PIP assessment, do they actually read the form you filled in ?

Moonlady

My partner had his very first PIP assessment over the phone yesterday. It was about 1 and half hours long. And I keep replaying it in my head to be honest as it was on speakerphone, and thinking of all the things that should have been mentioned

It was as if they never even bothered to read the PIP form that we filled in as they asked the same questions anyway. And instead of just saying what was on the form he gave quite short answers .( I understand they may need to fill in blanks and realise your scenario better ). But I hope it doesn't just go by what he said orally at all as I don't think he explained himself that well due to nerves.

The form was much more detailed and explained things in more detail

We had a text to say the written report had been done etc

Do you think they actually will take into account all the information we wrote down as well, rather than what he said ? 

I know if they go by what he said he will definitely not got PIP on either components . I am preparing myself to do the Mandatory Reconsideration already

Is it a just wait-and-see time scale of knowing how it went ?

chiarieds

Hi @Moonlady - your partner's claim pack that you sent in is very important, & if this was well completed, which it sounds like it was, then don't worry too much. All assessments make people feel nervous, so problems with that should be taken into account. Everything will be looked at by the decision maker, his claim pack, the assessor's report & any other relevant info you provided. The worst part is over now, so try & relax if you can. Your partner has done very well to have got through his assessment, & everyone thinks about things they didn't manage to say afterwards

Moonlady

chiarieds said:

Hi @Moonlady - your partner's claim pack that you sent in is very important, & if this was well completed, which it sounds like it was, then don't worry too much. All assessments make people feel nervous, so problems with that should be taken into account. Everything will be looked at by the decision maker, his claim pack, the assessor's report & any other relevant info you provided. The worst part is over now, so try & relax if you can. Your partner has done very well to have got through his assessment, & everyone thinks about things they didn't manage to say afterwards

Many thanks for the reassurance. It's just going over in my mind all the time. And orally he didn't say too much or explain the trouble he has that well. 
I filled in the PIP form and double-checked with McMillan and they said it was very comprehensive. I'm just hoping they actually look at the form properly and NOT just what the phone assessment portrayed as the marking system would be very low

Like they say hindsight is a wonderful thing. 

Although the time scale she said 8 weeks ,does the result usually come sooner than that ?

Thanks for your input

Jimm_Scope

Hey @Moonlady, the questions in the form are quite complex so often assessors will very much try to shorten the questions and answers as they're rarely given enough time to properly go through it. The form is very important though. The decision maker also reads through it alongside the assessment report and any evidence you sent through.

Wish you and your partner the best of luck!

Moonlady

Jimm_Scope said:

Hey @Moonlady, the questions in the form are quite complex so often assessors will very much try to shorten the questions and answers as they're rarely given enough time to properly go through it. The form is very important though. The decision maker also reads through it alongside the assessment report and any evidence you sent through.

Wish you and your partner the best of luck!

Thanks very much . I do hope they read the form and the DM goes more on what is written on that,

I appreciate your reply and many Thanks

chiarieds

To be honest it's often said here that a well completed form is the most important thing. We've had many members feel an assessment didn't go well, & there wasn't enough time to go through all the questions, which often doesn't happen anyway. That's usually when it's said that the time to give all that extra detail was when completing the initial claim form.

The assessor's report contains their recommendation, but that's all it is, as it's only the decision maker who can award points.

Unfortunately it can take anywhere from 2-12 weeks to get his decision letter, so some will get them quicker than others. If awarded then monies will be due from the day he phoned to start his claim.

Moonlady

chiarieds said:

To be honest it's often said here that a well completed form is the most important thing. We've had many members feel an assessment didn't go well, & there wasn't enough time to go through all the questions, which often doesn't happen anyway. That's usually when it's said that the time to give all that extra detail was when completing the initial claim form.

The assessor's report contains their recommendation, but that's all it is, as it's only the decision maker who can award points.

Unfortunately it can take anywhere from 2-12 weeks to get his decision letter, so some will get them quicker than others. If awarded then monies will be due from the day he phoned to start his claim.

Thanks again. So just to clarify ....the person who actually gives the points is the DM......who looks at the initial written  PIP form and also the typed up report from the phone assessor? And its not the person who does the phone interview? 

Thank you again for the information. 

chiarieds

Yes, it's the DWP decision maker who looks at everything, writes up a summary having looked at all the evidence, & then awards points where they feel appropriate.

Moonlady

chiarieds said:

Yes, it's the DWP decision maker who looks at everything, writes up a summary having looked at all the evidence, & then awards points where they feel appropriate.

Thanks a lot, that gives me a little bit of hope then. I thought the person on the telephone did the scores and I thought OMG that didn't go very well. So I will try and put it behind me till I find out for my partner. If it does not go well I shall investigate how to do a MR. 
Thanks again for your help much appreciated x

chiarieds

You're very welcome, & hope you manage to relax now. Kindly keep us all updated as to how you both get on. I'm sure if the worst happens our members will advise about a MR.

Moonlady

chiarieds said:

You're very welcome, & hope you manage to relax now. Kindly keep us all updated as to how you both get on. I'm sure if the worst happens our members will advise about a MR.

Many thanks, I will try and put aside. I feel like we have passed the baton as such and just wait for it to come back again.
Yes, I will let you know and probably ask for advice on the MR going forward

Thanks again

Moonlady

Just as an update, heard this morning by text that he has been awarded. I've worked out standard on both. Although I am very grateful for it and had assumed none would be awarded, I've asked for the assessment report and see how close we are to enhanced mobility, and take it from there. May possibly leave it at that or do a MR . Personally (like I'm sure most people do I can imagine ) think he warrants enhanced on mobility (not care)  He has terminal cancer (no time line given) heart/kidney issues he will only get worse on his mobility as well. I know its about how it effects you and not the actual illnesses. But I think he fits the descriptors of mobility 

Also he is 65, will the PIP continue into State Pension age please?

poppy123456

PIP will continue past state pension age for as long as he remains entitled to it.

