Do people pass MRs?

Plain · July 2020

Do people pass a reconsideration decision c

steve51 · July 2020

Hi @Plain

Good Afternoon & Welcome.

I’m one of the Community Champion’s here at Scope.

Yes we have got a number of members who are either starting to go through the process or who have finished.

Here’s some info below for you.

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/personal-independence-payment-pip/

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/70717/pip-mandatory-reconsideration-just-on-some-descriptors

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/71526/pip-advice-for-everyone

Please let me know if there’s any problems with this info????

@steve51

janer1967 · July 2020

Hi @Plain Welcome to the community nice to have you on board.

I presume you mean are people succsful at mandatory reconsideration ? In answer to this it is roughly around 17% are successful in the decision changing. So thus is quite low compared to the success at tribunal.

It will depend on how much detail you have put in your MR and the evidence they have that would result in a different decision

Chloe_Scope · July 2020

Welcome to the community @Plain, how are you doing?

mikehughescq · July 2020

I think there’s a common misunderstanding on MR stats.

17% is the figure for how many awards are changed. The number of those changed awards which are successful is 16%.

Thus why I commonly assert that most awards remain unchanged and also that MR us effectively random.

Jankins · July 2020

I failed 2 MRs - one for the old ESA and one for PIP. With the help of Citizens Advice with the paperwork, I got 2 tribunals and won both of them.

Good luck with yours.

Lou67 · July 2020

Morning @Plain I had previously been receiving DL standard the award ended in February, I received letter on 17th April I only received 6 points for DL so no award I received 10 points for Mobility so standard mobility, I put in my MR received word on Saturday past no change with DL but mobility changed to Enhanced I sent letters my doctor provided showing some of my records, a cpl of letters my hospital consultant had sent her, and a copy of cpl of x-rays, I’m delighted I’m now receiving Enhanced mobility, but I really believe I at least should receive another 2 points for DL so I think I’m going to take it to appeal I hope this helps, some MR can change so don’t give up hope, take care.

Fetlock · July 2020

The current rate for MRs is 57% .

It hasn't been as low as 17% for a long while.

the proportion of MRs where the award was changed (excluding withdrawn MRs) gradually increased, with some fluctuation, from 23% in January 2019 to 40% in December 2019, while the proportion where the award was unchanged decreased correspondingly from 77% to 60%
changes in 2019 may reflect a new operational approach where the Department began to proactively contact claimants, as appropriate, to gather additional oral and written evidence for PIP at the MR stage

the proportion of MR decisions (excluding withdrawn MRs) resulting in a change in award rose sharply between 40% in February 2020 and 44% in March 2020 to 57% in April 2020, reflecting the new operational approach as well as COVID-19 impact

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-april-2020/personal-independence-payment-official-statistics-to-april-2020#mandatory-reconsiderations-mrs

Lou67 · July 2020

Hi Fetlock, that’s a great % and will give people a lot more hope, as it’s always been advised that not much chance of a change at MR although I was one of the lucky ones, well I got low mobility changed to Enhanced delighted by that, going to appeal for DL but extremely grateful I’m getting a payment while I wait, thanks for the post.

mikehughescq · July 2020

To be clear, the MR rate was 17% up to October 19 at the very least. It’s a good spot by @fetlock but what it doesn’t reflect is the accuracy of those MR decisions which in resolution broadly reflect the sort of offers people get immediately prior to appeal i.e. some of what you want but not all and a foreshortened award length.

It’s enough to make some people drop the matter for the incorrect fear they might lose what they’ve gained even when what they’ve gained is plainly not correct.

Interesting times.

Lou67 · July 2020

Hi so is the % that Fetlock stated correct and it’s not 17% as had previously been advised.

mikehughescq · July 2020

A bit of both @Lou67. There has been a dramatic rise in the last 3 months. Those are official stats and absolutely indisputable on the surface. Bear in mind though that the ONS regularly rip apart the DWP and their stats and have done so for more than a decade. DWP accounts on who has been over and underpaid have also been qualified for 32 consecutive years i.e. deemed by auditors to be unreliable.

Dig below the surface and it’s not so straightforward. Nothing ever is. Over 7 years the stat has generally been between 8 and 22%. Even a massive 3 month rise could not take that average up to 57% inside 3 months or even 6. So, I suspect that’s the figure for just those MRs decided in this 3 month period.

Either way that would look like good news until you dig a little deeper and ask what does a successful MR look like? If you’re asking for a 10 year award of enhanced rate of both PIP components but the MR awards you 3 years of standard rate for both that counts as a success. The fact you then go onto appeal because it doesn’t feel like a success to you doesn’t get factored in.

So, is it better currently? On paper yes. In practice, not much.

Lou67 · July 2020

Thankyou for taking the time to explain, with DWP it never is simple.

Do people pass MRs?

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