PA4 report totally incorrect - help please

Hi Riley

Now you have the assessors 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,
Contact the benefits office that gave you the decision. You can contact them:

by phone
by letter
by filling in and returning a form for asking for mandatory reconsideration

The contact details are on your decision letter. www.gov.uk/government/publications/chall...ork-and-pensions-dwp

Don't use grey words such as 'likely to worsen over time', when completing a form it should be in black and white.

Has there been a change in your condition from when previous assessed?

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 Riley

I think there are two slightly different issues here - that are intertwined. You can make a complaint about the quality of the report to Capita (which it sounds as if you should do) - saying there are so many errors that it doesn't meet the threshold for an acceptable report. I would tell them you can verify your arguments by providing them with a transcript of the assessment as you recorded it yourselves, should they require it. You should contact them about this asap.

At the same time, you can write immediately to the DWP decision maker - advising them that you have raised a complaint because there are so many 'errors' in what was written and then tell them of the many things you are challenging. Focus on the areas in the DWP letter that apply to the individual questions. Don't waste time on things that won't score points. You only have a very small window of time to do this. Tell them that you reserve the right to submit a Mandatory Reconsideration after you receive the decision letter. You can never be sure if the letter will even arrive at the DWP before the decision maker makes their decision, but it's worth a go.

BIS