PIP Tribunal and Mandatory reconsideration

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cnewton29

Hi all,

Got my carees mandatory reconsideration back today. she was bumped from standard to enhanced living and given 4 points from her 0 for mobility. 

the report from the DWP for mobility states that my caree would benefit from being prompted to plan and follow a journey. In the original PIP booklet we wrote about how my caree suffers from PTSD, anxiety, claustrophobia, cataracts and cholesteatoma. I mainly wrote about how my caree wont leave the house with someone she trusts and cannot use public transport due to her mental health issues. I then wrote about her danger to herself due to her eye sight and her poor hearing. In the mandatory reconsideration I wrote the following:

**** was awarded 0 points for her ability to plan and follow a journey. **** is unable to use public transport due to her anxiety and PTSD and would often not be able to find the energy to commit to a journey due to her low moods and depression. **** has difficulty reading due to her cataracts and would struggle to read information boards and time tables and could even possibly cause harm to herself due to her poor sight. **** also shows signs of psychological distress in unfamiliar places and around strangers, **** would therefore be susceptible to anxiety/panic attacks in public places. **** will refuse to leave her home without another person that she trusts to drive her and chaperone her whether this is a familiar or unfamiliar route and even with a companion will experience distress. **** has been DVLA restricted due to her cataracts and is no longer allowed to drive and would have to rely on other people to take her out. **** has also left the workplace due to the stress and because she could not always rely on someone else to take her to and from work, often causing her to not be able to show up for work and causing her to receive multiple warnings. I therefore Believe **** should have been awarded 12 points as the descriptor most accurate to her situation is being unable to follow or plan a route without assistance from another person whether the route is familiar or unfamiliar.

Did I completely miss the point with this? My caree was awarded 4 points for this.

For moving around the mandatory reconsideration report talks about the assessments musculoskeleton observations a lot, stating that my caree goes shopping with her mum or myself and can therefore move more than 200 metres. I wrote about how my caree suffers pain during physical movement, is susceptible to passing out etc with medical history proving this submitted. She was awarded 0 points. 

We plan to take this to tribunal as I strongly believe my caree needs support with her mobility needs. Would anyone have any advice/support for this? What do i need to do to prepare/send off for the letter or the tribunal? any similar cases? 

Thanks 

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @cnewton29 and a warm welcome to the community. Unfortunately, most decisions do not get changed until tribunal.

Here is some information about Tribunal:

Tribunal appeal
If the DWP still do not change their decision after a mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to an independent panel called a tribunal (Citizens Advice).
An appeal can be complicated and challenging so do not be afraid to ask for emotional or practical help from relatives, friends, a support worker or health professional.
When appealing to a tribunal you will need:

• the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice sent by the DWP. If you’ve lost it, ask the DWP for a new one.

• a completed form SSCS1: Appeal a social security benefits decision (Notice of appeal)

You have 1 month from the date shown on your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice to submit your claim.

This was taken from 'Challenging a benefit decision'.

If there is anything else we can do to help then please do not hesitate to ask! I wish you and your partner the best of luck with the claim!