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To send MR form without seing HP report first?

MrsWolfie2210

Hi guys,
I rang up for a copy of the HP report today. However, to save time I have also filled out and saved the CRMR1 form on my laptop. My appeal end date is 15th November and I was told 7-10 days to receive my report which takes us roughly to the first week of November, giving me only a week to get my form in on time. On my form and notes, I haven't told them that the 0 points descriptor is wrong and this is what I think I should be entitled to. Instead, I've just listed the activity and my struggles with it (I hope that was right), I've also included an example of an average day and my journal from before my assessment, which I accidentally forgot to take with me on the day because of my anxiety!

I rang up the CAB today and was put in touch with a lovely chap. He told me that he doesn't normally see people face-to-face unless it goes to appeal, which at this stage it's not (although he admitted it may well do later on). He told me to write to my GP and ask for her input and mention on my form that I would send any information from her in due course. He also told me to call the DWP and ask for a copy of the HP's report which, as mentioned above, I have done. He did say he was concerned because I have already lost a week. Basically, the letter was dated 15th, I didn't recieve it until Saturday (20th) so that;s already lost me a reasonable chunk of time.

I have now written a letter to my GP because I feel she could offer a lot of support with the MH side of things. Appointments with my GP usually aren't available that quickly (have had to wait two weeks before now) hence I have written to her and explained how I feel I fitted each descriptor. It may save time and save her appointment space, too. I saw her probably not more than 11 months ago regarding my mental health and she prescribed me a short course of clonzepam, however, she didn't want mw on it for longer than two weeks because of the risk of addiction. I do not want to make an appointment with a different GP as my normal GP is sooo supportive andhas supported me several times before with other issues, such as a bus card and housing.

So, what do you think? Wait and read the HP report and hope it doesn't take 10 days? Or get it sent?

Cheers all

Helen x

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Comments

Tardis

A recent PIP HP report only took 3 days to get to us. You might be lucky if you wait a day or two.

MrsWolfie2210

@Tardis that's reassuring, I will give it until the end of next week then before I panic unduly. For now though, I will definitely contact my GP.

Helen x

poppy123456

I'm not sure writing to your GP for support and explaining how you think you fit those descriptors will work. It isn't really evidence because this would mean you've advised your GP what to write if he/she was willing to support your claim. I've heard this has gone against people.

Yadnad

poppy123456 said:

I'm not sure writing to your GP for support and explaining how you think you fit those descriptors will work. It isn't really evidence because this would mean you've advised your GP what to write if he/she was willing to support your claim. I've heard this has gone against people.

It certainly will and does. Especially if a Tribunal want to see the medical files - the letter would be with it informing the GP where the points should come from.

A GP is unlikely to know very much about the difficulties and the descriptors - they are only good for confirming a diagnosis and what treatment has been offered and whether that treatment has been taken up by the claimant. It is not unknown for claimants to window dress the medical files so as to make it appear that there are difficulties, medication is then prescribed but never actually taken.

Much better to have a comprehensive assessment carried out by an OT who will look at the difficulties involved.

MrsWolfie2210

All of this is making me more and more concerned about success, even at appeal, I will be honest. I haven't had any specialist intervention with anything since.. at a guess, possibly 2003? I was given different aids and adaptaions (I don't know if Mum had to pay anything for them, I was only about 12) and sent away. I was discharged from the clinic because my spina bifida and hydeocephalus are stable. My brother (who also has CRPS) attended the PMU and was basically told to teach me the techniques, so I was never as such under a specialist.I saw a and Psychiatrist in 2014 and have just been under my GP's care since. I'm not medicated,I'm just surviving and using the same tools and techniques I've learned and been taught along the way. I am not fit for work, but nor am I seeing any experts on a regular basis, either,

Helen x

poppy123456

PIP isn't about not being able to work, people claim PIP and work providing the work you do doesn't contradict the reasons for your PIP claim of course. PIP is about how your conditions affect your ability to do daily activities in line with the descriptors.

Medical evidence is only good if it is states exactly how your conditions affect you and mostly it won't state this unless it comes from a learning disabilities team.

As i previously stated, having some understanding what the PIP descriptors mean, will also help.

As only 17% of MR decisions are successful i wouldn't worry too much about getting the decision changed at this stage because most people have to take it to Tribunal. Your chances at Tribunal increase hugely by appearing in person and even more so if you have a rep to support you.

It can be a very long process but don't give up, a Tribunal are a lot more understanding than the DWP and HCP's.

The best thing you can do is send your MR request letter with the evidence you have and wait for a decision on this, then take it to Tribunal if that fails. Good luck.

MrsWolfie2210

@poppy123456 thanks for that, I think it's easy to panic at this stage. When you say evidence, which evidence are you reffering to? The letter from my GP? My diary? Both? I'm a little bit confused given your previous comment about not telling my GP what to write (though I've eliminated all trace of that from my letter now, naturally). Also, it's reassuring to know that Tribunals are more understanding, It really does feel like flogging a dead horse to say "I can do this but I also can't do it". Like I highlighted in my MR letter, having grip is not the same as not having pain. I've got the contacts for two two different law centres here in Bristol now, one of which I've had past involvement with so I am fairly confident about representation if needs must. Hopefully though it won't need to go that far.

Helen x

poppy123456

Any evidence, unless it states how you're conditions affect you. Asking your GP to write you a letter of support and telling them how your conditions affect you for the PIP descriptors is like telling them what to write in the letter. A GP doesn't know how your conditions affect you unless you tell them. They are likely to see through this and because of this it's not the greatest evidence to send. The diary, if it's not used by the DWP for your MR then it will most likely be used by the Tribunal.

Having a rep is by far the best thing you can have and if you do have one then asking questions on an internet forum shouldn't be needed because all questions should go to your rep who will be there to fully support you.

I hope for you that they do change the decision at MR stage but please don't be too disheartened if that doesn't happen. Expect the worst and hope for the best is what i always say to myself.

MrsWolfie2210

@poppy123456 thanks for that, I was a little bit confused. I have noted that they do say don't send information about the conditions and I do have the diary. I've thought of a tonne of other examples I can throw in the diary this evening so I will get that updated and included. Hopefully that, and my example of a typical day, will help them make a favourable decision at MR level. Like I've said, even if I'm only awarded SR care, I will settle for that because I strongly don't believe my needs are great enough for ER. I may get SR for mobility but it would be at a push and I need to consider the psychological impact that pushing for it at Tribunal would have on me.

I don't have a rep as yet, I've contacted the two firms I mentioned earlier so I'm holding firm for now. In the mean time, I'm just getting down, I guess, a base template that I can send so that I have something I can work with for if/when I am appointed a rep, rather than a blank slate, hence the questions. One of them states a reply within 5 working days so if nothing else that gives me time to try and create something of a template that I/we can work with.

That sounds very similar to my attitude to these situations. I am of the attitude that at 17%, that's still more than 3/20 and that's still more than 1/10. if you round that up slightly, at a best it becomes 20% which is 1/5. 1 in 5 odds of something at MR level is not bad. A satisfactory decision at MR to me would be better than nothing at all. How many people do get something at MR level and settle to save the stress? Of those who go to Tribunal, how many were awarded zero points at MR versus those who were awarded something at MR level and push it through a Tribunal in hopes of being awarded ER, is that information available? These are all factors I feel you need to take into consideration when looking at the numbers which is why I try not to get myself wrapped up too much in that 17%. For all we know, I could wind up being in that 17%. I've just got to keep my fingers crossed very tightly and hope for the best, for all of us.

Helen x