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Reason for short awards?

@Scope Please can you help answer this question. Are the short awards made because the assessors/DMs think a condition will get worse in the short term or is it always because they are so lackintg in knowledge and common sense that they think all conditions are curable or have the ability to improve? The answer to this could make all the difference in a claimants attitude and stress levels on review of their claim and also affect what evidence they need to supply, i.e. prognoses etc.
Replies
My wife was given a 2 year award (Enhanced both ) because she had just had a hip replacement which impacted on her mobility so reasonable to expect an improvement. which it won't
I have a three year award ( enhanced mobility standard DL ) with deterioration expected. which it has so expecting higher on review
CR
CR
This is a good question. I'm sure that lack of knowledge about the probable development in someone's condition do not help. I think all we can really do is to point you to the guidance on when different sorts of awards are meant to apply.
This guidance about setting award dates is from an FOI request. it's from 2016. As CR says, the decisions sometimes have a logic to them. But I think sometimes they don't - even when there isn't an obvious forthcoming or possible change (such as adjusting to a hip replacement) I think it's quite common to see shorter awards than you might expect. It also seems from the guidance that you will get reviewed if your condition is likely to deterioriate - which seems odd if you are already at the highest award possible!
Will
The Decision Maker theoretically has access to your full case notes, but generally they will consider the most recent evidence e.g. recent application form, recent medical assessment, other recent medical evidence when making a renewal decision.
In regards to any future decisions, it will be about what your difficulties are at that point in the future and not necessarily about the difficulties that you have had previously claiming PIP. It is therefore best to focus on what your daily living and mobility needs are at the point of renewal/review.
As you have posted you know what to expect now and this should give you a better understanding of the PIP system and how to navigate your way through it. You also have this forum for help.
Maria