- Posts: 3
- Forum
- Members forums
- ESA, PIP, UC and DLA Queries and Results
- PIP NO CHANGE AFTER REQUEST FOR REVIEW
× Members
PIP NO CHANGE AFTER REQUEST FOR REVIEW
- Nelly
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
1 day 7 hours ago #311590 by Nelly
PIP NO CHANGE AFTER REQUEST FOR REVIEW was created by Nelly
Hi, I was awarded PIP last year, standard rate on daily living only. I asked for a review due to disagreement on initial assessment notes, this review has taken almost 3 months. They have now sent letter saying they won’t change or increase the awards after this first review.
Interestingly, if I complete the PIP test available on this site, I score very high 42 in daily living and 20 in the other mobility area.
I don’t understand how the decisions are made, they have loads of evidence from me that supported the claim.
I’m not sure if I should appeal, or call them again to ask for more clarity on the decision. I’m finding the process very stressful. I also don’t want to risk what has already been awarded from being removed. Why they treat people with the wand of fear for asking for more clarity, I will never understand.
Anyone else gone through the same and can provide any thoughts or guidance on what to do next is appreciated.
Thanks
Interestingly, if I complete the PIP test available on this site, I score very high 42 in daily living and 20 in the other mobility area.
I don’t understand how the decisions are made, they have loads of evidence from me that supported the claim.
I’m not sure if I should appeal, or call them again to ask for more clarity on the decision. I’m finding the process very stressful. I also don’t want to risk what has already been awarded from being removed. Why they treat people with the wand of fear for asking for more clarity, I will never understand.
Anyone else gone through the same and can provide any thoughts or guidance on what to do next is appreciated.
Thanks
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BIS
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 9945
1 day 5 hours ago #311591 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP NO CHANGE AFTER REQUEST FOR REVIEW
Hi Nelly
I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you are facing. Was last year the first time you applied for PIP? (It doesn't matter - I am just curious to know how much you are used to dealing with the system.) You say that you asked for a review, and I'm assuming that this was a Mandatory Reconsideration, which they have now denied.
When you originally sent in your claim, did you have a telephone assessment or a paper-based one? If you had a telephone assessment - then I hope you had a copy of the assessment report (a PA4) which should have given you more details of how they reached their decision. I don't know from what you said whether you disagreed with their decision letter or the report.
If you had a paper-based decision, they have stopped producing a report as they used to, and the only way to get any further details is to put in a subject access request, which a couple of our members have done. One reported that it was helpful and they got some notes - and I don't know the result of the other.
If you did get a PA4 (assessor's report) - that's when you get the most information. Generally once someone puts in for a Mandatory Reconsideration - the response very rarely provides any additional information which is frustrating for you. You say that you don't understand how they came to their decision and obviously you need to. You could if you could tolerate it - ring and ask for a call-back from a case number to explain to you why your award remains unchanged. You want the reply from a case manager not one of the normal call handlers who answer the phone. You could write - but there's a good chance that you won't get any sort of response or it will just be a letter confirming what you already know - ie they are not going to change their mind.
Should you put in for an Appeal? That is a decision you will have to make for yourself. It can take up to 52 weeks for your case to be heard - (even longer in some parts of the country). You have far more chance of success at Appeal stage than you do for a Mandatory Reconsideration. One thing that you should not worry about is losing the award you already have. If a Tribunal Panel think that there is a chance that a claimant's award will be reduced, they give the claimant the opportunity to withdraw their appeal, and therefore they are left with what they have already been awarded. (ie You would still be on standard ddaily living until your award was reviewed again).
If you are going to put in for an appeal, consider the strain on you putting your case together, the long wait and having to argue your case in front of a Tribunal Panel (unless you decided to ask for a paper-based decision). Only you know whether you can face that. Plenty of our members have done so and been successful.
My one piece of advice is, if you decide to move forward, try to be objective and see if there are any places where you can improve what you submitted. it's not usually the amount of information that people fall down on - it is often linking their conditions and the impact to the specific PIP criteria. Claimants often expect the medical experts to 'understand' and then are disappointed when they don't. Go through the guide to PIP claims and reviews and look at every question and see if your arguments were strong enough. Also, look at page 17 of the guide and make sure you have applied all information under the 'reliability' heading in your answers. Getting that right is one of the easiest ways to win a case.
If you have any further questions, do come back and ask and we will try and help.
