PIP Refused

BarneyTeddyBear

Hi everyone, I had my refusal letter in the post today scored 6 for daily living, 0 for mobility, it says I can appeal but doesn't say how I get a MR is there a form online I need to fill in? thanks in advance

poppy123456

There's a form here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/challenge-a-decision-made-by-the-department-for-work-and-pensions-dwp but you will need to download it and print it off.

You can also just write a letter stating where and why you think you should have scored those points. Please do not ring to request the MR, always put it in writing.

When you filled out the form if you didn't give a couple of real world examples of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each descriptor that applies then you should do that now. Adding detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

If you have a copy of the assessment report then please do not concentrate wholly on this. It's fine to point out a couple of obvious errors or contradictions but then put it to one side and forget about it.

BarneyTeddyBear

Great help thank you, I do not have a copy of the assessment form, just had letter in post today, it did say that I was calm on the phone and not anxious at all, can I say I disagree with that comment as if they do record they will know I was crying during the call which only lasted 18 minutes, lovely Man who ended call with saying you take care and hopefully we can get you some help real soon, so was shocked to receive the refusal, I only had my assessment on the 3rd November refusal came through very quick! 

poppy123456

I wouldn’t take too much notice of the comment about being claim. Although you were crying on the phone, this isn’t going to score you any points. Speaking on the phone isn’t considered in any of the descriptors. 

It has been known for assessors to tell you “don’t worry everything will be fine” and then not recommend enough points for an award. 

Jimm_Alumni

I do find it odd they put in about someone being not anxious on the phone and equating that to not being anxious in person either. Despite the person saying otherwise.

poppy123456

Jimm_Scope said:

I do find it odd they put in about someone being not anxious on the phone and equating that to not being anxious in person either. Despite the person saying otherwise.

Part of the assessment is a tick box excercise and some of the questions do not have options for them to tick something like "was crying on the phone" or "was dressed untidily"

BarneyTeddyBear

Thanks again, I also find it odd that it states on my refusal letter 'I have decided you can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided', when I clearly said I have bad anxiety and stress and cannot go out alone, the last time I did attempt to go out I ended up in hospital in critical care! I was fine before my Mum passed away but now I cannot cope with every day tasks and going out without having panic attacks and thinking I am dying!  

poppy123456

Did you tell them why you’re unable to go out alone? Did you explain that you ended up in hospital the last time you went out? 

BarneyTeddyBear

Yes I explained, I know this sounds pathetic, but even opening the front door is hard as my Mum and Dad lived opposite me, so seeing their house knowing it is empty literally breaks my heart, I had to give up work 5 years ago to become their full time carer, Dad had Dementia and Mum had a mental break down due to looking after him and she got sectioned, I have had such a rough 5 years, Mum hated Dad towards the end, and it was very stressful, Dad unfortunately passed with Covid in 2020 I was heart broken, couldn't go in and see him or say goodbye, Mum was jumping with joy shouting yipee, she wasn't always like before he got dementia, then I had still look after Mum who then had severe mental health issues, due to the stress of looking after Dad.  Mum had a massive stroke in March, she was put on a feeding tube as unable to eat, I made the decision to remove the tube as she was blind and couldn't talk, it was awful making the decision, watching her starve to death and be in so much pain really damaged me.  I told him that I had lost 2 stone since May as I do not want to eat anymore as it feels cruel, and my Husband has to encourage me.  The report says you have no condition that would stop you recognising hunger so got 0 points for eating and drinking.  I did say on my initial form that I do not cook anymore, I have gone from cooking for my parents and my husband to not going in kitchen I scored 2 saying I can cook if prompted by another person.

I do not want to see their house or even leave mine at the moment it is too raw. 

Oh sorry just realised I have rambled a bit, but to answer your question yes I did, but I did send in a hospital report which showed my heart had recovered and I had not had a heart attack it was due to stress, but the consultant said it could happen again if I get too stressed, so that is like a ticking time bomb in my head which has mentally scarred me. I think I would rather it been a heart attack and have a stent.  
I never thought I would get so mentally ill as I thought I was strong! 

