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Help with PIP MR
- EmmaReynolds
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4 years 3 months ago #255100 by EmmaReynolds
Help with PIP MR was created by EmmaReynolds
Hello I wonder if someone could talk me through the beginning of this process. I am really distressed at the moment, and have no family/friend/HCP support to look at it with me. I think when I calm down I will probably be able to manage, but my decision letter was dated 13 Jan 2021 and It only arrived on Saturday (23rd Jan).
I was awarded 0 points. I have pretty severe MH issues as well as arthritis and my life is so restricted. I was completely distressed during the telephone assessment, including struggling with active self harm/suicide impulses, which I told the assessor (and I hate talking about this stuff so much).
I have been in the ESA support group for a long time now. And I used to receive DLA (care at higher rate and mobility at lower rate) for a long time. It came to an end last summer and I didn't apply for PIP because I was afraid of the effect on my MH. I decided to apply for PIP in September because I am really not managing financially, but it has made my MH so much worse.
I am trying to concentrate and read through the documents (thank you - they are so helpful) but it is really hard for me to concentrate and understand anything when I am so upset (which feels stupid - I should be able to...).
Would anyone be able to just give me a couple of basic steps to start? I understand enough to know there is time pressure, but I can't think straight to manage any more!
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this.
I was awarded 0 points. I have pretty severe MH issues as well as arthritis and my life is so restricted. I was completely distressed during the telephone assessment, including struggling with active self harm/suicide impulses, which I told the assessor (and I hate talking about this stuff so much).
I have been in the ESA support group for a long time now. And I used to receive DLA (care at higher rate and mobility at lower rate) for a long time. It came to an end last summer and I didn't apply for PIP because I was afraid of the effect on my MH. I decided to apply for PIP in September because I am really not managing financially, but it has made my MH so much worse.
I am trying to concentrate and read through the documents (thank you - they are so helpful) but it is really hard for me to concentrate and understand anything when I am so upset (which feels stupid - I should be able to...).
Would anyone be able to just give me a couple of basic steps to start? I understand enough to know there is time pressure, but I can't think straight to manage any more!
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this.
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- BIS
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4 years 3 months ago #255101 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Help with PIP MR
Hi Emma
Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains 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?
I'm sorry you've found yourself in this position. The first stage to challenging a Decision is for you 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 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 you meet the criteria, 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.
BIS
Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains 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?
I'm sorry you've found yourself in this position. The first stage to challenging a Decision is for you 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 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 you meet the criteria, 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.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- denby
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4 years 3 months ago #255113 by denby
Replied by denby on topic Help with PIP MR
Hi Emma, so sorry they have done this to you, it's quite common to lose a lot of the one-month with post.
Can I suggest you decide whether you can afford guaranteed next-day post at around £7 depending whether under or over 100g weight? Can you be sure to get it to a post office to send it this way on the necessary day? If you can, then the return date minus one day is how long you have to complete your main Mandatory Reconsideration submission.
If you cannot afford that much, £2.69 will get you First class Signed for but you need to allow maybe 4 days with Covid.
Once you decide how you will post it, you can count the days from now to posting, and try to do a bit each day so as to avoid overload. Unless you prefer a blitz to get it over with. If so, please take one more day without posting late, to just check through for major mistakes.
It is perfectly standard to include wording to say you will be sending in more evidence shortly as soon as it is ready. That means you can meet the deadline, but still for example get an extra doctor's letter, or just include more stuff you want to, but did not have time to organise before posting for the time limit.
Hoping this helps you get started along with all BIS's good advice, as he says, step 1 call DWP for the assessment report. Step 2 read the guide via the link he has put.
Denby
Can I suggest you decide whether you can afford guaranteed next-day post at around £7 depending whether under or over 100g weight? Can you be sure to get it to a post office to send it this way on the necessary day? If you can, then the return date minus one day is how long you have to complete your main Mandatory Reconsideration submission.
If you cannot afford that much, £2.69 will get you First class Signed for but you need to allow maybe 4 days with Covid.
Once you decide how you will post it, you can count the days from now to posting, and try to do a bit each day so as to avoid overload. Unless you prefer a blitz to get it over with. If so, please take one more day without posting late, to just check through for major mistakes.