BIS
I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you are facing. Was last year the first time you applied for PIP? (It doesn't matter - I am just curious to know how much you are used to dealing with the system.) You say that you asked for a review, and I'm assuming that this was a Mandatory Reconsideration, which they have now denied.
When you originally sent in your claim, did you have a telephone assessment or a paper-based one? If you had a telephone assessment - then I hope you had a copy of the assessment report (a PA4) which should have given you more details of how they reached their decision. I don't know from what you said whether you disagreed with their decision letter or the report.
If you had a paper-based decision, they have stopped producing a report as they used to, and the only way to get any further details is to put in a subject access request, which a couple of our members have done. One reported that it was helpful and they got some notes - and I don't know the result of the other.
If you did get a PA4 (assessor's report) - that's when you get the most information. Generally once someone puts in for a Mandatory Reconsideration - the response very rarely provides any additional information which is frustrating for you. You say that you don't understand how they came to their decision and obviously you need to. You could if you could tolerate it - ring and ask for a call-back from a case number to explain to you why your award remains unchanged. You want the reply from a case manager not one of the normal call handlers who answer the phone. You could write - but there's a good chance that you won't get any sort of response or it will just be a letter confirming what you already know - ie they are not going to change their mind.
Should you put in for an Appeal? That is a decision you will have to make for yourself. It can take up to 52 weeks for your case to be heard - (even longer in some parts of the country). You have far more chance of success at Appeal stage than you do for a Mandatory Reconsideration. One thing that you should not worry about is losing the award you already have. If a Tribunal Panel think that there is a chance that a claimant's award will be reduced, they give the claimant the opportunity to withdraw their appeal, and therefore they are left with what they have already been awarded. (ie You would still be on standard ddaily living until your award was reviewed again).
If you are going to put in for an appeal, consider the strain on you putting your case together, the long wait and having to argue your case in front of a Tribunal Panel (unless you decided to ask for a paper-based decision). Only you know whether you can face that. Plenty of our members have done so and been successful.
My one piece of advice is, if you decide to move forward, try to be objective and see if there are any places where you can improve what you submitted. it's not usually the amount of information that people fall down on - it is often linking their conditions and the impact to the specific PIP criteria. Claimants often expect the medical experts to 'understand' and then are disappointed when they don't. Go through the guide to PIP claims and reviews and look at every question and see if your arguments were strong enough. Also, look at page 17 of the guide and make sure you have applied all information under the 'reliability' heading in your answers. Getting that right is one of the easiest ways to win a case.
If you have any further questions, do come back and ask and we will try and help.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Nelly
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Nelly
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 3
21 hours 54 minutes ago #311609 by Nelly
Replied by Nelly on topic PIP NO CHANGE AFTER REQUEST FOR REVIEW
Thanks for your quick and detailed reply. 👍 great advice too.
I had been getting PIP last year after a phone assessment. I asked for a copy of the report PA4 once the assessment was complete
When I read the report I was shocked at the amount of gaps or errors reported and some elements looked like they hadn’t even referred to their own notes….
With the report in hand I spent several days trying to get through the ‘helpline’ and I managed to get a case manager to send my case for review. Explaining that I disagreed with a lot of the commentary that the assessor had captured and subsequently used to base the rewards on.
Prior to the application and assessment I had spent a lot of time going through the guides and tools on this site which helped a lot to frame my case. The original paper application had all of the necessary details and I had felt the assessor was listening well and capturing all the key points.
The case manager then suggested to go through the assessment scores with me on the phone and agreed to add additional information to my claim (that the assessor had either got wrong or missed completely) then he said he would resubmit for review of my concerns with the PA4
The case manager I dealt with, made me feel confident that the additional information would help my case but as usual no guarantees given.
That was October, I received a text soon after saying they would review my concerns by February 2026 (unbelievable that they take so long) the outcome of this exercise has resulted in no change.
I don’t think however (need to check) if this review of my complaint regarding accuracy of assessors commentary was classed as a mandatory review as I didn’t specifically ask for this when dealing with the case manager and he certainly didn’t refer to my request as such.
I’m not surprised, given that the time between assessment and request to look at my scores again has been months, that anyone looking at the case notes in black and white today without understanding the full picture and history would apply any extra effort to review. I.e the case manager just bought them time to say no again it doesn’t feel like they have taken my feedback seriously. The stress this has put me through so far is unbearable. I’m having a similar fight with ESA but will save that for another day. I’m exhausted.
