Assessor scored point when I put I had no issues

clizzy1110

I’ve just had my PIP Assessment Report through via post after it being completed via paperwork only for my first application (something I didn’t know was possible, but I did send in extensive evidence and used so many extra pages for the questionnaire).

Given that I assumed that, if would even get anything, I would only score on section where I marked as having issues. E.g., I said I had no problems with section 4 (washing) or section 6 (dressing) because I can physically do those things. However, the comment on my report is “this is inconsistent with diagnosed condition” (a mental disorder) and I have been scored 4C and 6C. I guess I just never expected those to be judged in any way other than can you ‘physically’ do something.

Also, the ‘time for consideration and write up’  on the report is given as 20 mins. It seems impossible for them to have read through all the info in that time, but is that normal? 

My main question is: because the assessor has scored me ‘higher’ than I marked on my questionnaire (for lack of a better phrase), and because the assessment was paper based and makes as only taking 20 mins, are the decisions makers more likely to disagree with the assessor’s recommendations?

poppy123456

Yes, i've heard of this happening many times. It's perfectly normal for a claimant to think that an activity doesn't apply especially if they don't fully understand the PIP descriptors and criteria and few people do.

The activities you mentioned don't just apply to someone that has a physical condition, they can also apply to someone with mental health.

The assessor taking 20 minutes to write the report doesn't mean anything at all and yes of course it's possible. Mostly they go with it but it has been known for them to go against it but it's rare.

A decision can take up to 12 weeks after the report was returned.

clizzy1110

woodbine said:

@clizzy1110 hi and welcome to scope, DM's can go with the report or sometimes not, you will now have to see what award you get probably now in the new year, whatever the decision is is how it is and not really for you to question ..if you get my drift.
Good luck

Hi! I’ve been lurking for a while without making an account! Thanks so much, I’ve been given an 8 week max timescale. So I’ll know by 22nd Jan. I think I understand, but of course I will question it and ask for MR/go to tribunal if the decision is significantly ‘wrong’.

clizzy1110

woodbine said:

As poppy rightly says it can take unto 12 weeks possibly more due to Xmas, but hopefully it will be sooner rather than later, good luck

Wow- it’s such a shame they didn’t confirm that delay on the phone. Also quite sad that what is around a 10 day holiday causes a 4 week delay. I’ll call tomorrow and get them to confirm the delay- waiting times are really important to me and to know the latest I’ll get something by is so incredibly helpful to keep me in a better headspace. It also means I can chase up with proof is something is late.
thanks so much 

poppy123456

clizzy1110 said:

  I’ve been given an 8 week max timescale.

Yes, they tell everyone 8 weeks but you need to allow up to 12 weeks.

clizzy1110 said:

  I’ll call tomorrow and get them to confirm the delay-

Pointless doing that because when ringing any DWP department you're speaking to someone from a call centre, who will mostly tell you what you want to hear.

Decision waiting times vary depending on backlogs in different areas and each individual case. Best thing to do right now is try to forget about it, easier said than done i know but you've done all you can for now.

clizzy1110

poppy123456 said:

clizzy1110 said:

  I’ve been given an 8 week max timescale.

Yes, they tell everyone 8 weeks but you need to allow up to 12 weeks.

clizzy1110 said:

  I’ll call tomorrow and get them to confirm the delay-

Pointless doing that because when ringing any DWP department you're speaking to someone from a call centre, who will mostly tell you what you want to hear.

Decision waiting times vary depending on backlogs in different areas and each individual case. Best thing to do right now is try to forget about it, easier said than done i know but you've done all you can for now.

Absolutely cannot forget about it. I am counting down the days, it’s all a part of coping. And for me, if deadlines aren’t stuck to, or communicated, then I can get very poorly (without going into more detail). I will simply ask what the timescale is, if there is a delay over Xmas, if they cannot answer then they will need to get me a senior member of staff who can. If the deadline they communicate then isn’t stuck to I can chase, with evidence of the phone call. Making them communicate responsibly and clearly isn’t too much to ask, and neither should it be ‘pointless’, especially when it will drastically help my health to have clear timelines, deadlines, countdowns etc.

poppy123456

With all due respect, there's likely many thousands of people currently waiting for a decision so to give you a definite timescale will be impossible. There's no deadlines, a decision will be made, when it's made.

kitkat23

They don't have deadlines....just whenever its done its done....if you speak to 6 people on the phone they will give you 6 timescales....its not worth stressing over .....I was 'upgraded' for want of a better word ......on washing activity ....the DM upped my points ....you can't predict anything I've found  

clizzy1110

woodbine said:

very true and excellent advice, I do appreciate that some people might want "deadlines" but it's not going to happen the DWP really do not work like that.

