Esa and pip

chucky1

Do esa look at your pip to decide on your esa award

poppy123456

No, they are different benefits with different criteria and claiming one doesn't automatically entitle you to the other.

chucky1

But would they still look at it anyway 

poppy123456

No not usually and you shouldn’t assume they will. 

flour

@chucky1

chucky1 said:

But would they still look at it anyway 

ESA records do show on their computer what other benefits you are receiving such as PIP and the records will show basic information such as what date the claim started on. They can see that information without digging deeper.

If ESA decided they could also then make the effort to look at your PIP paperwork. They often do this to see if they can make an 'in house' decision where they do not refer it for an assessment. Such as by using the PIP paperwork in ESA.

It can depend on the award and descriptors as there is some overlap.

For example in PIP Mobility 2 and WCA Mobilising 1 there is a large amount of overlap. 

Such other cases could include;

PIP Mobility 1 Planning and following journeys and WCA Activity 15 Getting About, or
PIP Daily Living 5 Managing toilet needs or incontinence and WCA Activity 9 Continence.

There less clear cut overlaps in other areas, such as 

PIP Daily Living 6, 7 and 8 and WCA Activities 6 and 7. Which are all around communication and handling information.

And in other areas its more about stretching parts of it from one to another.

For example

PIP Daily Living 1 Preparing and cooking food and WCA Activity 5 Manual Dexterity. Here both will involve the use of the hands and in some cases it would be reasonable to assume if you score in the WCA then equally you may score in PIP or the other way round.

If you cannot pick up a £1 coin then its reasonable you'll also struggle to peel a potato. However if you need prompting in PIP then this won't carry over in the WCA as WCA 5 does not consider prompting. In this case it doesn't go in both directions as the PIP activity looks at both physical and mental whereas the WCA is physical only.

There are no perfect overlaps in any part but where it's clear on both benefits the DWP will look at one and the other for consistency. Equally  you can also use it your advantage as a claimant in the MR or tribunal stages. 

Furthermore, Judges also agree with your idea about reports being used for other claims such as in the case of AF v SSWP (ESA [2011] UKUT 61 (AAC).

More about this is available here
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/Forums/viewthread/13042/#60714