I guess I will call them with the latest letter and decision to hand and ask them to explain and if a mandatory review is my next steps.
Overall the process is a farce, i do believe it would be easier to get blood from a stone rather than any help from DWP (it stings a lot after paying into the ‘system’ for 30 years and when you need the help you have to fight / beg / use any tools you can get hold of to get anywhere) and wait months for it… (sorry rant over)
Thanks again for taking the time to read and reply so quickly, maybe you could work for the DWP and show them how it’s done ha ha.
On a serious note, your guidance on alignment of issues and linking them clearly is good advice, I had done this to the best of my ability, along with checking if there’s anything else useful to add to the next conversation.
I now have a full file of the original application, assessment notes and review notes with latest decision to trawl through and summarise yet again to prep for my next interaction….
I will persevere, and keep this forum updated with any useful updates, many thanks for your encouragement and suggestions.
Neil
I had been getting PIP last year after a phone assessment. I asked for a copy of the report PA4 once the assessment was complete
When I read the report I was shocked at the amount of gaps or errors reported and some elements looked like they hadn’t even referred to their own notes….
With the report in hand I spent several days trying to get through the ‘helpline’ and I managed to get a case manager to send my case for review. Explaining that I disagreed with a lot of the commentary that the assessor had captured and subsequently used to base the rewards on.
Prior to the application and assessment I had spent a lot of time going through the guides and tools on this site which helped a lot to frame my case. The original paper application had all of the necessary details and I had felt the assessor was listening well and capturing all the key points.
The case manager then suggested to go through the assessment scores with me on the phone and agreed to add additional information to my claim (that the assessor had either got wrong or missed completely) then he said he would resubmit for review of my concerns with the PA4
The case manager I dealt with, made me feel confident that the additional information would help my case but as usual no guarantees given.
That was October, I received a text soon after saying they would review my concerns by February 2026 (unbelievable that they take so long) the outcome of this exercise has resulted in no change.
I don’t think however (need to check) if this review of my complaint regarding accuracy of assessors commentary was classed as a mandatory review as I didn’t specifically ask for this when dealing with the case manager and he certainly didn’t refer to my request as such.
I’m not surprised, given that the time between assessment and request to look at my scores again has been months, that anyone looking at the case notes in black and white today without understanding the full picture and history would apply any extra effort to review. I.e the case manager just bought them time to say no again it doesn’t feel like they have taken my feedback seriously. The stress this has put me through so far is unbearable. I’m having a similar fight with ESA but will save that for another day. I’m exhausted.
I guess I will call them with the latest letter and decision to hand and ask them to explain and if a mandatory review is my next steps.
Overall the process is a farce, i do believe it would be easier to get blood from a stone rather than any help from DWP (it stings a lot after paying into the ‘system’ for 30 years and when you need the help you have to fight / beg / use any tools you can get hold of to get anywhere) and wait months for it… (sorry rant over)
Thanks again for taking the time to read and reply so quickly, maybe you could work for the DWP and show them how it’s done ha ha.
On a serious note, your guidance on alignment of issues and linking them clearly is good advice, I had done this to the best of my ability, along with checking if there’s anything else useful to add to the next conversation.
I now have a full file of the original application, assessment notes and review notes with latest decision to trawl through and summarise yet again to prep for my next interaction….
I will persevere, and keep this forum updated with any useful updates, many thanks for your encouragement and suggestions.
Neil
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BIS
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 9945
2 hours 7 minutes ago #311624 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP NO CHANGE AFTER REQUEST FOR REVIEW
Hi Nelly
As you were criticising the PA4, I can't see that they will treat it as anything but an MR -, but as they didn't use the term in their response, I would be happy to be proved wrong. You're sensible to ring and clarify the situation. Let's hope they say you can submit an MR. If they do, be aware that only 27% of MRs are successful. I'm not suggesting you shouldn't put one in if you get the opportunity - I just want you to know it can be challenging.
BIS
As you were criticising the PA4, I can't see that they will treat it as anything but an MR -, but as they didn't use the term in their response, I would be happy to be proved wrong. You're sensible to ring and clarify the situation. Let's hope they say you can submit an MR. If they do, be aware that only 27% of MRs are successful. I'm not suggesting you shouldn't put one in if you get the opportunity - I just want you to know it can be challenging.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Moderators: Gordon, latetrain, BIS, Catherine12345, Chris, David, Keely, Jasmine