Mandatory Reconsideration

SunFlower1
SunFlower1 Online Community Member Posts: 15 Listener
edited September 2023 in PIP, DLA, ADP & AA
Never thought that I would post this on a forum. 
I had a renewal for my PIP and the decision was for the lowest amount for Personal care. 
It is not the money, but it is the money at the same time. More importantly, it's the way I have been treated;

Despite telling the telephone assessor that I self-harmed on a regular basis using a kitchen knife. The person who did the written assessment just said, ' self-harm and suicidal ideations.' My self-harm is not just an idea it's an actuality.

Despite me telling the assessor that I had stopped driving, the man who put together the written assessment wrote.
'You don't have a Blue Badge.'

I also told the assessor that I found verbal communication difficult. My difficulty is due to my mental health. The written report stated,' You don't wear a hearing aid.' It beggars belief how they feel this is an accurate assessment.

The written assessment also stated.'You attended assessment alone.' I actually had a telephone consultation.

Needless to say, I have submitted a Mandatory Reconsideration in which I did question whether the staff at the DWP had ANY safeguarding training whatsoever when dealing with vulnerable clients.
I also stated I felt discriminated against as most of my mental health difficulties were overlooked.
Since receiving their Pip renewal I have been going through through hell.
I feel dismissed and not valued or cared about.

I didn't choose to be in the position of being reliant on state benefits.

My childhood was horrendous and since recovering memories concerning childhood abuse I do my best to live the best I can on a daily basis.
I cannot work as I suffer from extreme depression and this then impacts my Type One diabetes.
The treatment I have received from the DWP reminds me of the treatment I received at the hands of my family. My two brothers and my father. My mother was compliant as she knew what they were doing to me but did nothing to stop it.
Over the last few days, I have been suicidal, although I doubt that this would come up in a DWP report.

In fact, at the end of my letter to them, I did say 'I doubt that you will know what you have put me through and how much damage you have caused.'
I will be looking into making a formal complaint preferably to an outside body as the  DWP in-house complaint procedure is probably not worth the paper it's written on.
These people should not have so much power over vulnerable lives.
Thanks for reading this
Helen

Comments

  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,863 Championing
    Hello @sunflower1

    I am so sorry you are going through such a difficult time with the PIP process. And that it has had an effect on your mental health. I am going to pop an email over to you <3 
  • rebel11
    rebel11 Online Community Member Posts: 1,690 Pioneering
    edited September 2023
    Hi Sunflower1

    Welcome to Scope

    If you want to complain about your assessment, you need to complain to the assessment company, follow their complaints procedure, it will be on their website.

    The DWP has it's own complaints procedure, but they only deal with complaints relating to the DWP, assessment companies don't come under their 'umbrella', strange but true. 

    Make your complaint in writing, keep proof of postage.