DWP vulnerability register

2oldcodgers

Quite a simple question I think. How does one get onto the DWP vulnerability register?
I understand that the DWP are required to deal with claimants in a more humane way if they are classed as being vulnerable. 
This in my case would relate to my PIP claim/award and any reviews that come about.

poppy123456

It's not a vulnerability register as such. It's a marker on your file and there's no way to actually get that added yourself. A DWP decision maker makes the decision to add the marker based on the information they hold on you. It has also been known for assessment providers to advise that "additional help is likely needed in the future"

chiarieds

The DWP have procedures put into place for 'vulnerable' claimants. I don't feel it appropriate to go into which claimants would be considered such here, but I can assure you I've read about it, as well as having some prior knowledge.

You would not be in this 'vulnerable' class, & your next PIP review will be a light touch one which should be a lot easier.

woodbine

We could talk all day about who should be classed as vunerable.

StillIRise

I have this marker on my file but I don’t know who put it on there.
One of the things I’ve found is that DWP don’t care if I don’t actually fill in and send back their review forms etc.

poppy123456

StillIRise said:

I have this marker on my file but I don’t know who put it on there.
One of the things I’ve found is that DWP don’t care if I don’t actually fill in and send back their review forms etc.

It would have been done by a decision maker.

2oldcodgers

chiarieds said:

The DWP have procedures put into place for 'vulnerable' claimants. I don't feel it appropriate to go into which claimants would be considered such here, but I can assure you I've read about it, as well as having some prior knowledge.

You would not be in this 'vulnerable' class, & your next PIP review will be a light touch one which should be a lot easier.

OK, I must not be vulnerable then.

As for the PIP reviews I have been reading an item on Rightsnet where a Senior Welfare Rights worker has commented on it.
It is said that:

Today’s announcement re: light touch and additional support/help/vulnerability markers must be a concern.

Fail to return your form when there’s no marker on your file and the claim ends.
Fail to return your form where there’s a marker and get referred to a HCP. HCP report v PIP2 is winnable. HCP report v light touch form is a no context win for the HCP recommendations in most cases.

All of a sudden light touch looks like something darker.

Seems to me that he is worried/concerned that this 'light touch' is not what it appears to be.

Even the DWP do not say that there will be no F2F assessment only there may not be one.

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

chiarieds said:

The DWP have procedures put into place for 'vulnerable' claimants. I don't feel it appropriate to go into which claimants would be considered such here, but I can assure you I've read about it, as well as having some prior knowledge.

You would not be in this 'vulnerable' class, & your next PIP review will be a light touch one which should be a lot easier.

OK, I must not be vulnerable then.

As for the PIP reviews I have been reading an item on Rightsnet where a Senior Welfare Rights worker has commented on it.
It is said that:

Today’s announcement re: light touch and additional support/help/vulnerability markers must be a concern.

Fail to return your form when there’s no marker on your file and the claim ends.
Fail to return your form where there’s a marker and get referred to a HCP. HCP report v PIP2 is winnable. HCP report v light touch form is a no context win for the HCP recommendations in most cases.

All of a sudden light touch looks like something darker.

Seems to me that he is worried/concerned that this 'light touch' is not what it appears to be.

Even the DWP do not say that there will be no F2F assessment only there may not be one.

Do you have a link for that so we can read it for ourselves?

Adrian_Scope

Hi @poppy123456, I'm not sure if this is where @2oldcodgers saw it but I found a similar discussion on rightsnet.

StillIRise

poppy123456 said:

StillIRise said:

I have this marker on my file but I don’t know who put it on there.
One of the things I’ve found is that DWP don’t care if I don’t actually fill in and send back their review forms etc.

It would have been done by a decision maker.

Well a DM could have put the marker on there but could well have been acting on advice from a health professional who did one of my assessments. In fact I saw a question on my most recent PIP assessment report that the health professionals can tick if they feel the claimant needs additional support.

poppy123456

StillIRise said:

poppy123456 said:

StillIRise said:

I have this marker on my file but I don’t know who put it on there.
One of the things I’ve found is that DWP don’t care if I don’t actually fill in and send back their review forms etc.

It would have been done by a decision maker.

Well a DM could have put the marker on there but could well have been acting on advice from a health professional who did one of my assessments.

Indeed, which is exactly what i advised here.

poppy123456 said:

It has also been known for assessment providers to advise that "additional help is likely needed in the future"

poppy123456

Adrian_Scope said:

Hi @poppy123456, I'm not sure if this is where @2oldcodgers saw it but I found a similar discussion on rightsnet.

