GP Factual Report For PIP

keira · November 2020

Hi, does anyone know how long atos are meant to wait for the return of the above form before completing their assessment report? It's just that my relative has received a copy of their paper based report and the assessor has only waited 5 days for the GP form to be returned before stating on the report continuation box that they could not make any progress and had referred the case to CSL? It then appears that a second assessor has completed the report on the same day who also did not wait for the return of the GP report. The atos report has resulted in their pip being decreased by the dwp and no mention has been made of the GP report which the dwp were already in receipt of when the decision was made My relative is sure that the decision would have been more favourable if the GP report had been taken into consideration. Any advice or thoughts about this would be greatly appreciated.

janer1967 · November 2020

The GP report isnt always relevant unless it goes into detail about how the person is affected on a daily basis against the descriptors and most often go report just confirms condition and treatment

If your friend doesn't agree with decision they need to put in a MR which will be detailed in their letter

keira · November 2020

Hi, thanks for the reply. My relative has a copy of the GP report and it does go into detail so it is very relevant in their case.

janer1967 · November 2020

If the DM had the gp report then it will have been taken into account along with the assessors report and the review form
They normally go with the assessors recommendation but do take other evidence into account

As I said b4 the next action is MR

keira · November 2020

There is no mention in the decision notice that the gp report has been taken into account nor is there any mention of the other evidence submitted (the atos report does not list any of the evidence submitted or that it has been considered either, only the actual questionnaire). We are aware of the MR action. Thanks.

poppy123456 · November 2020

HI,

All they can do is request the MR within 1 month of the date of the decision. Unfortunately, this is the process and once that decision's been made if they're not happy then they need to request the Tribunal.

Also to add, unles the report from the GP stated exactly how their conditions affect them then it will be of little use. Very few GPs know exactly how our conditions affect us against the PIP descriptors, unless they've been told by the patient.

woodbine · November 2020

Have to agree that GP reports are usually a waste of paper, either the GP doesn't know enough about how your condition affects you or the assessors don't think they are worthwhile.

mikehughescq · November 2020

I can only add my voice to the above comments. No-one can “know” what difference a piece of evidence will make unless it’s absolutely earth shattering or refutes a key factual assertion. A GP can outline the diagnosis; the treatment; the prognosis. A well completed claim pack will already have covered all three and seeing as the burden of proof is no more than “the balance of probabilities” it’s unlikely DWP would put any of them in dispute.

When it comes to symptoms GPs have rarely had time to go into massive depth so they’ll either outline the general symptoms a person with that condition could be expected to have, which will carry zero weight with a decision maker who wants to hear about the actual claimant not a theoretical claimant, or, it will repeat what the claimant has told them. That might add some credibility i.e. “I am a GP and I believe them” but it’s not medical evidence as such and it carries no more weight than a letter from your next door neighbour.

MR is the next step and would be best focused less on medical evidence than real world examples which show why and where points will be scored.

GP Factual Report For PIP

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