Girlfriend now told can't have report until award letter!

PIPnewbie

As some know here, my girlfriend had her consultation on the 24th, received a text on the 26th that the DWP had received her report, called on the 27th to request the report, told she would be sent it immediately, called back now 6 days later...

... told she can't have it until she receives her decision letter because the DWP doesn't want to lead people on or give them false hope.

Zebra88

Hi, not sure if it helps but I was in the same situation recently. I felt like the assessment didn't go very well as I was asked leading questions so I asked for a copy of the report. I was told no as the decision maker may not agree with the Assessment  Provider's comments. In the end she had marked me down on a couple of things that I had sent in evidence of and the decision maker corrected these mistakes. The explanation they gave me as to why I couldn't have a copy made sense. They hadn't wanted me to worry that the decision would be based solely on that report as in my case I had other proof that contradicted what she wrote. They were right as going off her report I would have been worried but getting the award notification first put my mind at rest. Hope that makes sense and good luck.

PIPnewbie

Zebra88 said:

Hi, not sure if it helps but I was in the same situation recently. I felt like the assessment didn't go very well as I was asked leading questions so I asked for a copy of the report. I was told no as the decision maker may not agree with the Assessment  Provider's comments. In the end she had marked me down on a couple of things that I had sent in evidence of and the decision maker corrected these mistakes. The explanation they gave me as to why I couldn't have a copy made sense. They hadn't wanted me to worry that the decision would be based solely on that report as in my case I had other proof that contradicted what she wrote. They were right as going off her report I would have been worried but getting the award notification first put my mind at rest. Hope that makes sense and good luck.

Ohhh that makes a lot of sense.  So best to just wait until the award/decision letter?

What evidence did you present btw?  Do you mean with your original application?

Zebra88

PIPnewbie said:

Zebra88 said:

Hi, not sure if it helps but I was in the same situation recently. I felt like the assessment didn't go very well as I was asked leading questions so I asked for a copy of the report. I was told no as the decision maker may not agree with the Assessment  Provider's comments. In the end she had marked me down on a couple of things that I had sent in evidence of and the decision maker corrected these mistakes. The explanation they gave me as to why I couldn't have a copy made sense. They hadn't wanted me to worry that the decision would be based solely on that report as in my case I had other proof that contradicted what she wrote. They were right as going off her report I would have been worried but getting the award notification first put my mind at rest. Hope that makes sense and good luck.

Ohhh that makes a lot of sense.  So best to just wait until the award/decision letter?

What evidence did you present btw?  Do you mean with your original application?

My situation was probably a bit different as I complained to the AP about the way the Assessment was conducted (basically handing me a piece of paper and saying can you read that and no further questions about my vision despite me being diagnosed with a functional vision problem and having various medications and eye drops to treat it as well as prescribed aides and adjustments at work which was all documented). The decision maker would have already been aware via my complaint on the contact history that I was not happy about how that descriptor was assessed, so I didn't send anything further. Also what I was not aware of as she didn't ask me was she put I have no specialist mental health input. I see a psychiatrist every week through the pain team regarding the affects of my physical illness and there were various reports in my evidence about how this affected me. The decision maker must have checked this as well as they changed one of the descriptors based on this. I got a copy of what the AP had scored me and the points I got from DWP which were higher.

I dont want to get your hopes up either but in my experience (I was very annoyed that I couldn't have a copy as I explained it is a snapshot in time so it shouldn't matter if it is wrong) they do it so they can correct any mistakes before you become aware of it to protect the department's reputation and also as they make the final decision.

poppy123456

If you live in the UK then it's not true that they won't send you a copy of the report before a decision is made. This is only true if you live in N. Ireland. If you live in the UK try ringing them back to speak to someone else, chances are they'll agree to send it out. I find it odd that the person you spoke to previously agreed to send it and now you've been told you have to wait.

PIPnewbie

Thanks for sharing, Zebra.  I am very glad you got the award you wanted.

poppy123456 said:

If you live in the UK then it's not true that they won't send you a copy of the report before a decision is made. This is only true if you live in N. Ireland. If you live in the UK try ringing them back to speak to someone else, chances are they'll agree to send it out. I find it odd that the person you spoke to previously agreed to send it and now you've been told you have to wait.

