes me wonder how many other people give up at that point, when in reality they're totally entitled to the money?
Anyway, good luck everyone!!

@Superbetty Thank you I've not stopped smiling for the past 24 hours! 

Alex_Alumni

Fantastic news @Lemonpie and thank you for updating the community I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Woodcock21

Lemonpie said:

I just wanted to reach out with some good news and maybe give a little hope to others going through a tough situation. I had been claiming PIP since 2014, but it was stopped after a phone assessment in February this year (I'd already had 20 months of stress waiting for a reply to the review I had in 2021!). The decision maker awarded me zero points on everything! Literally everything! I was pretty horrified, shocked, upset and extremely worried about my financial situation and what would happen to me. This was at the start of March...no warning, I only noticed my ESA was less than normal as I was missing the Severe Disability Premium. So I phoned the DWP and found my PIP had ended, I received the letter ten days later!

Thankfully I managed to get myself together enough to apply for the MR, but it was only from reading the posts and getting advice on here that made me feel I could do it. I was ready to give up as it felt so hopeless and so stressful, I just really wasn't sure I could do it. And the thought of putting myself throught it felt unbearable.

But I broke it down into manageable chunks. First I saw my GP and explained the situation. He asked me to write a letter detailing all the areas that needed to be backed up with medical evidence, and send it to him so he could write a letter on my behalf. 

I spent a day writing the letter to him, which I felt was less stressful than thinking about writing to the DWP, as my GP is on my side. This helped, as I'd practically written everything I then needed for the MR letter. I paid £25 for the GP's letter, but it was so worth it, he wrote a fantastic letter and I really feel it helped.

Once I had his letter (I picked it up three days after dropping in my letter to him...but I am lucky as my surgery is really well managed), it really boosted my confidence as he backed up everything I'd said, which was great, and I really felt he was on my side.

I started writing the MR letter by breaking it down into three sections. I started with my medical conditions, and under each subtitle, I wrote how that condition affects me physically and mentally, with some history of how it's affected my ability to do things, and examples of difficult situations I've encountered because of it. The next section was medication and treatment (I did this because the decision maker said that my lack of medication and professional input suggested I had no significant issues that would affect me day to day!), so I included all the medications I take, as well as those I don't take (only general headings such as sleeping tablets, anti-anxiety meds, ASD meds etc), and then either wrote about their limitations and why some didn't help me and why I wasn't on them, such as awful side-effects and allergies, and in some cases that there is no actual specific medication, e.g., there's no medication for ASD etc. I also added all the treatments I've received and talked about how they didn't work and why they made me feel worse. E.g. talking therapies don't work for me and they make me feel anxious and confused. I can't really identify how I feel most of the time, and the first question I was always asked at EVERY session was 'How do you feel today?'...so never a good start as it just showed how completely unaware and uninterested they were in my personal situation. 

In the third section I wrote all of the PIP categories and what score I felt I should have and why. I also said what the decision maker had said and stated why I disagreed with this (a short statement with references to the longer explanations in the previous sections).

Just writing the letter made me feel very positive as I couldn't see how anyone could possibly disagree or question it, after all it was all fact and I deal with these issues every day and how dare someone who has never met me tell me that I don't suffer psychological distress when making a journey...they have no idea! So it was actually good for me and reduced my anxiety. I took a few days writing this, and then a day typing it out as I wanted to make sure it was the best I could do.

I had a phone call a few days ago asking me about my bank details and any overnight stays in hospital/care homes/prison. This made me feel pretty positive as why would they waste their time phoning to check those datails if they weren't going to pay me? At least that was my opinion anyway. Well today I checked my bank account and I had a PIP payment of around £1400, and when I phoned the DWP the automated system told me my next payment is £514.60, so I know I've been awarded the enhanced rate for Daily Living and the standard rate for Mobility. I am so relieved, I can't say how good it feels to know I'll be OK and I won't have to leave my home! 

I just want to give other people hope as it's always hard to find positive comments with regards to MR! I kept hearing I'd probably be unsuccessful and would have to go to a tribunal...but I WAS successful and I didn't do anything other than write a really detailed letter. Maybe my assessor was confused or tired when she wrote the report, or maybe the decision maker was having a bad day...or maybe the DWP do this to the majority of people in the hope we won't have the strength to appeal. Whatever the reason, I knew the decision was wrong. I had good reasons and it was backed up with evidence and examples. So please, don't lose heart, take the time to get the facts together, write a letter (definitely get help to do this if you need it!), and stay strong!

So, based on a detailed letter and some support from my GP...and I'm so much better off for it! And I didn't need to take it to a tribunal. I don't know the length of the award yet as I haven't had my letter, I'm just happy that it's all over! I wish you all the same luck!

Finger's-crossed for you all!
Lemonpie x

This is so helpful. 
Currently waiting on COC for hubby. He's had pip for a year but had deteriorated. His medical assessor on Monday didn't ask many questions mainly interested in mental health. But it's his mobility that's changed. 
We only answered what she asked & don't think in hindsight that was enough. 
Panicking they'll take his pip of him or not up him. 
He currently gets lower living. 
He needs higher both. 

Btw I hate waiting 
Thanks  

Lou67

@Lemonpie
Hi and a massive well done, this will be a huge relief for you and I’m sure you will have a stress free weekend.
Mind treat yourself to something nice with some off your backpay.

I also won my MR about 3 years ago and the relief was overwhelming.

Take care ❤️