Failed Mandatory Reconsideration. I'm in crisis

Commanded2bwell

This morning I got the letter saying I have failed MR for daily living for my autism.

I had a phone call review in January. I messed it up. I'll discuss why in a minute. I got the letter saying I'd failed end of January, and knowing that it would take months for an MR I got my appeal sent off the following day, mostly by copying and pasting lots of stuff from my original application, and amending some things. Maybe I rushed it. Maybe that didn't help.

The MR letter says I scored 6 points. I've been getting PIP for daily living for over three years, I think. Never scored below the threshold before. The letter mentions things like help with washing and bathing… I don't understand this. I don't need help with washing and bathing, but it does say that I'm capable in areas I specifically said I wasn't!

Why did I mess up the phone review?

I can pass as normal. I look normal. This has been a problem. I'm very very good at masking and acting. Maybe I should have been an actor. Anyway, I was extremely ill for months over winter. I had the flu three times in a row. When the phone review came up, I basically ignored the idea. I didn't deal with it, didn't review the advice on how to approach it, so that when the day arrived I went into "masking for job interview" mode and I did a very good job of masking. I needed to, in a way. I couldn't face talking about how pathetic I was, how bad everything is. I discussed my problems in a calm, considered, measured and reasonable tone, like an adult. I forgot they expect you to be a whiney, crying child. I forgot the idea of this process is to dehumanise you. I masked. That is why I failed. Ironic, innit? My compensation strategy for my disability denied me disability benefits!

Since getting the letter I've gone non verbal. This has never happened to me before. I can't find the energy to make sounds. I can type, I can think, I can't find the on switch for talking.

What do I do, now? I haven't got money to survive. I've got a stack of tinned food that I built up out of paranoia. I'll be through that in a few weeks.

I present, at first glance, as normal. I look normal. I scored 6 points. They said the fact that I drive means I can deal with most things in life. Do I have any hope at all of winning a tribunal?

How do I buy food in the meantime?

I can't talk, but I'm seriously struggling to hold back the tears right now. 45 years old and all I want to do is cry like a baby. I've had enough. I can't do this **** any more.

JONFISHER

IIm sure there's a SCRAP HEAP somewhere where the Government, DWP etc think WE BELONG! The things we have to go through to PROVE THAT WE QUALIFY FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS etc is QUITE DEMEANING. I THINK THEY WOULD PREFER IT IF WE WERE SEEN WITH A BEGGING BOWL! Since the start of the PIP OVERHAUL which was Months away, I've not felt like myself anymore. I'm DREADING THE POSTMAN coming with some BOMBSHELL LETTER,YET WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS! I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF YOUR ASSESSMENT, PLEASE DON'T DO ANYTHING SILLY WILL YOU?

Amaya_Ringo

Take it to tribunal.

I know it's an absolute nightmare, but I have been through a similar experience to you, and ultimately, the first time they really read my evidence was at tribunal.

Especially if they have marked you with the wrong points in the wrong areas as they may well have muddled your data with someone else's and that would be easy to highlight at a tribunal.

Like you, I high masked through my assessment because that's what I do in crisis situations. The more stressed I am, the more I mask, and my assessor had absolutely no idea about autism so she just said things about my being 'in good spirits' and clearly not distressed. She didn't see me right before or after the assessment. They also focused so much on the physical mobility aspect in my assessment, and there were a number of questions I couldn't answer because they were too vague, but she wrote that I answered everything just fine…

I don't think the DWP has very good training or knowledge on autism just in general. Especially those of us who mask as a survival strategy in difficult situations.

However, going to tribunal would give an objective team the chance to look at all your evidence and history. So I think it's worth doing.

MR are often rejected arbitrarily. Mine rejected me based on two words, ignoring the seven subsequent paragraphs :/

Commanded2bwell

Thanks, Amaya. Over the course of the day I've been coming down off the stress high and after a comfort food lunch, I regained the ability to speak! Feel like I've run a marathon and came last.

Yes, it will have to be a tribunal, although what I do between now and then is still a question. How long did yours take? I've heard they can take up to three years, in some cases.

Santosha12

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with all of this @Commanded2bwell .

I don't know if it might help but I posted here yesterday something I found on PIP and Driving (it's under the PIP section but I don't know how to link you to it sorry). It was quite long but there might be something within it that might help you in your Tribunal preparation.

My MR was in March 23 and my Tribunal (I attended) was in March 24 but I've seen some are not so long.

IF you will be seeking help to prepare for Tribunal (I got help off the Money and Benefits Team who I rent from at the council) they could help you with food bank which is what I did.

I send my very warmest wishes to you and thinking of you.

tifo

"They said the fact that I drive means I can deal with most things in life".

I feel for you, i'm finding out that being able to drive, in the absence of other compelling evidence of how you're affected, is a trap because if you can drive then apparently you can carry out all PIP activities all the time.

I had this last week and being able to drive is mentioned in nearly all descriptors. I got 0 points.