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Paper-based review/home/centre PIP assessments

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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #212007 by MTVmike
Hi there,

First many thanks for fantastic resource and all the good you do through it.

I'm 31, male, suffered Traumatic Brain Injury 10 years ago so have cognitive/learning disability/behavioural... the list goes on but I don't have my evidence to hand... I have all manner of evidence which I submitted with my PIP2 form, sent about 3 pages supplementary in answer to the questions... and some 60/70 pages of medical & non-medical evidence, from original hospitalisation/multi-disciplinary rehabilitation reports/psych stuff/police arrest reports/homelessness stuff etc... Largely quite old evidence but the most recent included GP letter talking of concern for DWP's actions leading to exacerbation of my mental health troubles
(twice has my ESA been unjustly stopped for 12+months & 6 months respectively - this resulted in homelessness) & head injury nurse specialist writing in support to say everything ever reported is still current & outlining some of my difficulties, GP has done the same.

This message contains confidential information


Long and sort of it is... I should have been given a paper-based review but have been denied so. I even referenced from the letters/paperwork in my answers. Didn't even conceive of the fact I would be called in for a f-2-f so neglected to put info on that I should have a home-visit as with my last assessment which again I have all the details of to support, because I didn't want to tempt fate.

Sorry for exceedingly long post.

Quote PIP Assessment Guide 1:
"Cases that should not require a face-to-face consultation
Although each case should be determined individually, the following types of case should not normally require a face-to-face consultation:
There is strong evidence on which to advise on the case and a face-to-face consultation is likely to be stressful for the claimant (for example, claimants with autism, cognitive impairment or learning disability)"
- Excluding autism, all applicable!
"The claimant questionnaire indicates a high level of disability, the information is consistent, medically reasonable and there is nothing to suggest over-reporting – (examples may include claimants with severe neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, severely disabling stroke)"
- Over-reporting may be claimed but only because it may have seemed to daunting a prospect to go through the evidence, all of which would be found to be relevant & applicable.
"There is sufficient detailed, consistent and medically reasonable information on function."
- Without doubt & there is now even more available since the form was sent off.

In the past I have written to JCP regional managers, all by email to create a record/paper-trail & even IDS when he was DWP Secretary & PM. Who do I need to communicate with/what do I need to do to get my justly-deserved paper-review/home-assessment?

Thanks & sorry once again for all the reading, hugely appreciated!
Last edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Gordon.

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5 years 10 months ago #212021 by Gordon
MTVmike

Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

I have made some of your post confidential, this means that only you and the Moderators can see the content.

Do you have a statement from your GP that a face to face assessment would be detrimental to your health?

How old is the evidence that you have submitted?

What is the prognosis on your condition? Is it likely to improve with time? I am asking as older evidence can still be relevant if you can show that your conditions are not likely to improve.

I would start by contacting your MP, but they are unlikely to be able to help you if you do not have medical evidence supporting the need for a Paper Based Review.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: MTVmike

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5 years 10 months ago #212023 by MTVmike
Thanks for your kind consideration Gordon... There is not medical evidence per-se that a f-2-f would be detrimental to my health, however there is plenty of non-medical evidence to show that I can be a risk of harm to myself & others and have been.

Evidence ranges from 10 years ago, to within recent months, I think the most recent was a letter written by head injury specialist nurse from first hospital A&E I was at & she confirms I think that yes, the prognosis will not change, there is also other evidence to support this.

I write about paper-based review from both the DWP's own guide as well as the excerpt in your guide, which has been removed from latest guide, if that makes sense to you?

Thanks again

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5 years 10 months ago #212026 by Gordon
MTVmike

These are guidelines only, having been invited to an assessment you are already on your back foot as those assessing you have decided that you do not meet the criteria for a PBR.

You need to look at how you can bridge the gap from their current point of view to one where a PBR seems reasonable.

You also need to understand that one of the requirements for a PBR is the assessor being satisfied that they have sufficient information to make a reasonable recommendation to the DWP on an award.

This could also prevent one being done.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: MTVmike

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5 years 10 months ago #212416 by MTVmike
Gordon, forgive my delay, I have significant memory impairment.

I'm well aware that I'm very much on the back foot but fortunately I'm also aware of a few other things too.

I'm very curious as to the meaning of your last line & hope you could expand upon it:

"This could also prevent one being done."

I actually paid my doctors surgery to have every piece of medical evidence on file printed, sifted through it, discarding irrelevant, keeping & attaching only the useful & pertinent. In my answers I would reference from the evidence, to make more efficient for them. I gave reference numbers to each letter/report of (non as well as) medical evidence, with also an appendix.

I have contacted my MPs office & have a local councillor as a case worker, she means well, but these people don't realise the power they wield or how to use it.

I had been given an assessment for today, which I was planning to attend, but it was cancelled with barely 24 hours notice. I have now written an email in confirmation of this, which I have sent to everyone relevant I could think of, myself included there were 11 recipients including DWP minister McVey, JCP district manager, my MP & for IAS the only email I could find was for website feedback so I sent it there & have also sent a copy by (1st class) snail mail to Viran Patel in Bristol.

I fear I may have shot myself in the foot though as I said I would not be available until June, tomorrow I will be hopping overseas to attend the funeral of a relative of mine. Who do I need to contact to notify of this re. ESA & DLA/PIP?

Many thanks:
Michael

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5 years 10 months ago #212426 by Gordon
MTVmike

So what I meant by the last comment is that if the assessor feels that have sufficient evidence in the papers that they have received then this should result in a Paper Based Review, they obviously do not believe this to be the case at the moment.

Although you have provided a lot of medical evidence, the PIP assessment is a functional one, your information may suggest the problems that you have with completing the PIP activities but it is unlikely that it will detail the actual level of difficulty that you have unless you have actually discussed these problems with those supporting you medically.

Did you confirm in writing that you will not be available until June, if not then it is worth doing so that it is clear when you will be away until.

Gordon

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

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