Finally got our PIP award but scores low ?

steveinleo59 wrote: My wife got her PIP award, but we feel let down by the low scores, because they don't truly reflect the extent of her medical conditions.

We've read about the appeals and wonder if we ought to appeal the decision, with reference to the fact that it can go down as well as up.

We would also like information on how to get hold of a copy of the full decision and the evidence used to reach the decision as some of the additional paperwork seems not to of been used by the DWP?

Can we get a full copy of all records that the DWP hold for both ESA and DLA / PIP?

Will the paperwork turns up in time to enable us to lodge an appeal?

First of all I would go back through the PIP Claim guide to make sure that you can score the extra four points for Enhanced Mobility award.

This is one of the most controversial areas of PIP and we regularly see members expecting to score points when in reality they are very unlikely to.

If you believe that you can score the extra points and you are willing to risk the Daily Living award then you need to request a Mandatory Reconsideration, this needs to be done in writing to the DWP, within one month of the Decision, to the office that dealt with your wife's claim, have a look at our PIP MR & Appeal guide for details of the process, the PIP area also has template letters that you can use to make the request with.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

You should contact the DWP for a copy of the assessment report if you have not already done so, I would phone them but again follow up the request in writing. Once you have the assessment report you will have a better understanding of how the DWP Decision Maker has come to their conclusions and will then be able to argue against them.

Your primary task is to show that she met the criteria for mobility, there are many reasons you may have failed, you need to address each of these but don't get bogged down in criticising the assessment report unless you can clearly show that it is incorrect, it is a lot easier to argue the facts of the situation;

"the assessor recorded that I walked 50m, I did but they have failed to document that I had to stop every 10m for a rest due to breathlessness"

than their opinions

"based on my observations of the claimant walking I believe that they can reliably walk more than 200m.

When you have a better idea of the issues with your claim, come back to the forum and we will do our best to help.

If you want her DLA and ESA information then you will need to make a Subject Access Request to each department.

SAR :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/request-for-personal-information.rtf

From this page :

www.dwp.gov.uk/privacy-policy/data-protection/

Gordon