- Posts: 2
× Members
PIP - No Award
- MSpenceley
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
1 year 4 months ago #281851 by MSpenceley
PIP - No Award was created by MSpenceley
Hi
Please can you direct me to where I can get some detailed personalised help with an appeal? The decision is zero award 0 score for everything except a 4 for mixing with people. My daughter is autistic and has just completed a musical performance degree with significant help from DSA. None of it has been easy at all, but in the award they're saying things like because one meal a day is eaten that demonstrates feelings of hunger (these are not felt and not every day and she does need prompting) She hardly manages to shower, it could be once every 2 weeks, but because she can get in and out of the shower 0 score, she has voice software provided by DSA but because she's done a degree 0 score for having a high reading ability it goes on and on. The whole report is terrible and shows a complete lack of understanding about autism. My daughter couldn't fill her application form in due to anxiety and autism and this telephone interview came out of the blue, I assisted but this is all they have to go on. We did try quite soon after the closing date for the form to start a fresh application but they wouldn't let us, presumably because they were going to go to assessment anyway. Are there any experienced consultants we could pay to help with an appeal?
Thanks in advance.
Please can you direct me to where I can get some detailed personalised help with an appeal? The decision is zero award 0 score for everything except a 4 for mixing with people. My daughter is autistic and has just completed a musical performance degree with significant help from DSA. None of it has been easy at all, but in the award they're saying things like because one meal a day is eaten that demonstrates feelings of hunger (these are not felt and not every day and she does need prompting) She hardly manages to shower, it could be once every 2 weeks, but because she can get in and out of the shower 0 score, she has voice software provided by DSA but because she's done a degree 0 score for having a high reading ability it goes on and on. The whole report is terrible and shows a complete lack of understanding about autism. My daughter couldn't fill her application form in due to anxiety and autism and this telephone interview came out of the blue, I assisted but this is all they have to go on. We did try quite soon after the closing date for the form to start a fresh application but they wouldn't let us, presumably because they were going to go to assessment anyway. Are there any experienced consultants we could pay to help with an appeal?
Thanks in advance.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BIS
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 8405
1 year 4 months ago #281869 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP - No Award
Hi Mspencleley
I'm sorry that your daughter finds herself in such a position. It probably doesn't help, but in my experience, autism is one of the conditions that assessors have very little understanding of. Your daughter is one of many with the condition that finds they are refused PIP.
You cannot start a new application when one is already in progress.
I don't know whether you used our guide to PIP claims and reviews when you filled out the original form, but if you didn't, you would be advised to look at it.
The next stage is to appeal the decision and put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration. This needs to be done within one month on the date of the decision letter. It sounds as if you have a copy of the assessment report. (PA4)
You can see if there are any welfare advisors in your area - advicelocal.uk/ but be aware - what you want is someone who has an understanding of autism - not just PIP, and that I think will be more challenging. You know your daughter's condition better than anyone, and key to your success is understanding the PIP system and how to counter their arguments. (Not easy I know).
We have a Guide to PIP Appeals (and Mandatory Reconsiderations) - which will tell you the process. One of the things you mentioned is the fact that your daughter struggles to shower and needs prompting. They have ignored the fact that someone may need supervision or prompting (4 points). You need to show why she struggles - is it her autism? is it a phobia or fear? Is it depression? What impact does it have not being able to shower? How much prompting does she require? When she then has the shower is it quick or does it take longer than 'average'. It cannot be considered 'average' to have a shower every two weeks. Don't expect anyone to understand your daughter's condition or how it impacts her life - you have to spell it out to them.
Do have a look at the Guide to Challenging a Medical Report.
Be aware that less than a third of Mandatory Reconsiderations are successful. (That doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it). You said your daughter couldn't fill in the application form - and if it was done just on the assessment - that would have put her at a considerable disadvantage. You need to get some information to them and counter the arguments about the degree.
BIS
I'm sorry that your daughter finds herself in such a position. It probably doesn't help, but in my experience, autism is one of the conditions that assessors have very little understanding of. Your daughter is one of many with the condition that finds they are refused PIP.
You cannot start a new application when one is already in progress.
I don't know whether you used our guide to PIP claims and reviews when you filled out the original form, but if you didn't, you would be advised to look at it.
The next stage is to appeal the decision and put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration. This needs to be done within one month on the date of the decision letter. It sounds as if you have a copy of the assessment report. (PA4)
You can see if there are any welfare advisors in your area - advicelocal.uk/ but be aware - what you want is someone who has an understanding of autism - not just PIP, and that I think will be more challenging. You know your daughter's condition better than anyone, and key to your success is understanding the PIP system and how to counter their arguments. (Not easy I know).
We have a Guide to PIP Appeals (and Mandatory Reconsiderations) - which will tell you the process. One of the things you mentioned is the fact that your daughter struggles to shower and needs prompting. They have ignored the fact that someone may need supervision or prompting (4 points). You need to show why she struggles - is it her autism? is it a phobia or fear? Is it depression? What impact does it have not being able to shower? How much prompting does she require? When she then has the shower is it quick or does it take longer than 'average'. It cannot be considered 'average' to have a shower every two weeks. Don't expect anyone to understand your daughter's condition or how it impacts her life - you have to spell it out to them.
Do have a look at the Guide to Challenging a Medical Report.
Be aware that less than a third of Mandatory Reconsiderations are successful. (That doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it). You said your daughter couldn't fill in the application form - and if it was done just on the assessment - that would have put her at a considerable disadvantage. You need to get some information to them and counter the arguments about the degree.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: MSpenceley
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Moderators: Gordon, Gary, BIS, Catherine, Wendy, Kelly, greekqueen, peter, Katherine, Super User, Chris, David