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Using tribunal SOR as evidence next time.

As I posted the other day my sister won her PIP tribunal and has been awarded the enhanced rate for both components. This is after getting 4 and 4 points at her change of circumstance assessment and then 6 and 4 after I slaved over research and an MR form for days! So to go from that to enhanced is amazing - I was her representative throughout and so I get copies of all the paperwork etc. We haven't yet had the court letter or any letter from the DWP - we know she won the appeal as she got the hospital/prison phonecall from the DWP and they gave her the information then.
We don't know how long the award is for but as it's backdated over a year I'm aware that it might be sooner than we would like! Is there any sense in getting the tribunal's SOR to use as evidence at a reassessment?
Honestly I'd be interested to read it anyway and see how they perceived her needs as I was unexpectedly unable to be present for the telephone tribunal!
We don't know how long the award is for but as it's backdated over a year I'm aware that it might be sooner than we would like! Is there any sense in getting the tribunal's SOR to use as evidence at a reassessment?
Honestly I'd be interested to read it anyway and see how they perceived her needs as I was unexpectedly unable to be present for the telephone tribunal!
Replies
Congrats on helping your sister win her case! My sister was so important in helping me with my PIP tribunal process when I was just 16 and made to switch to DLA to PIP early and my award changed from 0 points to enhanced in both components (it is ridiculous!). I and your sister are very lucky to have such supportive and proactive family
Soon the DWP will send you a letter saying how long they are awarding PIP to your sister. In my case (and my elder sisters who just recently changed to DLA to PIP last month) the tribunal did say how long they will recommend PIP to be awarded for - though it is up to the DWP whether they listen to this recommendation.
I'm not sure what an SOR is unfortunately. I would suggest getting all possible information from your tribunal process as well as the documents you provided ready for a future reassessment - or to have as a guide. There isn't too much information regarding PIP reassessments yet (I may be wrong here) so the more you can keep the better I'd say.
I'm no expert on this but hopefully this helps a bit - well done on appealing your sister's PIP decision anyway!!!
1 - whatever length of award the tribunal give it is not a recommendation. It is the decision and DWP gave 2 choices. Abide by it or appeal it. That does not prevent them from reviewing at any time unfortunately.
2 - as @poppy123456 says, the SOR does not exist unless you request it. It won’t be quick in coming as most tribunals and clerks continue to work from home. As she also says, it doesn’t tend to play well if you request an SOR when you won. However, it’s important to remember that there are potential challenges to be made if you win e.g. if you’re unhappy with the length of award. So, it’s not automatically frowned upon if you request an SOR. It’s only frowned up if you don’t have a hope of im[raving what you have.
3 - a statement of reasons is certainly something you could use for a future claim renewal etc. but it really depends when that is. If it’s in the next year then it may still be relevant but if it’s five years down the line then it’s no better than any other five year old evidence.
We were told by the welfare worker at the local council the MR I wrote was detailed and concise and that was the evidence we relied most on at the tribunal. Thankfully I have a copy of everything I wrote for it so it can be tweaked and updated as necessary for the PIP2 when the time comes.
Will it be a new claim rather than a reassessment?
It will be a new claim but even if it was just a review all claims should be treated as a new claim by all claimants.