Pip renewal enhanced to 0

sombra

Hello. I had my pip renewal this year and was receiving enhanced daily and standard mobility. I am autistic, diagnosed with BPD, anxiety and depression as well as Fibromyalgia. The renewal decision was 0 for everything, with the reasons being so enragingly infuriating like "you were not anxious" (on the phone assessment when I was scratching my skin the whole time and then went to bed after) "you went to mainstream school" (??? I'm 30 how is this relevant?) "You have been discharged by specialist mental health services" (no I moved out of area and have been in and out of all services available in this area but none of them so far deal with autistic adults) "there is no signs of self neglect" (this was from a mental health outcome letter 2 years ago where they'd said I was wearing bright clothes and had dyed hair) and the one that causes me the most anger is this "you do school runs, go on holiday and go on days out". I do NOT do school runs, and I went on one holiday and one day out 2 years ago. But even so, am I as a disabled person not allowed a holiday or a day out? 

I cant sleep, or eat, or concentrate. I cant remember the last time I brushed my hair or washed. My daughters told me I smell today. I feel so invalidated and I when I first knew about this decision I just wanted to die. The decision letter is so callous. 

My partner is my carer and we've sent in the mandatory reconsideration. Im just so stressed and I cant sleep so I just needed to share this somewhere. 

ernie2009

hi sombra, fistly try not to get to upset by this as that will only make things worse but yes share your problem here as they say a problem share etc. reading through many posts on here you will see many who have gone through the same as you and in the end through mr or apeal they win which im sure you will. i know this wont take away the stress you are going through but rest assured you are not on your own. time and time again it happens where people fill in their forms have their assessments and it dosnt come back as told. try not to worry or stress as that wont be good for you at all . thinking of you and be strong.

chiarieds

Hi @sombra - & welcome to this friendly community. I'm sorry to read that you weren't awarded PIP with your renewal, & how it unfortunately made you feel. The assessors do use some 'cut & paste' standard phrases such as those you mention, which sadly cause a lot of distress when read, & which often are also 'inaccurate.'

I hope you can relax a little after sending off your MR, & I'm pleased you've joined this very supportive group sharing how you've felt.

Please use this forum to talk any time, & let us all know how you get on.

sombra

Thank you for your responses. I think I'm just so shocked because the first time I claimed pip and then the first review in 2016 I was awarded enhanced daily without any argument and have only needed MR to fight mobility (i cant go anywhere without another person). Since I moved out of my previous area its been a long and frustrating battle to access long term mental health services due to this area being massively underfunded so to be told in the decision that I was "discharged and that proves my mental health has improved" is infuriating!! 

poppy123456

HI,

If the MR decision doesn't change then it will be Tribunal next. Although it's very frustrating to read what was written in the decision letter and if you received a copy of the report, that is likely to be frustrating too. Try not to focus on that too much because they won't be interested in any of that.

What they will be interested in is where and why you think you should have scored those points. If the MR decision doesn't change and you need more advice regarding the next stage then please post back and someone will advise you further.

Good luck.

sombra

poppy123456 said:

HI,

If the MR decision doesn't change then it will be Tribunal next. Although it's very frustrating to read what was written in the decision letter and if you received a copy of the report, that is likely to be frustrating too. Try not to focus on that too much because they won't be interested in any of that.

What they will be interested in is where and why you think you should have scored those points. If the MR decision doesn't change and you need more advice regarding the next stage then please post back and someone will advise you further.

Good luck.

My partner requested a copy of the report so I'm bracing myself for that. In the MR letter we used the advice now tool to help us write it and did put down where we think points apply, sent in new evidence and also reiterated back to older evidence to make the point that my symptoms haven't changed 

poppy123456

I know it's difficult but you need to put the assessmenrt and the report behind you and try to forget about it. Both of those will not get you a PIP award.

janer1967

Hi and welcome I am sorry o hear he results of your review and hope he MR is a good outcome for you

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @sombra I'm sorry that this seems to have really got you down. As the others have said, please try to put what's happened out of your mind, and try and focus on what you can do now. 

Is there anything you've been able to do before that's made you feel less stressed, or helped you to sleep? 

sombra

Tori_Scope said:

Welcome to the community @sombra I'm sorry that this seems to have really got you down. As the others have said, please try to put what's happened out of your mind, and try and focus on what you can do now. 

Is there anything you've been able to do before that's made you feel less stressed, or helped you to sleep? 

The only thing I've found helps me sleep is taking amitryptyline, though I only take it if I'm really desperate because I get bad side effects from it.

My partner and daughter have just helped me with a bubble bath so thats helped a bit for now. Its just the agonising wait to hear back from them that keeps the stress creeping back 

Ross_Alumni

I'm glad your family helped you with the bath @sombra, a bubble bath sounds lovely  

I can understand the stress, waiting to hear back can feel like such a long time, it can feel like much longer than it actually is.  I really hope you hear back soon.