Refused PIP on abilities Claimant 'could do' Over 13 Years Ago!

Hi Everyone,

Having been a member here for many years I have never posted.
I have been a disabled advocate since being forced into early retirement through disability and was very badly treated by the DWP.

In all this time helping others I have never seen such a ridiculous statement on a refusal of PIP, that people have brought to my attention.

The whole award has been refused on the basis of, and I quote, "the claimant can do this as they used to do 'x' activity when they were at school".
This was repeated throughout, for most of the descriptors.

The claimant left school over 13 years ago!

I believe this is the most ridiculous statement I have ever seen or heard of, I am absolutely taken aback.
We all know they can be underhand, sneaky, biased.....and all the other words in the dictionary.........but.....
Has anyone else ever had anything as equally blatantly irrelevant? How have you approached it, and were you successful?

Still in shock....
Would welcome your experiences

Hi PurpleAnkh

The DWP does have a habit of using such phrases, and of copying and pasting particular responses over and over again - but I haven't heard of them using the school one more than once before. It is ridiculous, but in a way, it is so unreasonable that it should be easier to get the decision overturned. However, I might be overly optimistic on that point, as we are talking about the DWP, and some of their reasoning makes no sense.

Hopefully, some members will tell you of their recent experience.

BIS