Pip refused

mrsl66

Hi I hope someone can help. My husband has a dissection stroke in July, we were on holiday in Cornwall, he had to stay in Cornwall for 2 weeks then he was transferred home because no local hospitals would take him! He has only had a telephone appointment with a local stroke consultant. We’ve had to wait to get all reports ect from Cornwall. We filled his pip form in, and out of the blue we got a phone call, I wasn’t told it was his assessment only a chat, I’ve been researching and it says they should give you 7 days notice of the assessment. They’ve refused pip, but when we’ve looked at the report they’ve put different answers in to what we put, he’s got permanent neurological damage, they’ve said none, we said he could walk up to 20 metres they’ve said he can walk 50, he needs help
getting in the shower they’ve said he can shower unaided, the list of discrepancies goes on, where do we go from here, his consultant has said he can’t work again due to the risk of another dissection. Thank you for reading.all help is appreciated. 

poppy123456

It may have been a paper based assessment that he had, when this happens they sometimes ring to ask a few questions. When they do that they don't need to send out an appointment date/time. If it was a paper based assessment then it's unusual to be refused but i have heard it happen a couple of times.

You now have 1 month from the date of the decision to challenge that by requesting the Mandatory Reconsideration. (MR) You should put this in writing stating where and why you think he should have scored those points.

Include a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time he attempted each descriptor that applies to him. Adding detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. You should aim for at least half an A4 side of paper per descriptor that applies to him.

Best thing to do is put the report and decision letter to one side and forget about them because neither of those will get him a PIP award.

You can also get some expert help and advice from an agency near you. Start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

mrsl66

Thank you so much for your reply. I honestly can’t believe they’ve changed the answers we put, they are way out of what he can do. Do I just write to them or telephone then write. If they knew anything about strokes they would know how this has affected him, he’s really emotional and anxious right now and so stressed which is not good for him. Thank you for your help. 😊

poppy123456

Did you explain everything in detail of why he's unable to complete that activity? Just telling them he's unable to do something isn't enough. PIP isn't awarded based on any diagnosis.

I wouldn't advise you to ring to request it, you should just put it in writing adding all the details i advised above.

Are you also aware that you must also expect to have the difficulties for at least a further 9 months.

Please also be aware that most MR decisions remain the same so if this happens you can then proceed to Tribunal. Timescales for MR decisions are 2-12 weeks.

mrsl66

we put in detail about his problems, showering etc, but they’ve just disregarded all our answers and put their own. I’m getting in touch with the stroke association and seeing if they can help. His damage to the brain is permanent so it’s going to last longer than 9 months. Thank you for your help. 

chiarieds

On a positive note, altho recovery from a stroke can take up to 2 years, it can happen, so his brain isn't necessarily permanently damaged. Have you spoken to his GP to ask for a physio referral, as this could help?

poppy123456

I wouldn't expect them to write everything you said word for word. They will have considered everything you sent, including your PIP2 form and the assessment report.

mrsl66

The answers differ to what we put, so something is wrong, but I won’t know until write the letter. 

poppy123456

mrsl66 said:

The answers differ to what we put,

Yes, you have mentioned that a couple of times but i wouldn't expect the assessment report or the decision letter to be exactly the same as what you wrote on the form.

Try and move on from that when you write the letter for the MR.