Hi, my name is Donna_donna! Do I have to wait for the decision before pointing out inconsistencies?

Donna_donna
Donna_donna Community member Posts: 13 Connected
edited February 27 in PIP, DLA, and AA
Hi folks..
Just needing a little advice please..
Had my video review for pip last week.
Origionally had been told i had been extended for  year and then a week later got the call for review.2 weeks later..
That already threw me of course.So very stressful.
Had the assesment report back this morning and of course there are inconsistancies omitances and condradictions.
My health declined massively in 2020 and have provided evidence although i did not report this due to being too exhausted and sick to deal with DWP.
My origional award was overturned and won at tribunal 6 years ago for a period of 5 years.(extended)
As i said my health and needs have significantly worsened since then and plenty of evidence.
On my forms i ticked no change in the boxes for following an unfamiliar journey..(i was awarded 10 points for this at tribunal)
The assesor the other day, now deems that i can plan the route of a journey by ticking that box because i drive sometimes..despite telling her that i still never go anywhere unfamiliar on my own.
This is simply incorrect and untrue.
My question is do i have to wait for the DWP decision and if unfaverable M/A  BEFORE i can point out all of her inconsistancies..?
or am i able to do this now.

Just to add her recomendations at the end were to award me for "this claim" for 4 more years based on the fact that my conditions wont get better..
What on earth is going on and does it look like they are going to try and take my daily living away.
Stressed is an understatment.

Thanks :-)






Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,340 Championing
    The assessment report is a recommendation only, it’s not the decision. Whilst they mostly go with it, it has been known for them to go against it. Once the decision is made if you’re not happy they you can request the Mandatory Reconsideration. (MR) 

    If you put “no change” and no additional information then this isn’t what I would usually advise. All claims should be treated as a new claim and you should give as much relevant information as possible. Saying no change can mean they will come to their own conclusions. 
  • Donna_donna
    Donna_donna Community member Posts: 13 Connected
    Hi poppy thanks for your reply,.i hear you about the DWP having the final say etc and already sent evidence of new R/A diagnosis and other new things along with review forms ,plus OT report stating clearly my daily difficulties.
    Ive also sent photos of all my aids etc
    Plus evidence of a disabled wet room which has recently been supplied by the Local authority.
    Obviously my health has deteriorated so much as i already had several chronic conditions before the new diagnosises that i am even more severely isolated and unable to do things un chaparoned than i was at the time of origional award.However i put no change for that, because there is no difference even though my health is far worse.
    I still cannot undertake an unfamiliar journey in my car a bus a airplane a taxi or uni-cyle on my own without a chaparone...
    I can't see how i can prove this fact.
    I guess thats why she is trying to get me on the driving thing.
    Its cruel.




    .



  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,905 Championing
    Hello @Donna_donna

    Welcome to the community! :) I'm so sorry to hear what you've gone through with the process and how much it has stressed you out. I just wanted to check in that you have support around you? 
  • Donna_donna
    Donna_donna Community member Posts: 13 Connected
    Aww thankyou ..yes to some degree..:-/

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,340 Championing
    Was it your current award that was given by a Tribunal?

    You mention aids so I’m assuming you’re claiming for physical conditions?

    Are you also claiming because of either mental health, cognitive or sensory issues? 
  • Donna_donna
    Donna_donna Community member Posts: 13 Connected
    Hi again Poppy..the claim is for both.
    I have 3 different forms of  debilitating arthritis
    Spinal stenosis anemia due to high inflamation vertigo and other things.
    I have a diagnosis of C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder) or complex trauma ..Along with that, goes hand in hand with suicidal ideation,depression and anxiety disorders..
    I fought for 5 years for the origional award and was awarded at tribunal by an extremely lovely sympathetic and somewhat dismayed at my experience panel,enhanced mobility and standard daily living with backpay for 5 years..which was extended by a year because of covid.
    At the time i could still walk with one crutch for short distances..now i cant walk at all without aids and struggle to stand for any leangth of time..
    My mental health has worsened due to being unable to attend sessions due to severe pain.
    The assesor has ticked "can follow the route of a journey"
    Yet states further down, "doesnt go anywhere unfamiliar on her own"
    It doesnt make sense.
    There are many other condradictions where she seems very honest about what ive said but then ticked a totally contradictory box.
    What i found very odd was that she said she was going to make sure she was as supportive as possible in her report and not to be alarmed if i see an unusual payment.
    Very strange things for an assessor to say imo.
    Especially as she has discredited me for driving on more bearable days.







  • Donna_donna
    Donna_donna Community member Posts: 13 Connected
    Sorry cant find an edit button for post ..but yes it is my current award ..
    Thankyou :-)
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,340 Championing
    Thanks for explaining that. Then I do not understand why you ticked "no change" for the mobility following and planning a journey. If DWP didn't award you for that the last time then I most certainly wouldn't have just put no change because this is like you're saying there's been no change since DWP made their last decision. The same applies to all claims really but even more important if it was Tribunal that awarded you for your current award. 

    One last question, sorry. Are there any points recommended for the "moving around" part of mobility? 


    What i found very odd was that she said she was going to make sure she was as supportive as possible in her report and not to be alarmed if i see an unusual payment.

    Hmm my only advice regarding that comment is, please always take it with a very large pinch of salt. 
  • Donna_donna
    Donna_donna Community member Posts: 13 Connected
    Believe me i did Poppy ..i knew immediately she was a smiling assasin..i know it sounds weird but complex ptsd teaches you to spot these things in people.
    They did award me on being "unable to plan a familiar journey" i think i may have got 10 points for it ..which is why i ticked no change..errrm i will have a look now...
    She asked me the if i had to go to an appointment somewhere i didnt know what would i do question, to which i clearly stated i would have to take someone with me and they would navigate..this is just a fact of my life..yet she still ticked that box ..
    She has ticked "can move more than 20 but no more than 50 metres.aided or unaided."
    In reality i cannot move 20 metres either aided or unaided without repeatedly stopping..
    Shes also ticked i can get dressed/unaided unaided 😂 i mean how on earth do i manage that when i cant stand up for longer than a minute or two i wonder.?
    And then she says in another part i have to sit down to dress "lower half of my body"ie socks etc..total contradiction...
    Its a mess Poppy and im now going to have to wait god knows how many torturous weeks before i can even contest these quite frankly lies.
    More sleepless nights and stress.
    Disgusting how they do this to us.


  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,340 Championing
    Part of the report mentions details of what you said. The under neath each activity there's a box for their justification for the reasons why they chose the descriptor. 

    Although they do mostly go with the report, it has been known for them to go against it. I've seen it happen quite a few times on here in the past couple of months. 

    This really is one reason why all claims should be treated as new claims. Doing this will give them less chance of reducing your current award. 
  • Donna_donna
    Donna_donna Community member Posts: 13 Connected
    Thankyou so much for all  your time poppy.:-)pretty amazing what you do to help people really.
    My brain is so massively fried from the stress and uncertainty but from what i can decipher,her justifications dont seem to match her choice of discriptor because of the huge condradictions.
    Tomorrow i will have to spend the day trying to go through it and make sense of it all ..not my strong point at all.
    As we know the forms and reems of paperwork can really mess with a persons head especially if comprehension is difficult :-(
    Im at a total loss as to how my award could be reduced based on all the obvious evidence of my worsening conditions.



  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,340 Championing
    You're very welcome. If you need any further advice please do ask. Thank you also!  :)