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PIP reassessment date confusion

Jane007

I was awarded lower rate living and mobility PIP in March 2020. In January 2021 they wrote to me saying they had extended my review date until June 2023. Today I have received reassessment forms asking me to complete them by 2 August 22.
I have spastic paraparesis but have just had my first hip replacement. Maybe they did an audit noted I was awaiting bilateral hip replacements and want to know if they can stop the mobility component?

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Comments

calcotti

They will not know about your changes, that's a coincidence. They d not have access to your medical records. The extensions were to give DWP more time to complete reviews but the reviews will still occur as DWP find time to do them.

Jane007

Thank you. It just seems a little strange that the previous letter actually stated that they had extended my award.

calcotti

Jane007 said:

Thank you. It just seems a little strange that the previous letter actually stated that they had extended my award.

It's not strange. As I said, awards were extended to provide more time for DWP to get to reviews. If they hadn't your Pip could have ended before a new decision was made. The review they are starting now may take many months to complete.

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Jane007 how are you feeling about feeling out the reassessment forms? Having a PIP review can be stressful, but sometimes there's a bit less to do compared to the first time you applied.

If you need a hand with anything please do ask, and we'll do what we can to support you

Jane007

Thank you Alex, I really appreciated your message.
I am feeling concerned as I am still struggling to get over the hip replacement due to a fracture during surgery (undocumented on my medical records) and other complications due to my pre-existing medical conditions. I was very fortunate last time with my assessment which was surprisingly performed by a nurse at my home and she was sensitive, professional and fair. I really push myself to do as much as I can with regard to daily activities and walking but that does not mean it is not painful particularly at night when I wake up locked and barely able to walk to the bathroom. This is the aspect I find hard as the mobility component is based on walking distance and not the weakness, spasticity, pain and standing limitations which those distances aggravate.

Alex_Alumni

@Jane007 that's okay

It will take time to get over these things, and it's okay to struggle with it. Hopefully talking about it helps, and it means you can explain how it's impacted you with examples.

I had a nurse at my home for my initial assessment back in 2018.

This is the aspect I find hard as the mobility component is based on walking distance and not the weakness, spasticity, pain and standing limitations which those distances aggravate.

I'm quite similar with my cerebral palsy (CP), as I have a lot of weakness, spasticity, pain and standing limitations, and I currently receive the enhanced mobility component. I think all these things have a massive impact on the distance which I'm able to walk unaided, but appreciate that everyone is different. What's worrying you about this aspect in particular, perhaps we can get to the bottom of it?

Jane007

Thanks Alex. I am currently on the standard for both components and concerned that I may lose the mobility given that my mobility is erratic from day to day and time of day and it is difficult to answer the distance question. The nurse assessed it herself taking into account my gait and pain level.
On the daily living component I feel I missed out last time because I did not present any evidence of current mental health therapy and she said I engaged well and showed no evidence of cognitive dysfunction. The fact is I had just been suspended from my job and was in the middle of a horrific disability discrimination claim and then as now I was only sleeping for 2-3 hours of broken sleep which is quite honestly driving me mad. I have had some counselling arranged through my GP but cant find any notes on it. All I have this time is a private mindfulness course and vague documents about an NHS sleep programme.
Sorry to go on so much. Unfortunately I am supposed to be going away on Tuesday for 3 weeks and need to complete this before then.

Alex_Alumni

It's okay @Jane007 this just shows how much you want to think about the evidence you have and present it in the right way, it shows you're very considered in your thinking

When you say evidence of current mental health therapy would that come under the descriptor: Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition?

Jane007

I may have considered thinking but have just drowned myself in paperwork. I am under 6 different consultants plus physio! I need to weed out the most relevant.
I have received CBT and counselling from a Neurological Clinical Psychiatrist and had some input from an NHS online sleep programme. I suffer from significant anxiety, mild depression due to my condition and mild cognitive impairment due to lack of sleep. I put on a brave face and try to be resilient but particularly the chronic lack of sleep has a significant effect on my life. It was something I had planned to tackle after my new hip has settled down but now too late for the PIP reassessment.
Last time i put communication, reading, mixing, but the assessor commented that i had no diagnosis, medication or specialist input for mental health. My omission.
I have just checked with community neurology and my counselling was at the time of my original assessment. Apparently I was re-referred in July 20 but did not respond when they left a message? as i was referred by the physio no mention in my notes. I now only have notes from my sleep programme which is incomplete because i had to put it on hold due to taking Amitriptyline for nerve pain and later duloxetene for spasticity which knocked me out.

Jane007

I agree, it stands to reason that if you have limitations on what you can do on a daily basis and pain and insomnia it is going to have a significant effect on your mental health. It is also interesting that there is no direct mention of depression or anxiety on the questionnaire.

poppy123456

Jane007 said:

It is also interesting that there is no direct mention of depression or anxiety on the questionnaire.

There’s no direct mention of any conditions within the form.

Off the top of my head there’s at least 8 daily living activities where it’s possible for someone to score points if they suffer with mental health conditions.

calcotti

Jane007 said:.. It is also interesting that there is no direct mention of depression or anxiety on the questionnaire.

There is no specific mention of any health condition on the form. PIP is about impact of health. Many people with depression/anxiety will score points because they need prompting to do thing or cannot mix with people (for example).

Jane007

You are quite right. I really meant to say it is hard to know where to document these problems as they relate to many aspects of daily living but I think it was just my assessor last time.

poppy123456

Use extra sheets of paper and make sure you state which question it's related to. There's never enough of room on those forms.

Jane007 said:

On the daily living component I feel I missed out last time because I did not present any evidence of current mental health therapy and she said I engaged well and showed no evidence of cognitive dysfunction.

That's a classic copy and paste that's often used.

calcotti

Jane007 said:

You are quite right. I really meant to say it is hard to know where to document these problems as they relate to many aspects of daily living but I think it was just my assessor last time.

So you should document them against each activity even if this means there is repetition.