Thanks Adrian.

chiarieds

On the same link that Adrian provided, the PIPAR2 can be seen as a PDF. I wonder if a claimant fails to return a form, then if their claim was closed, there'd be reason to challenge this as the wording on the PIPAR2 is ambiguous as it says,

'Your PIP may stop if we do not get your form back or you do not contact us by DD/MM/YYYY' ....the emboldening is mine.

See this also from rightsnet: https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/Forums/viewthread/17072/    where it's mentioned that similar wording is used on the PIP2 & PIPAR1 using the word 'may' which it was said was 'vulnerable to challenge.' Also that ringing for an extension can be seen as contacting the DWP, & that a call handler likely won't mention what may happen if a claimant misses their extended deadline (certainly it wasn't mentioned when I asked for an extension).

Obviously Mike's concern is about those vulnerable claimants who get referred to a HCP if they don't return the form.

2oldcodgers

chiarieds said:

On the same link that Adrian provided, the PIPAR2 can be seen as a PDF. I wonder if a claimant fails to return a form, then if their claim was closed, there'd be reason to challenge this as the wording on the PIPAR2 is ambiguous as it says,

'Your PIP may stop if we do not get your form back or you do not contact us by DD/MM/YYYY' ....the emboldening is mine.

See this also from rightsnet: https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/Forums/viewthread/17072/    where it's mentioned that similar wording is used on the PIP2 & PIPAR1 using the word 'may' which it was said was 'vulnerable to challenge.' Also that ringing for an extension can be seen as contacting the DWP, & that a call handler likely won't mention what may happen if a claimant misses their extended deadline (certainly it wasn't mentioned when I asked for an extension).

Obviously Mike's concern is about those vulnerable claimants who get referred to a HCP if they don't return the form.

I would also add that similar wording was on the DLA application forms and because of it and the failure to return the review because I was in hospital resulted in having to make a fresh claim from the start. Do that with PIP there is every likelihood that because of being over 66 you would have to claim AA instead. 
I doubt very much that an ordinary individual would know how to or indeed have the knowledge to take the case to a Tribunal if they did indeed shut down the claim for a myriad of reasons. I have had letters and forms over the years go missing by the DWP. 

carbow32

This is quite interesting.  I am not sure what it is called but the form the assessor has sent in DWP stated "appears vulnerable".  Would this of lead to a mark being put on my file.  I don't think I particularly want to call them to find out though.  They've left me alone (fingers crossed) for a while now.  That for UC LCWRA

WhatThe

PIP - along with Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance (not JSA/Employment Support Allowance) - is a disability benefit which means there is a vulnerability marker on file.

Whether it's ignored or subsequently deleted amounts to the same thing 

Wibbles

I effectively have a marker on my PIP claim - in that it is a 10 year (both enhanced) payment - with no mid-season assessments or anything else !

Plus - since I was 59 when my claim was started - I will be 69 when renewal is due (if I am still alive) and I should receive a "light touch".

2oldcodgers

Wibbles said:

I effectively have a marker on my PIP claim - in that it is a 10 year (both enhanced) payment - with no mid-season assessments or anything else !

Plus - since I was 59 when my claim was started - I will be 69 when renewal is due (if I am still alive) and I should receive a "light touch".

Like myself then. I originally started my DLA claim at age 47 - High Care/High Mobility. After various reviews it changed every time. Once it went from the above to Standard Mobility only!

I too now have a 10 year award until 2029. 
Maybe all along I should have had a marker on my file.

As for the light touch there is a difference in opinion as to how or what you should do when the review comes about.  

Wibbles

2oldcodgers said:

Wibbles said:

I effectively have a marker on my PIP claim - in that it is a 10 year (both enhanced) payment - with no mid-season assessments or anything else !

Plus - since I was 59 when my claim was started - I will be 69 when renewal is due (if I am still alive) and I should receive a "light touch".

Like myself then. I originally started my DLA claim at age 47 - High Care/High Mobility. After various reviews it changed every time. Once it went from the above to Standard Mobility only!

I too now have a 10 year award until 2029. 
Maybe all along I should have had a marker on my file.

As for the light touch there is a difference in opinion as to how or what you should do when the review comes about.  

I had been claiming DLA for 20 years previously to my PIP upgrade, receiving "mid care" only....

WhatThe

Funny how I still qualify for the NHS definition of clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) for the vaccine roll-out after losing my disability status and support in the DWP machine

2oldcodgers

Wibbles said:

I had been claiming DLA for 20 years previously to my PIP upgrade, receiving "mid care" only....

I started my DLA claim 28 years ago and eventually moved onto PIP in 2019 with a 10 year award.