PIP phone assesment

Hi Hazel

Glad to hear that you have had your assessment, but sorry it wasn't the best of experiences. A lot of assessors do constantly cut claimants off, which isn't good enough. Some of them are also obsessed with people's ability to drive and be disabled.

You can ring up and ask for a copy of the assessment report. It's a PA4. It should be ready 48 hours after your assessment. Don't let anyone fob you off by saying you need to wait for the decision - you don't. If someone says that just ring off and then ring back and get a different call handler. Generally, it's not worth trying to argue when they've got it wrong.

BIS

Hi Hazel

Well done in not being fobbed off.

When you get the assessment report you will have a better understanding of how the DWP Decision Maker may come to their conclusions and you will now be able to argue against them.

There is a small window for you to write to the Decision Maker before a decision is made but you will need to be quick.

I usually use a highlighter to highlight any inaccuracies, once you have gone through the report go through each descriptor one at a time why you disagree with the assessor and try and match it with any supporting documents you may have sent in.

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.

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

If you have any further questions come back to the forum and we will do our best to help.

Gary

Hi Hazel

1. You can try sending in a copy of your care plan, if you do it very quickly. Please make sure that you have read it very carefully. Care plans are a bit notorious for slipping in sentences which are fine for the service user when considering their care from CMHT, but can be damaging when the service user is trying to put in a claim for benefits. Not trying to scare you, but just read it through.

2. You literally address the letter to the Decision-Maker and use the Wolverhampton address. Put it on the envelope and on the letter.

BIS