Mandatory reconsideration for PIP

callieD

Hi, I'm new to this,
I started my claim for Pip in June and after my phone assessment in late August I received a letter on Saturday saying my claim had been refused, I've been devastated unable to sleep..I suffer from anxiety and depression and had little evidence as my last appointment with my gp was before lockdown and due to my anxiety and having to see new doctors or different gps every time, it's a task that would cause distress and avoid. This morning my daughter with my permission rang them and asked for a mandatory reconsideration, which they did over the phone, she was able to explain my situation better than I could in the assessment. How successful are the reconsiderations and how long is the wait? Even with my condition I've never felt so low... thank you for listening. 

Jimm_Alumni

Hi @callieD, firstly I'd like to welcome you to the scope community. We're a friendly bunch here and we're here to support people in situations like yours. 

I'm sorry you've been refused PIP. I was in such a similar situation to yours in 2018. I was wracked by anxiety and depression, I got refused my PIP and I didn't have anyone like your daughter. I just dropped out, and I know in hindsight that was a mistake.

Firstly, you've requested the Mandatory Reconsideration over the phone but I would sit down with your daughter and write up a letter. You can follow the call up with a letter and it's best to have everything down in writing as you do not know what the person your daughter was speaking to actual wrote down. Citizen's advice have a good page on Mandatory Reconsideration. Now, I am going to tell you a fact that may upset you followed by a fact to re-assure you. The success rate of a Mandatory Reconsideration is 15%. The success rate of Tribunal Appeals is 70%. 

So I am also going to link you to the CAB's advice page on appealing. I would sit down with your daughter and go through all of this. I wish I'd gone to appeal back in 2018, but I never did. I know how hard it is when you feel so low, you feel like you're in a pit you can't get out. In my mind though it's a tunnel, hopefully we can help you and you daughter get you to the end of the tunnel where everything is sorted out  

Jimm_Alumni

I also moved this to our PIP section, people with better PIP knowledge will find it more easily here

Leigh14

callieD said:

Hi, I'm new to this,
I started my claim for Pip in June and after my phone assessment in late August I received a letter on Saturday saying my claim had been refused, I've been devastated unable to sleep..I suffer from anxiety and depression and had little evidence as my last appointment with my gp was before lockdown and due to my anxiety and having to see new doctors or different gps every time, it's a task that would cause distress and avoid. This morning my daughter with my permission rang them and asked for a mandatory reconsideration, which they did over the phone, she was able to explain my situation better than I could in the assessment. How successful are the reconsiderations and how long is the wait? Even with my condition I've never felt so low... thank you for listening. 

Hi callie 🙂 I just wanted to say welcome, as well as Well done for deciding to do an MR. I had to go through to this stage, and thankfully I was awarded. Do follow the phone call up with written detailed things. 

@Jimm_Scope has given you some links. You can also find great information on here regarding the MR stage.

I think PIP causes most of us anxiety and a lot of stress, so you’re not alone.

bg844

I agree with Jimm here, although an MR request has been made over the phone it really is worth writing a follow up letter too. When writing this, please ensure you ideally give 2 real-world examples of how each activity would affect you and around half a page per activity. You should also send any relevant evidence that has not been given before, if you have any. 

Please be aware that Mandatory Reconsideration success rates are low, appeal is definitely worth it after this step if you still don't get awarded. I would still recommend you go in to complete detail via the MR stage first though. If you do get to the Appeals stage, do come back for further advice (or if you have any more in the meantime).

callieD

Thank you for all your advice, I will get it all down in writing and will let you know the outcome.. 

MickH

I wrote an MR, and was refused again. So I sat and evaluated things & requested a tribunal. In the 16 months from MR to tribunal, I correlated all evidence, spent numerous hours looking at the original assessment and the lies therein. My tribunal was by phone, not easy at all, but I won. So, never give up, prepare yourself, with help if necessary.....and Good Luck.

Jimm_Alumni

Hope you do something enjoyable to celebrate getting there @mikeH

MickH

Jimm_Scope said:

Hope you do something enjoyable to celebrate getting there @mikeH

I doubt I will celebrate, although I managed to be awarded a bus pass with the letter from the tribunal, so I don't feel as housebound as I have in the past. It is a long and worrying time, too long to be honest, certainly if as some, you suffer from anxiety and depression. I'm just glad it is all over.........for now !