DWP PIP Review Process

I was sent a pip review form in August having been on it for 2 years. When I was first assessed in 2014, I comfortably received higher rate care with over 20 points. Mobility was assessed initially at 8 points.

I appealed on the infamous 11d descriptor and the tribunal found my written statement done with...wait for it.....your great guides, to be more compelling than the DWP's evidence. So compelling in fact, that my absence, but a DWP officer's presence, did not go against me.

Now, I very naively thought that because it was a review this time, where on some descriptors, my situation is worse, and so demonstrated by a GP letter and over 30 pages of supporting evidence, the review would be simply waived through.

I have found out that they have sent the file to ATOS which almost certainly means another face to face.

Can I ask whether review people should take the process as if they are starting from scratch.? Or put it another way, do you know of circumstances where PIP reviews have confirmed the award without reference to ATOS? I am also wondering whether they sent the file to ATOS purely because of the mobility issue in my case.

Finally, can I ask what the paper trail is, from DWP to ATOS?Because it is a review, is there a chance DWP will only have sent ATOS the review form and backup, where some answers are "no change", and not the original more detailed PIP2 form?

I think if they don't do this, this is dangerous for the claimant because they would go to an interview assuming the HCP has the info from before, when in fact they don't, and everything is done from cold, with the claimant less prepared than they should be.

I'm concerned about this latter point. Should I approach the new interview as if it were my first, and look back carefullly at my first form?

Thank you and sorry for this long post.

A

Gordon
I was sent the abbreviated "new" form which I thought was for existing claimants only. I also thought that the DWP reviews this first and they don't always send the file over to ATOS, which is what has happened to me.
Because it has gone to ATOS after DWP first review, I am assuming a F2F will happen. My final original point was that no one could be 100% sure that in this situation, the orginial fuller PIP2 firm will be sent over to ATOS.
Hence my worry about the HCP being "cold" about no change responses.

Can you clarify whether I am being too concerned here? If things were straightforward, the DWP would not have sent a review case over to ATOS??

Thanks

A

Hi Augustus,

I want to draw your attention to Gordon's comment in his previous post

Augustus

All assessments, first and review/reassessment will have the file sent to the Assessment Provider, an assessment report has to be produced for a new Decision on the claim to be made. This does not mean that a face to face will be required.

There is no conclusion to be drawn from the fact that your form has been sent to the assessment provider.

Thank you. I understand this point now.
But, given that it has gone over, I want to be prepared, and am concerned that as an existing claimant under review, who has given "no change" responses several times on a shortened form, i might be caught out in a f2f (assuming this happens). I mean caught out by assuming HCP knows all the background from original claim. Supposing the original PIP2 hasn't been sent over and I end up in a f2f situation. Is that theoretically possible? I suppose it all boils down to a review claimant being prepared as if a first timer?
Do you agree?
Thanks A.