Challenging PIP Assessor's Comments

Hi there, I was happily awarded PIP with a very welcome four year duration. I am coming off DLA & have managed to keep comparable money via PIP. Fantastic news!

However the Capita Assessor was dreadful - very rude & impatient, & she flatly refused to listen to anything my husband said, he is also my carer. This put alot of unnecessary pressure on me to 'perform' to ensure I got PIP. I have m.e & had my assessment at the beginning of January, & I'm still 'paying' for it now (been so poorly since).

My issue is, she made me sound more cognitively aware/able than I actually am (probably as i was forced to talk solely) will ESA see her comments? I'm due to be reassessed for that any day now & I'm worried about the potential impact of her incorrect comments/assumptions/judgements.

Also, are they allowed to 'silence' the carer like that?

I don't really want to go through mandatory reconsideration as I am happy with the award & the duration. I've heard that they don't just reconsider the points raised but the whole award; much like a game of blackjack where you stick or twist. Plus I couldn't cope with all of the stress & additional waiting anyway. I'm already frazzled by the experience. So, instead, I have written to my m.p. Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks

Fin Lizzy wrote: Hi there, I was happily awarded PIP with a very welcome four year duration. I am coming off DLA & have managed to keep comparable money via PIP. Fantastic news!

However the Capita Assessor was dreadful - very rude & impatient, & she flatly refused to listen to anything my husband said, he is also my carer. This put alot of unnecessary pressure on me to 'perform' to ensure I got PIP. I have m.e & had my assessment at the beginning of January, & I'm still 'paying' for it now (been so poorly since).

My issue is, she made me sound more cognitively aware/able than I actually am (probably as i was forced to talk solely) will ESA see her comments? I'm due to be reassessed for that any day now & I'm worried about the potential impact of her incorrect comments/assumptions/judgements.

Also, are they allowed to 'silence' the carer like that?

I don't really want to go through mandatory reconsideration as I am happy with the award & the duration. I've heard that they don't just reconsider the points raised but the whole award; much like a game of blackjack where you stick or twist. Plus I couldn't cope with all of the stress & additional waiting anyway. I'm already frazzled by the experience. So, instead, I have written to my m.p. Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks

Hi FL,

Congratulations on The PIP Awards !!

I can understand where you are coming from, as it has been stated that PIP Med Reports may be used as an aid in making ESA Decisions and vice-versa.

With regards to the Assessors comments, did The PIP Decision Maker award points that were contrary to the Assessors comments/observations ?

If they did then this is a good indication that The DM did not agree with them.

The issue that you should be aware of is that by discrediting the Med Report, in some way you are also discrediting your PIP award. (Unless the DM's award of points was totally perverse to the recommendations in the Med Report)

You could make a complaint to Capita regarding the quality of the Med Report and the attitude of the Assessor without requesting an MR.

They shouldn't totally blank out your Carer, although most of the questions are generally aimed at the claimant, unless it is obvious that the claimant can not answer for themselves.

Again though this may discredit the whole report.

With respect to your ESA reassessment, it may not happen when you expect it to, although our advice is to be prepared for such an eventuality.

See : Here and Here.

You could consider :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Whilst referring to the guides on this page :

ESA Claims Guides

See also :

How long do I have to complete the ESA50?

ESA50 too big for the envelope

&

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

You could save the PDF to your P.C. and keep it as current as possible.

Once the hard copy ESA50 arrives through the post, you could update the PDF, print it off, add any fresh evidence and post it off by the deadline given.

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