pip best what to appeal decision

Hi Toks

You cannot appeal the decision yet until you have requested a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR).

The majority of MRs do not change a claimant's award - indeed only 17% are currently successful. Obviously the 17% who get an increased award and don't have to go for appeal are delighted and will say it was well worth it.

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 (PA4) 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.

Understand that the assessor is offering an opinion when they say that you can do the PIP activities, tackling these head-on is unlikely to be successful, you need to show that the basis of that opinion is founded on incorrect information, so try and refer to your evidence to undermine what they have said.

Also, try and stick to issues that lead to your scoring points, I often hear members referring to the assessors spelling, as an example, whilst it may show a lack of professionalism, raising it as an issue isn't going to help you get an award.

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;

Lastly, make sure that you understand the criteria that you are being assessed against you can put the best case forward that is possible but you won't score points if you do not meet the PIP Descriptors.

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.

Gary

Hello Toks,

It is always easier if you are not trying to these things alone.

This can be a helpful link in locating someone.

Or if that fails, perhaps there is a friend or family member whom you can trust with all the personal details which go into a PIP claim can support you in this. And please do note what denby said - if you have needed to ask someone to help you with the form, make sure you say so, that could in itself potentially earn you points.

Catherine