It is perfectly standard to include wording to say you will be sending in more evidence shortly as soon as it is ready. That means you can meet the deadline, but still for example get an extra doctor's letter, or just include more stuff you want to, but did not have time to organise before posting for the time limit.
Hoping this helps you get started along with all BIS's good advice, as he says, step 1 call DWP for the assessment report. Step 2 read the guide via the link he has put.
Denby
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- Catherine
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4 years 3 months ago #255122 by Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Catherine on topic Help with PIP MR
Hello Emma, and welcome to the forum.
Your post reveals so much about how hard you are finding all this, and I am really sorry that you are having to face it alone.
In addition to what has already been said I would add that I have found if you have a reasonable reason for being late in sending in your MR, if you ring the DWP before the final date they will grant you a little extra time. I have not read this in any rules, so it might not always work, but is worth a try!
I hope you are seeing things a little more clearly now,
Catherine
Your post reveals so much about how hard you are finding all this, and I am really sorry that you are having to face it alone.
In addition to what has already been said I would add that I have found if you have a reasonable reason for being late in sending in your MR, if you ring the DWP before the final date they will grant you a little extra time. I have not read this in any rules, so it might not always work, but is worth a try!
I hope you are seeing things a little more clearly now,
Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- EmmaReynolds
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4 years 3 months ago #255216 by EmmaReynolds
Replied by EmmaReynolds on topic Help with PIP MR
Thank you, everyone, for your support and advice. I've calmed down enough now to print off some of the documents and am slowly trying to read through them. It is hard to understand even emails and stuff when I am distressed, let alone complicated things like this.
BIS - the assessment report, is that different to the part of my letter that is headed 'My decision'?
The part of the letter that is called 'My decision' is full of things that are completely untrue and the absolute opposite of what I said on the telephone call. I didn't record the call, which, of course, I now totally regret. Can I challenge (without calling the assessor a liar) what is written there? Rereading it now is so upsetting! It is all completely untrue. Absolute lies, in fact. I struggle to describe it as such. I would rather believe it was a misunderstanding, but how can it be? That is possibly the most distressing part of all this (I have a long history of childhood abuse and domestic abuse - people lying to me and about me and causing me to have a tenuous grip on reality because of this - it is making me struggle - sorry). I think, as far as I know, this isn't uncommon, is it? I feel like I'm going crazy! (And then I think that is probably the point. I told the assessor I was struggling with suicidal urges and had no support. Are they doing this on purpose?)
Sorry. I am ok, and I will be ok. Thank you for the help, everyone.
E
BIS - the assessment report, is that different to the part of my letter that is headed 'My decision'?
The part of the letter that is called 'My decision' is full of things that are completely untrue and the absolute opposite of what I said on the telephone call. I didn't record the call, which, of course, I now totally regret. Can I challenge (without calling the assessor a liar) what is written there? Rereading it now is so upsetting! It is all completely untrue. Absolute lies, in fact. I struggle to describe it as such. I would rather believe it was a misunderstanding, but how can it be? That is possibly the most distressing part of all this (I have a long history of childhood abuse and domestic abuse - people lying to me and about me and causing me to have a tenuous grip on reality because of this - it is making me struggle - sorry). I think, as far as I know, this isn't uncommon, is it? I feel like I'm going crazy! (And then I think that is probably the point. I told the assessor I was struggling with suicidal urges and had no support. Are they doing this on purpose?)
Sorry. I am ok, and I will be ok. Thank you for the help, everyone.
E
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- Gary
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4 years 3 months ago #255250 by Gary
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Replied by Gary on topic Help with PIP MR
Hi Emma
The assessors report is called PA4 and will go into a lot more detail than an Decision Makers decision letter. From the assessors report you can spot any errors, of what was said or not said, I usually go over an assessors report with a highlighter before applying for a MR.
Contact DWP for a copy of the report: pip helpline 0800 121 4433
Gary
The assessors report is called PA4 and will go into a lot more detail than an Decision Makers decision letter. From the assessors report you can spot any errors, of what was said or not said, I usually go over an assessors report with a highlighter before applying for a MR.
Contact DWP for a copy of the report: pip helpline 0800 121 4433
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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