Awarded Pip Daily Living Standard Rate

Hi OscarPoppy

What you do next depends very much on what you wrote on your original form. When you said you had backache - what did you tell them was the cause, how long did you say you had it, and did you say that you were waiting to be seen by any specialist?

What I'm trying to understand is whether the assessor ignored your difficulties or they weren't at the time significant enough to make a difference to how you might score for PIP. The health professional judges you on the time of which you completed form. Some claimants have found they can slip in extra information, but it's not easy.

If you feel the majority of problems that you are not suffering from occurred later - but are having a detrimental effect on your mobility then you can put in for a change of circumstances. The DWP will expect you to have had the condition for three months before you make the request and that it will continue for a minimum of nine months afterwards.

If you believe you should have scored more points for mobility because of your mental health you can always apply for a mandatory reconsideration. Just note that mental health issues are always challenging to prove (which shouldn't stop you trying). The fact that you don't go out, won't automatically score you points - you will need to show that to do so causes you 'overwhelming psychological distress'. The DWP can be sneaky on this point and not award claimants points arguing that they don't go out and therefore don't suffer the stress. Just be aware of that.

The best thing you can do is ring up and ask for your assessment report and understand why they scored you the way they have. If you want them to look at your award you need to do that ASAP as it would help inform a letter if you want to be put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration. This has to be done within one month of the decision letter.

Should you accept the award as it is? I can't answer that for you, because it has to be your choice. If you put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration, there is a chance that your daily living award could be affected but I have only come across two people on the forum that this has happened to and there were very specific and unusual reasons for that.

ESA and PIP are currently not linked, so just because a claimant gets accepted for one doesn't mean they will automatically be awarded the other, or put in a specific group.

BIS

Hello OscarPoppy,

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Whatever you decided to do about your PIP it is worth asking for a copy of the Assessors Report (PA4) this should tell you why they decided to award you what they did.

Any consideration of this PIP award will be based on how your condition was when you applied. Since your condition has worsened, you can (and should) tell them of a change of condition and they will reassess. A reassessment does of course mean that you could lose what you have already awarded. If you go through the assessment process make sure that you submit all the evidence you can of your new (and previous) conditions. Don't assume that they take evidence from an earlier application.

You ask what you should do, and that is something we cannot advise on. Unfortunately, only you can say.

There is no direct link between ESA and PIP, although they can refer to evidence submitted and their conclusions for one in justifying a decision on the other.

I appreciate you feeling scared. But arm yourself with as much information as you can, and that at least will empower you to do the best for yourself.

Catherine

Hello OscarPoppy,

Can I just encourage you to get a copy of the Assessor’s report, it is just one phone call to the DWP and does not commit you to anything.

Even if you decide not to take it further at this stage it is worth having the report ready for your reassessment.

BTW it would be remiss of us not to point out that you should report any change in circumstances, not that I have ever heard of the DWP doing anything about it when someone’s condition gets worse.

Catherine