Yeah, it's really not on.  I might have her call back tomorrow then.  Having said that, it is now over a week since her face to face, and I am wondering if it's worth simply waiting for the award/decision letter, or might the report not even come with that?

Zebra88

I live in the UK and this is the call log in question from my Subject Access Request and what the response to my complaint was in June. They completely refused to send it to me for the reasons given until they made a decision. I was also told by a previous advisor they would send it straight away and this conversation was after I complained that they could not withhold the info with the intention of amending it. Obviously I'm not saying that people more experienced and therefore best place to comment are wrong, I was just offering my experience because the same thing happened to me and it was a positive experience in the end.

PIPnewbie

Yeah I'm getting exhausted with this and moreso my poor girlfriend.  I am wondering if it's just worth waiting now.  My only concern is if they send the consultation report with the decision letter.  If I know they definitely will, I'll accept waiting.

After all, the decision letter isn't necessarily going to take the full 6 weeks is it?

poppy123456

PIPnewbie said:

After all, the decision letter isn't necessarily going to take the full 6 weeks is it?

There's no timescales to any decision. Some take 1 week and others take 8 weeks and more. It depends on backlog in your area. There's no guarantee that the report will be sent with the decision letter either.

poppy123456

I've had 3 PIP decisions in 4 years and the timescales for a decision for each have been 2 weeks.....5 days... almost 6 weeks

Zebra88

PIPnewbie said:

Thanks for sharing, Zebra.  I am very glad you got the award you wanted.

No problem... I hope everything turns out ok and like I said I won't pretend to know what I'm talking about. Was just offering reasurrance that you're not the only person this has happened to. I did same as you and when it hadn't arrived I was told I couldn't have a copy and the the process had changed. I challenged this and got the same response from customer service. Also mine did not arrive with my decision it arrived a few weeks later but I didn't have to request it again.

PIPnewbie

Thanks Zebra.  You've been a big help.

poppy123456 said:

I've had 3 PIP decisions in 4 years and the timescales for a decision for each have been 2 weeks.....5 days... almost 6 weeks

So if it's nearly 6 weeks, this could very well be another 4 yet as it's been over a week.

poppy123456

Yes but it can also be 2 weeks, 3 weeks or even as long as 8 weeks, there really is no timescales.

PIPnewbie

poppy123456 said:

Yes but it can also be 2 weeks, 3 weeks or even as long as 8 weeks, there really is no timescales.

I think where I got 6 weeks from is the text saying they’d received her report saying within 6 weeks a decision will be made.

Government_needs_reform

@PIPnewbie while I'm here on one of your threads again and finding this all very bizarre that they won't send you your report?

1) Phone the PIP helpline again tommorow and request it, as you can have it as you live in the UK.

2) The report will NOT come with any decision wether the right or wrong decision.

3) Don't be fobbed off.

Good luck again.

poppy123456

@Government_needs_reform totally agree with you. Some will refuse to send it, while others will happily agree and it depends who you speak to.

PIPnewbie

Okay, I’ll get her to phone back in the morning!

Shlbly

PIPnewbie said:

Yeah I'm getting exhausted with this and moreso my poor girlfriend.  I am wondering if it's just worth waiting now.  My only concern is if they send the consultation report with the decision letter.  If I know they definitely will, I'll accept waiting.

After all, the decision letter isn't necessarily going to take the full 6 weeks is it?

Hi sorry you are going through all this, but I can empathise as I am on my second time around in 18 months with PIP. Lost my appeal in March 2018, due to lies and omissions from assessor, then DWP agreeing with everything he said, I was on DLA high rate for 8 years, illnesses are degenerative and have only got worse. New claim and had my F2F on the 8th August, phoned 4 days later, they said they hadn’t received the report, but would put it on the system that I wanted a copy. I the received this a week later, however still haven’t had a desicion as yet, over 8 weeks now, I know now that they do all this to try and grind you down, then you give up, it is very wearing, but keep going, you will get there in the end, good luck!