Moonlady

poppy123456 said:

PIP will continue past state pension age for as long as he remains entitled to it.

Many thanks for the information

chiarieds

I'm pleased to read your partner has been awarded PIP @Moonlady - his decision letter will show where the DM has awarded points (remembering the assessor's report is just a recommendation). Kindly let us all know if you decide to go for a Mandatory Reconsideration.

Just to add, it's very difficult indeed to increase a standard mobility award to an enhanced one (only rarely happens) when past State Pension age unless you can show that they previously had sufficient mobility problems beforehand. I also doubt you'd want to say his condition was worse in the immediate future, as that would be considered a 'Change of Circumstances,' necessitating completing another claim form, assessment etc. If you could get all your 'ducks in a row' now, it may indeed be more advantageous to do a MR. His current award would be paid until a decision was made on a MR, & it would be rare for his award to be decreased.

Moonlady

chiarieds said:

I'm pleased to read your partner has been awarded PIP @Moonlady - his decision letter will show where the DM has awarded points (remembering the assessor's report is just a recommendation). Kindly let us all know if you decide to go for a Mandatory Reconsideration.

Just to add, it's very difficult indeed to increase a standard mobility award to an enhanced one (only rarely happens) when past State Pension age unless you can show that they previously had sufficient mobility problems beforehand. I also doubt you'd want to say his condition was worse in the immediate future, as that would be considered a 'Change of Circumstances,' necessitating completing another claim form, assessment etc. If you could get all your 'ducks in a row' now, it may indeed be more advantageous to do a MR. His current award would be paid until a decision was made on a MR, & it would be rare for his award to be decreased.

Thank you. I was pleased just to get this far as it will be a great help. 
I think when we get the PA4 we will look and have a good think about it
Thanks for the information in advance about the Change of circumstances etc esp after SP age etc

I think if we did the MR, I would be worried it would be decreased and would kick myself .But hopefully like you say it is rare. Do you know the percentages which do not get changed or lowered at all ? No worries if not

I appreciate your support x

chiarieds

Sorry, I'm unaware of any published statistics on the percentage of MRs which result in a lowering of a current award. I wish this part was better, but I do know statistically that currently the 'success rate' with a MR, where a person previously unawarded, is awarded PIP, or there's an increase from a standard to an enhanced rate of either/both components is currently only about 23%. But this is a first stage of appealing, before you can apply to a tribunal where the success rate is 68% (so long as you don't request a paper hearing). Most tribunals are by phone/video call, so in some ways similar to an assessment, just nothing to do with the DWP. They consist of a judge, a Dr, & someone with an understanding about disability.

Now I'm getting ahead of myself, but the more you know the more informed your decision will be.....& some people obviously are successful with a MR.

poppy123456

The most likely outcome of the MR will be the decision remains the same. ONly about 23% of decisions change in the claimants favour. It's very rare to lose points that stage but it is possible of course.

More chance at Tribunal stage with about 68% success, providing you either appear in person or have a telephone/video hearing.

Chiarieds makes a very valid point about reaching state pension age so please do take that into consideratioln.

Moonlady

chiarieds said:

Sorry, I'm unaware of any published statistics on the percentage of MRs which result in a lowering of a current award. I wish this part was better, but I do know statistically that currently the 'success rate' with a MR, where a person previously unawarded, is awarded PIP, or there's an increase from a standard to an enhanced rate of either/both components is currently only about 23%. But this is a first stage of appealing, before you can apply to a tribunal where the success rate is 68% (so long as you don't request a paper hearing). Most tribunals are by phone/video call, so in some ways similar to an assessment, just nothing to do with the DWP. They consist of a judge, a Dr, & someone with an understanding about disability.

Now I'm getting ahead of myself, but the more you know the more informed your decision will be.....& some people obviously are successful with a MR.

Thanks again about the figures. Doesn't sound very promising. I suppose I shall see how they have done the marking on the form.
The tribunals seem very good at success rate but I can imagine my partner would be very stressed out and I probably wouldn't want to to risk him having another heart attack 

I agree the more informed you are the better. I had been reading about what to do as soon as the phone assessment was over.

Thanks again

Moonlady

poppy123456 said:

The most likely outcome of the MR will be the decision remains the same. ONly about 23% of decisions change in the claimants favour. It's very rare to lose points that stage but it is possible of course.

More chance at Tribunal stage with about 68% success, providing you either appear in person or have a telephone/video hearing.

Chiarieds makes a very valid point about reaching state pension age so please do take that into consideratioln.

Many thanks for the percentage details
If we did a MR  we would do it sooner rather than later. 
I agree get things sorted before the pension age....which will be in about 7 months
Thanks

chiarieds

On the one hand I have no wish to influence your decision, on the other, knowing more helps, as we all agree. Thinking about a MR, unless you have said something contradictory, which I doubt, then you might be left with a different DM disagreeing with the first DM, which seems very unlikely. ? why awards are rarely lowered, & a DM would have to give a reason for this anyway (which a tribunal could also overturn).

With a tribunal, then they will listen. Such a tribunal is only 'inquisatorial,' i.e. asking questions to find out 'on the balance of probabilities,' does the claimant have the level of difficulty they've indicated?

Appreciating that proceeding further isn't a stress free situation, if it does indeed come to a tribunal, the success rate speaks of many claimants being listened to, & many of our members have found it a positive experience.

For now, once you get your partner's decision letter, then consider a MR; rarely anything to lose, but in a few, there's a gain. I'm one of those statistics some years ago, but that doesn't influence what I say.