PIP award

I've just received my assessment from a top HP after award of higher mobility and standard care. At the assessment I told the HP I have serious problems with my left hand and have had since an accident in 1997 caused chronic diffuse left side Cervical radiculopathy. I sent the clinical report diagnosis and also advised I need food chopping up to eat and my husband does all cooking etc as I can't grip to chop food or handle pans etc I also advised her that I ad a lazy oesophagus and prone to choking and had been necessary for my husband to perform 2 heimlich maneuvers in recent months. I am a naturally left handed person and wear a splint most of the time and did for assessment. HP however reported I have normal strength and pronation which was impossible as resent has a metal bar to stop me moving my wrist and hand. The splint is not mentioned in the report are all. The clinical report is not listed and 5 out of the 6 letters I sent them mentioned left and and arm weakness. Her reasons were my grip is adequate because I was seen to drink from a bottle of water which I kept wedged between my legs in my wheelchair and picked it up to drink with my right hand and I could grip a pen which I did to sign L Heron and mad comment to how bad it was. I rang for explanation and the call I got back felt like a veiled threat and if I asked for these missing but vital pieces of information to be considered I d loose the whole award. I was 1 point short of enhanced rate and was previously on high rate inefinite DLA care. I would welcome any advice.
Many thanks
Lesley Heron

Hi and Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

In case you are not aware, your real name appears to be showing in the forum, if you want to change this then follow the instructions in the following FAQ

My full name is showing, how can I stop it?

You might also want to remove your full name from the bottom of your post as this is an open forum that can be read by anyone.

You are right in saying that a Mandatory Reconsideration can reduce, or even remove, the award that you currently have. However, that decision would be appealable.

PIP was introduced with the express intention of reducing the welfare bill and there are people who were on DLA who are entitled to a lower award of PIP.

I suggest you have a look at out PIP guide which explains the criteria against which you are being measured. It also explains the MR process should you decide to go down that route

PIP help for claimants

May I suggest that you bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future? This will allow you to return with further questions or comments about your PIP without having to start a new topic each time. We ask members to keep everything relating to the same claim in one topic as it makes our 'job' very much easier - and I hope you will find it useful too

Fester62 wrote: I've just received my assessment from a top HP after award of higher mobility and standard care. At the assessment I told the HP I have serious problems with my left hand and have had since an accident in 1997 caused chronic diffuse left side Cervical radiculopathy. I sent the clinical report diagnosis and also advised I need food chopping up to eat and my husband does all cooking etc as I can't grip to chop food or handle pans etc I also advised her that I ad a lazy oesophagus and prone to choking and had been necessary for my husband to perform 2 heimlich maneuvers in recent months. I am a naturally left handed person and wear a splint most of the time and did for assessment. HP however reported I have normal strength and pronation which was impossible as resent has a metal bar to stop me moving my wrist and hand. The splint is not mentioned in the report are all. The clinical report is not listed and 5 out of the 6 letters I sent them mentioned left and and arm weakness. Her reasons were my grip is adequate because I was seen to drink from a bottle of water which I kept wedged between my legs in my wheelchair and picked it up to drink with my right hand and I could grip a pen which I did to sign xxxxxx and mad comment to how bad it was. I rang for explanation and the call I got back felt like a veiled threat and if I asked for these missing but vital pieces of information to be considered I d loose the whole award. I was 1 point short of enhanced rate and was previously on high rate inefinite DLA care. I would welcome any advice.
Many thanks
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