PIP Mandatory Reconsideration request - how much detail?

Hi Squiggle

Welcome to the forum.

You might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is; www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/faq/forum

There is no need to apologise, in answer to your question, you can include as much detail as you like to support your cause. If you have a rare condition then it is useful if you can send in with your claim, information about your condition from a self help group.

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

I usually use a highlighter to highlight any inaccuracies, once you have gone through the report you then set out why you are applying for a MR and 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 'in my opinion' 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, remember they are just an opinion which is not based on fact.

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.

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; benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip

For the CRMR1 form to initiate your MR; www.gov.uk/government/publications/chall...ork-and-pensions-dwp

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

Hi Squiggle

I hope you win your MR, but if you do have to go to Appeal, you can be certain that the panel will have more knowledge of your condition and the implications.

You were absolutely right to include that they had not recorded observing you asleep - that's frankly negligent. If you've told them that your sleep disorder is present all day and every day - I'm not sure what the assessor was expecting you to write regarding severe days the majority of the time. It's a nonsensical remark. And as for incorrectly recording that you are working - that's sloppy. If someone told me they had a severe sleep disorder and I thought they were working, I would have queried it. Clearly, they had no clue what it's like to have one and no understanding of the very obvious safety considerations, among other things. I think that some assessors think there is something amusing about someone falling asleep easily - but as you know all too well, there's nothing amusing or light-hearted about it.

We shall be interested to hear how you get on.

BIS