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PIP award reduced

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6 years 10 months ago #189518 by Natalie
PIP award reduced was created by Natalie
Hi, I hope someone can help. I was awarded Enhanced daily living and mobility back in Feb 2015. I suffer with hip dysplasia, Pelvic Girdle pain, Arthritis in hands and feet, carpel tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression and severe anxiety. My report of 2015 was spot on. Had my reassesment face to face at my home 2 weeks ago and have received the brown envelope today, reducing both daily living and mobility to standard! So I will now be losing my motability car and will be in al intents and purposes stranded, as I live out in the sticks.

They have awarded me 8 points for the mobility (previously 12) and 8 for daily living (previously 13).

The assesor just concentrated on just 2 of my disabilities and asked no questions about my anxiety, depression, hip displaysia, fibromyalgia or arthritis. the physical examination was extremely brief.

He has concluded that as I was able to speak to him at the assesment and displayed no signs of anxiety that I am able to not only do I have good manual dexterity meaning I can prepare meals, but that i have normal memory, concentration and cognitive function, even though he did no tests for this or asked about it. The decision letter even rferes to a mental state examination sating I was making good eye contact etc. when I know I most certainly was not!

My conditions have not got better since my initial award, in fact they have probably got worse if anything.

The end of the award states that I am able to stand and walk 20m unaided, despite my telling the assesor that I use a wheelchair whenever i go out and I was using a stick in the house. Would a stick not be classed as an aid?

Sorry for the long post but I am rather angry at the moment!

PS Does anyone know how long it takes them to take your car back off you?

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6 years 10 months ago #189532 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP award reduced
Natlie

It's now eight weeks for the car or up to 26 weeks depending on what option you go for, Speak to Motability.

Yes, a stick is an aid, but all bar one of the Moving Around Descriptors include the use of aids where relevant.

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 for details of the process, the PIP area also has template letters that you can use to make the request with.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

You should contact the DWP for a copy of the assessment report if you have not already done so, I would phone them but again follow up the request in writing. Once you have the assessment report you will have a better understanding of how the DWP Decision Maker has come to their conclusions and will then be able to argue against them.

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;

"the assessor recorded that I walked 50m, I did but they have failed to document that I had to stop every 10m for a rest due to breathlessness"

than their opinions

"based on my observations of the claimant walking I believe that they can reliably walk more than 200m.

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.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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