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PIP - expected to travel to assessment
Lorraine1974
Member Posts: 5 Listener
Recieving pip for past two years and i was sent a renewal form (despite being told i would be due a renewal October 2017) i sent form back with gp letter,neurologist + m.s nurse stating i have Spinal & Cervical Stenosis,Multiple Sclerosis, Severe Hyperhidrosis,Agoraphobia,Depression & Anxiety yet i'm expected to travel for an assessment as 'we are going off the info i sent..i maybe medicated to the eyeballs but i know 100% that it states ALL mentioned above..first assessment was at my home but now I've got even more reason (Stenosis diagnosed January this year so was called Chronic lumber pain) any advice would be appreciated..many thanks,Lorraine
Replies
@DebbieVoakes or any other members, do you have any ideas what Lorraine can do in this situation?
Senior online community officer
It's a normal part of the process to start the PIP review process a year before the award is due to end, however PIP can be reviewed at any point which can make things even more confusing.
We seem to be seeing an increase in people being refused home visits because they are 'not eligible' and also an increase in people needing assessments on review when there has been a deterioration in their condition rather than an improvement.
May I ask which healthcare provider you are dealing with? Is it Atos or Capita?
My advice is to get a letter from your GP asking for a home visit or see your local MP and ask them if they can support you with this.
Let me know how you get on with this and don't hesitate to get in touch with your local MP, I've heard some really good outcomes after an MP intervention.
I hope that you're able to get this resolved soon. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
Best wishes
Debbie
The assessment contractor won't act on anything you sent to the DWP. Also the DWP won't act on anything said between you and the assessor, only what they type into the computer form.
Firstly, ask them via their contact phone number for a home visit and tell them why it is needed. You should ideally record this call.
Secondly, the assessment contractor is required to reimburse travel costs that they incur upon you. That is if they deem it reasonable and agree beforehand.
If you can travel by taxi then that should have a high chance of approval. Also consider a companion/carer's costs, if needed.
You would need a quote from the taxi firm if you can find one that will co-operate with such nonsense.
Claimants are an entry on a spreadsheet to these people and will never be anything more to them.
Going back to my first post you may need special transport to get to an assessment. The contractor should pay for this but they will resist.
I think you should brace yourself for a very strong push-back when your review finally comes through. Don't be put off by the process. They are relying on that.
Don't forget to keep everything for evidence including phone conversations.
you can shop/drive or attend GP surgery then this may be a problem
good to be able to share the worries, that filling in LONG forms for pip/ finishing getting DLA. Reading this form / filling it in, to prove my Rhunatoid artrtitas is so disabling, is such an insult ( when people lose so much of their independence) who wants to say,I don't want to live my life like people who don't have these physical and painful lives,it's an insult to disabled people,sorry but, I'm tired trying to just get through the day with pain, without filling in scraps of paper, to prove I should be able to have a bit of dignity in my life.
sorry every one, thanks for listening, it's my first time ever writing how I/ we feel.
Happy New Year
Senior online community officer
Well done!
I didn't hear from DWP for three weeks after my Appeal when received award letter. Arrears paid next day and new payment rates began about 10 days later.
Usually the DWP will put a claim into payment 5-8 weeks following a tribunal decision. They do have a habit oh "mislaying " the decision letter which is why it is important to make sure they have received it.
CR
We hear from quite a few people who are waiting nervously for their payments to start and be backdated. These payments can take a little bit of time to calculate and process and as @CockneyRebel has said above, the DWP do appear to be routinely requesting Statements of Reasons after tribunal decisions.
Do keep checking in with them though just to make sure everything is in order.
Thanks for keeping in touch with us all and letting us know how you got on. It really does help others to see some of the successes coming out of the tribunals.
Well done and best wishes
Debbie