Such a shame. Before I became very ill I was an advocate, mainly for children with ALN/SEND in educational settings. This just wouldn’t fly anywhere, apart from apparently the DWP. Hopefully my advocates, who do most of my calls for me, can get an answer, explain the situation and communicate the right things. Worst case scenario, it’s grounds for some ‘service user feedback’, citing common reasonable adjustments for people to access services etc. It might be wrong currently, but doesn’t mean it can’t change, equally that certainly doesn’t mean it will change any time soon, or we can at least let people know it’s wrong- change has to start with a few people.

poppy123456

clizzy1110 said:

woodbine said:

very true and excellent advice, I do appreciate that some people might want "deadlines" but it's not going to happen the DWP really do not work like that.

Hopefully my advocates, who do most of my calls for me, can get an answer,

They won't though, that's the problem. As has been advised, you're ringing a call centre who will not be able to tell anyone how long a decision will take. We say allow up to 12 weeks but some have decisions in a couple of weeks, some a few weeks, some several and others 10+ weeks. There's no average timescales or deadlines.

clizzy1110

poppy123456 said:

clizzy1110 said:

woodbine said:

very true and excellent advice, I do appreciate that some people might want "deadlines" but it's not going to happen the DWP really do not work like that.

Hopefully my advocates, who do most of my calls for me, can get an answer,

They won't though, that's the problem. As has been advised, you're ringing a call centre who will not be able to tell anyone how long a decision will take. We say allow up to 12 weeks but some have decisions in a couple of weeks, some a few weeks, some several and others 10+ weeks. There's no average timescales or deadlines.

Well they did and they were actually very understanding that clear timelines are extremely important for my health. Then an hour later I got a text saying I have been awarded PIP- just 8 days (including weekends) after my assessment was completed.

clizzy1110

poppy123456 said:

clizzy1110 said:

woodbine said:

very true and excellent advice, I do appreciate that some people might want "deadlines" but it's not going to happen the DWP really do not work like that.

Hopefully my advocates, who do most of my calls for me, can get an answer,

They won't though, that's the problem. As has been advised, you're ringing a call centre who will not be able to tell anyone how long a decision will take. We say allow up to 12 weeks but some have decisions in a couple of weeks, some a few weeks, some several and others 10+ weeks. There's no average timescales or deadlines.

Well they did and they were actually very understanding that clear timelines are extremely important for my health. Then an hour later I got a text saying I have been awarded PIP- just 8 days (including weekends) after my assessment was completed ☺️

poppy123456

Good news. I must admit i've never known them send a text with a successful PIP award after 8.30am. Usually once a decision is made it takes up to 24 hours for it to show on the system. The following morning just after 8am it will prompt a text to be sent automatically to new claimants.

As they don't open until 9am then it must have been after this that you received a text.

clizzy1110

poppy123456 said:

Good news. I must admit i've never known them send a text with a successful PIP award after 8.30am. Usually once a decision is made it takes up to 24 hours for it to show on the system. The following morning just after 8am it will prompt a text to be sent automatically to new claimants.

As they don't open until 9am then it must have been after this that you received a text.

My advocate called at 9am and then by then time they had gotten off the phone and were chatting by to me about it, I’d had the text! Great news.

Hannah_Alumni

Great you've had the text!

2oldcodgers

clizzy1110 said:

I’ve just had my PIP Assessment Report through via post after it being completed via paperwork only for my first application (something I didn’t know was possible, but I did send in extensive evidence and used so many extra pages for the questionnaire).

Given that I assumed that, if would even get anything, I would only score on section where I marked as having issues. E.g., I said I had no problems with section 4 (washing) or section 6 (dressing) because I can physically do those things. However, the comment on my report is “this is inconsistent with diagnosed condition” (a mental disorder) and I have been scored 4C and 6C. I guess I just never expected those to be judged in any way other than can you ‘physically’ do something.

Also, the ‘time for consideration and write up’  on the report is given as 20 mins. It seems impossible for them to have read through all the info in that time, but is that normal? 

My main question is: because the assessor has scored me ‘higher’ than I marked on my questionnaire (for lack of a better phrase), and because the assessment was paper based and makes as only taking 20 mins, are the decisions makers more likely to disagree with the assessor’s recommendations?

What an interesting post.
What you say more or less fits in with my views. At the time I was diagnosed as suffering from CPTSD, Anxiety & Depression by my psychiatrist which in my opinion did not stop me from dressing or washing. I was fully able to get dressed in clothes that suited the purpose and washed myself every day without any help.
Consequently and quite rightly I did not score on those sections.
Just because I had this label attached to me did not mean that I had gone do-laly!
Seems that assessors have different opinions.
Where I did score came was a total surprise to me. They decided for some reason to give me 6 points for-   Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition 
I have to take medication with everything that I eat as my body cannot break food down - I don't produce enzymes. But even without that score I would still have retained my Enhanced Care element so I didn't complain or worry.