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PIP Assessment - claimant filled in form alone

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5 years 8 months ago #214899 by Flopot
Hello B&W,

Nice to see such an online resource for claimants and carers; this is my first question on these forums.

Basically a relative filled in a "PIPS form" and refused help from anyone to complete it. This person suffers from schizophrenia and will not acknowledge to themselves that they do need and receive constant support in their daily lives. However, the relative sent off the form, refusing any help or at least to go over what was put down on the form.

I think part of the reason that the form was sent off in a rush was due to frustration and disappointment. The Mental Health scheme/centre that they attend apparently promised to go over the form but in the end reneged. By then it was too late for family members to intervene and help.

Now this person has been called up for assessment and so we want to help them get through this part of the process comfortably and successfully. For example, what percentage of people are called for an assessment? I read somewhere that over 90% of claimants attend an assessment -- such a fact would reassure this person, I think.

Any guides or advice available for this particular scenario?

Kind regards

F.

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5 years 8 months ago #214905 by Gordon
Flopot

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 don't have up to date statistics, the figure used to be 98% of claimants required a face to face assessment but the Government ask the two Assessment Providers to increase the number of Paper Based Reviews but I would be surprised if the current figure is less then 95%.

Is anyone their appointee? If not then this will severely limit your ability to act on their behalf.

Do you have access to what your relative has written on their PIP2?

Are they actually willing to discuss with family members their problems?

You say that they do not acknowledge the help they need. Is this is a case of refusing to accept that they need this help or do they not actually understand that they need it?

Will they allow the family to help them with the claim?

How would they react if someone attends their assessment with them and contradicts what they are saying to the assessor?

Our PIP Claim guide explains the criteria that they are being asked to meet

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

Gordon

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

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5 years 8 months ago #214913 by Flopot
Hello Gordon,

Thank you for the swift reply.

Is anyone their appointee? If not then this will severely limit your ability to act on their behalf.

I don't know if that is an official position, but this person has requested a relative to attend the assessment.

Do you have access to what your relative has written on their PIP2?

This person did not keep a copy of their completed form; they did keep some hand written notes we are allowed to read.

Are they actually willing to discuss with family members their problems?

Reluctantly, yes.

You say that they do not acknowledge the help they need. Is this is a case of refusing to accept that they need this help or do they not actually understand that they need it?

Well, they accept the help gladly, and with gratitude but don't admit they need it. So I think it is more of the latter -- they don't seem to understand the full extent of the family support network, e.g. collecting prescriptions, reminding them to take medication (GP Surgery didn't notice person had stopped taking at one point); helping them recover from a relapse; cleaning and maintaining their house; ensuring at least a few heathly, hot meals during the week; daily social contact.

Will they allow the family to help them with the claim?

Yes -- at least with this assessment; too late to help with form filling now I presume.

How would they react if someone attends their assessment with them and contradicts what they are saying to the assessor


Hard to say -- might be stubborn; might be pliant.

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5 years 8 months ago #214914 by Gordon
Flopot

An appointee is an official position made by the DWP in regard to someone who is not able to look after their own affairs.

The reason I asked is because an appointee can provide input to the claimants assessment, indeed they can actually override what the claimant says.

Someone who just attends the assessment is unlikely to be allowed to make any comment on the claimants problems, depending on the assessor on the day.


You could spend some time with your relative writing a letter, based on the format of the PIP2 that they completed, trying to explain their problems in more realistic terms than they may have done originally, this could be handed in at the assessment with a request that the assessor read it before they start the interview. Our PIP Claim guide would help with the writing of this.


Gordon

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

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5 years 6 months ago #217214 by Flopot
Hello B&W,

Just over one month ago I explained how a relative filled in a PIP's form without receiving any help or advice. Following advice received here we helped this person write-up a letter, structured according to PIPs, explaining her condition and daily activities in a more realistic way.

This person recently received her decision and has been awarded no points, which is quite shocking given her actual condition. One interesting point is that the letter seems to show that the assessors do not seem to have read the additional information, never-mind the original form. For example, this person never claimed to have difficulties managing toilet needs yet the decision letter states that the person did claim to have difficulties managing toilet needs, which is categorically wrong and will not be found in the form nor the letter.

I have downloaded the B&W PIPs appeal documents and will start reading these asap but do you have any starting out advice for the appeals process?

kind regards

F.

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5 years 6 months ago #217236 by Gordon
Flopot

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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