I really thought he understood me, he was very sympathetic, it was a lot quicker than I had imagined.

Maybe I am not that good at explaining things.  I have filled in the MR and will post that tomorrow, but if I fail then I cannot cope with the tribunal I will just have to give up as I certainly couldn't go and defend myself!

chiarieds

I'm sorry to read all that you & your family have gone through. Whilst obviously I hope everything goes well with your MR, I'd just like to say something 'in case.' If unsuccessful, then you can opt to have a tribunal by phone (or video call), or ask for this. You'd then just have the tribunal at home, supported if you wish, by your husband. I just hope that, if needed, this is something you'd consider, & not worry about.

BarneyTeddyBear

I didn't know I could opt for a telephone call so thanks for that, I am so new to this, I also hate not being in control of what is happening so that is stressing me out!  Am I allowed to copy and paste on what I want to write on my MR so someone can look over it, as I am a naive newbie and not sure how to correctly word things which is obviously why I am struggling now and failed. Appreciate your reply thank you 

chiarieds

You're welcome. Have a look at poppy's advice above, & you'll see mine is also similar (I've copied some as I have difficulty typing). Your own words are the best, as you know your own mind & body better than anyone, but please do come back with any questions. The first link below is about completing a PIP claim form, but don't let that put you off as it's likely still relevant in thinking about your MR.

Have a look again at the activities/descriptors that are looked at with PIP:  https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/pip-mental-health-guide/help-with-your-pip-claim/how-to-fill-in-the-pip-form/

With your MR you should say where you think you should have got points, & why giving a couple of recent, detailed examples as to the difficulty you face for each applicable descriptor, i.e. when did it happen, where, what happened, did anyone see this, & were there any consequences to attempting/doing an activity?

Say if you can't do an activity 'reliably,' i.e. safely, to an acceptable standard, repeat as often as one would reasonably expect, or if it takes you much longer than someone without a disability. See the section on 'reliability' in the link below.

Put your name & National Insurance number on each page. Keep a copy, & get a free Certificate of Posting from your Post Office when sending it off.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

P.S. I think you've got the right idea from what you've said above, just more detail is needed, tho I'm sure this is difficult to do because of the emotions it must cause & distress. Perhaps get your husband to read through it too, if you can.

poppy123456

You can post here what you've written and we can have a look but we can't tell you exactly what you should write because we don't know how your conditions affect you. We can only give advice on whether it's enough of information to send.

BarneyTeddyBear

Hello, I decided to ask for the report before I sent in MR as  this is my first time, and to say I shocked is an understatement, my call lasted 18 minutes, according to the report it was 40 minutes, it states that my hobbies were texting and chatting to my friends and family? Yes I can text and yes I can talk, but he didn't ask me if I could, but am sure most people can, but he didn't ask me. It states that I can eat normally and prepare meals and I have not lost weight, that one gets to me the most, as I have lost 2 stone since my Mum passed, he didn't ask me if I had or hadn't lost weight. It states that I said I go and get snacks when I hungry? He didn't ask this,  again sounds pathetic I do not want eat since my Mum passed. It states I can go out unaided, despite me saying last time alone I ended up in critical care for 6 days.  I give up am not going for a MR as not worth it if they lie so much, I have read other reports on here before I got my result and when they said they lied, I must admit I did think surely they do not! how wrong am I!

Carlosos

I was as surprised as you as to the difficulty in getting pip and outrageous actions of the dwp. It has shocked me although the shock has worn off now and I’m just utterly disappointed in how the government treat people who need the most help. 

That being said don’t stop trying. Go to tribunal after your MR and keep trying. From my research the tribunals are much more straightforward and honest. 

Albus_Scope

Hey @BarneyTeddyBear I'm sorry to hear the report wasn't what you were expecting.  Unfortunately this has been the case for many people, but I would seriously think about putting in for a mandatory reconsideration with more information from you, as a different assessor will deal with the claim.