PIP reviewed and now disallowed

BattyWitch

I filled in my PIP Review Form and sent it off and then had a medical assessment over the phone. I received my award letter the other day from them informing me that I had 0 points and therefore they had stopped my payments.

I have bipolar disorder, severe anxiety and fibromyalgia and since I started getting DLA 10 years ago I have been getting the high rate of care and the low rate of mobility which has been reviewed every few years so you can imagine my shock at being told that I was being disallowed. 

After the shock of being told that, I then received another letter the following day informing me that my ESA had been reduced because of my PIP being disallowed. By the time you add up all the money that I have lost it comes to £716.20 every 4 weeks.

I have put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration and I'm waiting to hear back. If necessary though I will take it to a tribunal.

I have also contacted my local MP informing him about how people with genuine disabilities are being treated.

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community 

Sorry to hear about your PIP decision  and imagine the shock you had 

Let's hope you get a result from the MR in your favour thi the success rate is lower than at tribunal 

Keep us updated how you get on 

BattyWitch

Thanks. It really was a shock and as I live alone it has left me in serious financial difficulty so I'm keeping everything crossed. 

I'll let you know how things work out. 

BattyWitch

Thank you I'll try to get a hold of someone from welfare rights tomorrow.

TeddyB22

BattyWitch said:

Thank you I'll try to get a hold of someone from welfare rights tomorrow.

I'm sorry to hear about what they are putting you through.
I really fear now they are restarting f2f assessments that their attitude is hardening.
I didn't know that they could reduce your ESA because of this either. I always thought criteria were different for ESA/PIP.
I do hope you'll get satisfaction eventually. Seems Tribunals are the fairest way for people to get what they deserve.

calcotti

TeddyB22 said:..

I didn't know that they could reduce your ESA because of this either. I always thought criteria were different for ESA/PIP.

The criteria are different but the ESA may have included a Severe Disability Premium, entitlement to which depends on being in receipt of PIP (or other disability benefit). If the PIP stops the SDP is lost. Has nothing to do with ESA assessment.

BattyWitch

It is the SDP that has been removed from my ESA but I was told that if I win my PIP award back I will be able to ask them to reinstate the SDP and have it backdated. 

calcotti

BattyWitch said:

It is the SDP that has been removed from my ESA but I was told that if I win my PIP award back I will be able to ask them to reinstate the SDP and have it backdated. 

That’s correct.