PIPnewbie

Shlbly said:

PIPnewbie said:

Yeah I'm getting exhausted with this and moreso my poor girlfriend.  I am wondering if it's just worth waiting now.  My only concern is if they send the consultation report with the decision letter.  If I know they definitely will, I'll accept waiting.

After all, the decision letter isn't necessarily going to take the full 6 weeks is it?

Hi sorry you are going through all this, but I can empathise as I am on my second time around in 18 months with PIP. Lost my appeal in March 2018, due to lies and omissions from assessor, then DWP agreeing with everything he said, I was on DLA high rate for 8 years, illnesses are degenerative and have only got worse. New claim and had my F2F on the 8th August, phoned 4 days later, they said they hadn’t received the report, but would put it on the system that I wanted a copy. I the received this a week later, however still haven’t had a desicion as yet, over 8 weeks now, I know now that they do all this to try and grind you down, then you give up, it is very wearing, but keep going, you will get there in the end, good luck!

I’m sorry to hear you’ve gone through this.

Did the report you received on your consultation at least shed some positive light? That the accessor was honest, etc.?

Shlbly

PIPnewbie said:

Shlbly said:

PIPnewbie said:

Yeah I'm getting exhausted with this and moreso my poor girlfriend.  I am wondering if it's just worth waiting now.  My only concern is if they send the consultation report with the decision letter.  If I know they definitely will, I'll accept waiting.

After all, the decision letter isn't necessarily going to take the full 6 weeks is it?

Hi sorry you are going through all this, but I can empathise as I am on my second time around in 18 months with PIP. Lost my appeal in March 2018, due to lies and omissions from assessor, then DWP agreeing with everything he said, I was on DLA high rate for 8 years, illnesses are degenerative and have only got worse. New claim and had my F2F on the 8th August, phoned 4 days later, they said they hadn’t received the report, but would put it on the system that I wanted a copy. I the received this a week later, however still haven’t had a desicion as yet, over 8 weeks now, I know now that they do all this to try and grind you down, then you give up, it is very wearing, but keep going, you will get there in the end, good luck!

I’m sorry to hear you’ve gone through this.

Did the report you received on your consultation at least shed some positive light? That the accessor was honest, etc.?

Thank you, as I am you.

Yes it did this time as had my local Councillor attend with me, was recorded and she still minimised things, but not so much that it affected points, 8 and 10 in 2017, looks like 21 and 16 this time if the DWP don’t change it.

PIPnewbie

Shlbly said:

PIPnewbie said:

Shlbly said:

PIPnewbie said:

Yeah I'm getting exhausted with this and moreso my poor girlfriend.  I am wondering if it's just worth waiting now.  My only concern is if they send the consultation report with the decision letter.  If I know they definitely will, I'll accept waiting.

After all, the decision letter isn't necessarily going to take the full 6 weeks is it?

Hi sorry you are going through all this, but I can empathise as I am on my second time around in 18 months with PIP. Lost my appeal in March 2018, due to lies and omissions from assessor, then DWP agreeing with everything he said, I was on DLA high rate for 8 years, illnesses are degenerative and have only got worse. New claim and had my F2F on the 8th August, phoned 4 days later, they said they hadn’t received the report, but would put it on the system that I wanted a copy. I the received this a week later, however still haven’t had a desicion as yet, over 8 weeks now, I know now that they do all this to try and grind you down, then you give up, it is very wearing, but keep going, you will get there in the end, good luck!

I’m sorry to hear you’ve gone through this.

Did the report you received on your consultation at least shed some positive light? That the accessor was honest, etc.?

Thank you, as I am you.

Yes it did this time as had my local Councillor attend with me, was recorded and she still minimised things, but not so much that it affected points, 8 and 10 in 2017, looks like 21 and 16 this time if the DWP don’t change it.

Wow that’s an incredible change.  Congratulations!

I am hoping that this accessor of my girlfriend was honest.  He never argued with anything she said, just typed it away, said she didn’t have to perform the exercises and explained it’s not a vital component of the assessment, and was very stern and firm, but seemingly fair.

Whether that is reflected in the report remains to be seen.

My girlfriend is about to phone up for the third time to request the report.  If they say no, shall she say she isn’t in Northern Ireland so is entitled to it?