Has anyone had similar difficulties with the generic DWP forms/process? I'm puzzled by the scores

STUART_1969
STUART_1969 Community member Posts: 2 Listener
edited June 2021 in PIP, DLA, and AA
Good Morning All.

As I am new here please excuse this post as I am sure it has been covered many many times before.

I am living with Cerebellar Ataxia (thought to be SCA 19/22) - I dont like the phrase "suffering with".

I have just received my letter from DWP informing me that I have been rejected for PIP. 
I had gone through all the process of forms, telephone assessment and jumping through the hoops (metaphorically as physically impossible).
I am puzzled at the scores or lack of them after my assessment.
I am considering applying for a reconsideration then appeal (more hoops), although as it appears that as i am able to understand and do that it and trundle to the postbox will be scored against me...

Has anyone a similar condition and had difficulties with the rather generic DWP forms and process.

Cheers.

Stu.


Comments

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi and welcome 

    Sorry about your PIP refusal 

    It isn't about a condition but about how it affects you as people can have the same condition but be affected totally different 

    If you look in recent discussions there is a very recent thread eg today titled turned down for pip and it has all the advice and links you need for a MR

    Any further questions just ask 
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,331 Championing
    Hi @STUART_1969 - & welcome to the community. The PIP process can be a hard one to go through & I'm sorry you haven't been awarded. If you go for a Mandatory Reconsideration, you should put this in writing as the link Jane mentions says: https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/80652/turned-down-for-pip#latest
    You should give a couple of real life examples of the difficulty you faced (at the time of your assessment) for each applicable activity/descriptor. Here's a list of them: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asset-library/Personal-Independence-Payment-Descriptors-and-Scores-April-2021.pdf     
    Your examples should detail when did it happen, why, what exactly happened, who witnessed it, & , if applicable, what consequences were there to attempting/doing the activity.
    You also need to be able to do an activity reliably, i.e. safely, as often as it would be reasonable for a person to do, to an acceptable standard, & in a reasonable period of time. You should say how you are on the majority of days. Hope some of this helps. :)
  • Leigh14
    Leigh14 Community member Posts: 597 Empowering
    Good Morning All.

    As I am new here please excuse this post as I am sure it has been covered many many times before.

    I am living with Cerebellar Ataxia (thought to be SCA 19/22) - I dont like the phrase "suffering with".

    I have just received my letter from DWP informing me that I have been rejected for PIP. 
    I had gone through all the process of forms, telephone assessment and jumping through the hoops (metaphorically as physically impossible).
    I am puzzled at the scores or lack of them after my assessment.
    I am considering applying for a reconsideration then appeal (more hoops), although as it appears that as i am able to understand and do that it and trundle to the postbox will be scored against me...

    Has anyone a similar condition and had difficulties with the rather generic DWP forms and process.

    Cheers.

    Stu.


    Hi Stuart.
    l’ve also just been turned down PIP, scoring 4 for mobility, 0 for daily living, so I know exactly how you feel, as do many others on here. I started a post called Turned down for PIP, and have had some great response, as I am also going to do MR.
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,443 Championing
    Welcome to the community @STUART_1969 :) Thanks for joining.

    Have you had a chance to look through the links and information that have been posted above? It's definitely important to look through the PIP descriptors, and work out where you should have scored points. Please do let us know if you have any further questions about the MR process, or anything else for that matter.
  • STUART_1969
    STUART_1969 Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    Thank you everyone.

    I think with the forms and interview it is very much a tickbox process. As many of us have found one size does not fit all.

    My main issue is one of balance, coordination, fatigue. This can result in stumbles and falls (of which there have been many, breaks...) all of this explained in length. 

    I would earn anyone having a phone assessment to be on your guard, everything is noted, how you understand and engage. Even an aside about wishing I could still get out and garden, but still by Gardeners World magazine was quoted as me being able read and understand...

    I shall try for a reconsideration as the main factor appears to be SAFELY.

    I must add that all my NHS support has been excellent, Doctors, Neurologist, Speech Therapy, OT... Still awaiting Physio due to Covid restrictions and backlogs.

    Life would get boring if everything was easy eh?
    Keep smiling.

    Stu.