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Result from PIP phone assessment

NDmummy

So Friday the 13th got decision letter computer said NO. Daily living awarded 2 points, Mobility 0.

The letter was very dismissive, No mention of mental health or ADHD, anxiety. Basically said I was lying about my difficulties, said as diagnosis of Suspected Inflammatory Arthritis it's not a confirmed diagnosis so it doesn't count. I thought it was how your condition affects you not a diagnosis. Said the pain medication is minimal and that doesn't reflect my description of my restrictions. I take Hydroxychloroquine and co codamol, I hate taking pain meds but I now take the maximum dose, it isn't enough I am waking up constantly in the night in pain, experience fatigue already so am wiped out. Waiting for GP to prescribe something else hopefully. When asked on phone about mobility and how far I can walk I said I don't really walk anywhere, if I have to go shopping it takes me such a long time as I am in pain and have to keep stopping, I always use a trolley which I can lean on. We even went automatic electric car so it's easier for me to drive. I can't even get in the bath anymore, I love a bath but don't have the strength or flexibility to be able to get in and out alone. We had our main bathroom changed to a level access walk in shower, I won't go in without wearing sliders as had a bit of a fall well almost and damaged my hip joint/groin which 2 years later still gives me problems/pain. The letter says the problems I have washing are due to "weight issues, meaning I can't bend to wash lower body properly" cheeky cow, I am carrying a bit of weight, 3 stone, but nowhere in the phone assessment was my weight mentioned or did I complain that's why I can't get in or out the bath. Anyway I was upset and annoyed. So I eventually got through to them on the Monday asked for a copy of the report and was told Oh you don't need that, we can do a reconsideration over the phone, I said NO I want a copy and I will sort out the MR. She tried to argue the toss and when I insisted I wanted the report , suddenly without the call quality changing or the clarity of her speech suddenly she starts saying " Hello, Hello can you hear me and immediately the call was ended. The cow buttoned me. Took me several attempts and hours of faffing to eventually get through to someone who assured me it will be sent, not before she tried to persuade me to do MR on telephone.. FUMING

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Comments

Jimm_Alumni

Hi @NDmummy, this sounds quite similar to my own decision letter. In fact on mine they mentioned my ADHD but dismissed it entirely 😅. I would say you made the right decision in refusing to do the MR over the phone. This way you can go through the report, see what was misinterpreted or missing and add into the MR why you should receive those points and give examples.

Please do let us know how you get on, you can read a little more about Mandatory Reconsiderations here: Appealing a benefits decision | Disability charity Scope UK

NDmummy

had to keep phoning several agents all said they would send report, all trying to persuade me to do over the phone. Eventually a call on the 30th September, I explained to agent that report had not arrived and several had said they had sent it, she checked and told me it has not been requested or posted out. That they send them 2nd class and could take 10 days to get to me, I said I was worried about the 1 month deadline , that it wouldn't get here in time and that due to ADHD ASD traits and anxiety, on top of hypothyroidism and B12 deficiency causing fatigue/brain fog I would need extra time to read/process and retain information before I even started my response. She said she would make a note on my account that I had informed them of my intention to do MR myself and due to my difficulties and the failure to supply the report when requested the MR would not be back before the deadline. She advised me when it is done to send recorded/copy it first and when tracking shows they have received it to call them and tell them it has arrived there , apparently so someone will check it and scan it rather than it sitting in a pile of letters. First time someone has admitted that the backlog is a pile of letters not getting scanned as they arrive. 😕

poppy123456

You have 13 months to request the MR and not 1 month. If you're outside of the 1 month timescale you need to give a reason why you didn't request it within that time. If they refuse, you just proceed to Tribunal. Please make sure you state that reason when writing the letter.

When returning anything to DWP all you need is proof of posting. Special delivery or next day delivery doesn't mean it will arrive with DWP and be scanned onto the system the next day.

NDmummy

So eventually received report, it bore little resemblance to reality. The tone was generally judgemental and ableist. I couldn't do the online form so did it myself, explained why it was going to arrive late, apologised for this and mentioned if they refused to allow the MR because of it being late it would be breaching my right to justice under article 6 ECHR, then said as there was so much I didn't agree with I would go through each descriptor in turn and describe what I felt was incorrect, points awarded and what I felt was the actual difficulty and what points I felt should have been awarded. Did it on Libre Office as my hand writing is awful and there was so much it would have been too painful. Took a couple of days stopping and starting. Carefully worded suggestions that there were so many mistakes, inaccuracies, several sentences that were complete gobbledygook couldn't decipher them that it suggested a general lack of attention to detail possibly due to rushing to finish report and send it in. I also pointed out that no credence was given to my ADHD.ASD and at the end of the report where it asks the assessor if the claimant has any mental, intellectual or cognitive, impairment that may require support to carry out further claim processes in the future, the assessor ticked NO. Sent this morning recorded/tracked will be there by 1pm Monday , when tracking says it has been delivered I'll call them and tell them it is there. Had a bit of a wobble after sending then thought Fudge it , if, no when they say NO just start preparing for the tribunal, it's not like they can shoot me 🤔🙄