PIP Appeal and weird phone all

Jezebel

Hi everyone. 

Looking for some advice on here. I was awarded PIP in March 2022 however my mobility needs have never been taken into account. 

I was awarded points under the “cannot undertake any journey” 
I have always argued that this is not the case and that I go out daily with my assistance dog and someone else. 

In January I wrote to pop to ask to be re-assessed as I also have new conditions to be taken into account. 

Instead of being sent a new review form I was advised it was being handled as a mandatory reconsideration. 

On April 4th I received a letter from them saying they had not changed their mind. The letter was dated March 4th so I had to submit my appeal that day. 

I’ve since submitted an appeal to the tribunal and included lots of extra evidence and their failings. 

Last Tuesday I received a call out of the blue from a DWP appeal caseworker who admitted they had messed up and a review form should have been sent. She asked me lots of questions about my original claim and appeared to reasses me again asking lots of mobility questions. She said she was noting all of this down and adding it to their evidence. She told me she would look it all over again and call me the next day. 

The next day I received a text from the tribunal to say the dwp had responded to my appeal. I’m yet to receive any paperwork from them. 

What is this meaning? Why was she re-asking me so many questions it was as if she was reassessing me over the phone or trying to trip me up. 

Why would she be adding my answers to their evidence? 

It’s all very confusing and in hindsight I’m wondering if I should have just ended the call. Can’t anyone offer any advice regarding this? 

poppy123456

Sometimes they ring to ask further questions why they review your claim before responding to the appeal. At this stage they sometimes (though rarely) may offer an award or extra points for a higher award. As they have now responded to the Tribunal it means they are not offering you extra points at this stage. 

Now you need to wait for a hearing date but that could be quite sometime. Please also be aware that they will only be able to take into consideration how your conditions affected you at the time the assessment took place. Any worsening of condition will not be considered. 

Jezebel

poppy123456 said:

Sometimes they ring to ask further questions why they review your claim before responding to the appeal. At this stage they sometimes (though rarely) may offer an award or extra points for a higher award. As they have now responded to the Tribunal it means they are not offering you extra points at this stage. 

Now you need to wait for a hearing date but that could be quite sometime. Please also be aware that they will only be able to take into consideration how your conditions affected you at the time the assessment took place. Any worsening of condition will not be considered. 

Thanks for your answer Poppy. I know nothing new will be taken into consideration. I’m just awaiting the “bundle” now. I just thought it odd that she was asking so many questions which she said were for their own evidence. And also admitted they had misunderstood my response on my previous assessment form. So effectively admitted two mistakes by them. 

They make it so difficult for us. 

Albus_Scope

Hey there @Jezebel and welcome to the community.

I can see Poppy is already helping you here, but I just wanted to pop in and say a quick hello and I hope things go smoothly for you. Will you let us know how you get on please?