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PIP Award letter
- Absinthe
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5 years 6 months ago #219033 by Absinthe
PIP Award letter was created by Absinthe
We have just received my son's PIP assessment/award letter, and there are several things I feel that are amiss. A second opinion would be appreciated!
Medication: the decision states that my son needs no prompting to take medication and can manage packets after his musculoskeletal assessment. - No assessment took place during his face to face assessment, he was asked how high he could raise his arms that was it. Also I have to constantly remind him to take meds and do his physio, this was explained to the assessor. If I don't then his condition is not managed and his pain levels increase not allowing him to move. Plus the decision was made that he could manage his condition as he can verbally communicate.
The decision says that he can not get any points for planning a journey as he has no mental health diagnosis, even though we said to the assessor that my son gets very anxious when he has to go anywhere, due to people staring as he used mobility aids. Do you have to have an official diagnosis?
My son was given both standard rate care and mobility (10 points in each) and I am grateful to this site for the help that it gives. Any comments/suggestions would be gratefully received. I will on Monday ask for a copy of his face to face assessment.
Thanks in advance
Medication: the decision states that my son needs no prompting to take medication and can manage packets after his musculoskeletal assessment. - No assessment took place during his face to face assessment, he was asked how high he could raise his arms that was it. Also I have to constantly remind him to take meds and do his physio, this was explained to the assessor. If I don't then his condition is not managed and his pain levels increase not allowing him to move. Plus the decision was made that he could manage his condition as he can verbally communicate.
The decision says that he can not get any points for planning a journey as he has no mental health diagnosis, even though we said to the assessor that my son gets very anxious when he has to go anywhere, due to people staring as he used mobility aids. Do you have to have an official diagnosis?
My son was given both standard rate care and mobility (10 points in each) and I am grateful to this site for the help that it gives. Any comments/suggestions would be gratefully received. I will on Monday ask for a copy of his face to face assessment.
Thanks in advance
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- Gordon
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5 years 6 months ago #219073 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP Award letter
K
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Medication - You don't mention a cognitive problem and your post says that there is no diagnosed mental health issue so the assessor has taken the view that there is no reason why he would prompting wit his medication.
Does he have problems extracting the tablets from their packaging?
Even if you can show a problem, he can only score one point for these problems which usually insufficient for a higher award.
Going Out - This look at problems resulting from three basic causes; Sensory issues such as blindness, cognitive problems such as a learning disability and mental health issues. In the case of the latter, the claimant must suffer "overwhelming psychological distress" to meet the criteria, I'm afraid your description of your son's problems does not show this!
Assessors are also told that there must be an underlying condition that causes this if there is no diagnosis and even more importantly no treatment then I think he will struggle to score for this activity.
Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is
Welcome to Benefits and Work
In case you are not aware, your real name appears to be showing in the forum, if you want to change this then follow the instructions in the following FAQ
My full name is showing, how can I stop it?
Medication - You don't mention a cognitive problem and your post says that there is no diagnosed mental health issue so the assessor has taken the view that there is no reason why he would prompting wit his medication.
Does he have problems extracting the tablets from their packaging?
Even if you can show a problem, he can only score one point for these problems which usually insufficient for a higher award.
Going Out - This look at problems resulting from three basic causes; Sensory issues such as blindness, cognitive problems such as a learning disability and mental health issues. In the case of the latter, the claimant must suffer "overwhelming psychological distress" to meet the criteria, I'm afraid your description of your son's problems does not show this!
Assessors are also told that there must be an underlying condition that causes this if there is no diagnosis and even more importantly no treatment then I think he will struggle to score for this activity.
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Absinthe
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5 years 6 months ago #219129 by Absinthe
Replied by Absinthe on topic PIP Award letter
Thank you for your reply.
Medication - he has no natural cognitive problems, but he forgets to take medication if not prompted, which makes his condition worse. His medication makes it hard for him to concentrate and remember. He gets help with this in exams due to the meds.
He also struggles to get dressed (upper body) but was awards 2 points for this. Not sure if should have been more, as he can't put on tshirts and shirts. I also put on his socks etc, so I think this is where the 2 points comes from. The description given says he uses aids but he does not. I do it!
Medication - he has no natural cognitive problems, but he forgets to take medication if not prompted, which makes his condition worse. His medication makes it hard for him to concentrate and remember. He gets help with this in exams due to the meds.
He also struggles to get dressed (upper body) but was awards 2 points for this. Not sure if should have been more, as he can't put on tshirts and shirts. I also put on his socks etc, so I think this is where the 2 points comes from. The description given says he uses aids but he does not. I do it!
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- Gordon
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5 years 6 months ago #219135 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP Award letter
Absinthe
Is there any medical evidence in support of his memory problems?
If not then I think you will struggle to score, even if you have then it's unlikely to be accepted at anything other than appeal, assessor and Decision Makers lack imagination when being asked to accept problems where there is no defined cause.
You say he has problems dressing his upper body but not why he does. It is not whether he actually uses an aid but whether he could that is assessed, so you need to show that an aid would not actually help him with his dressing or that he is unable to use a suitable aid.
Gordon
Is there any medical evidence in support of his memory problems?
If not then I think you will struggle to score, even if you have then it's unlikely to be accepted at anything other than appeal, assessor and Decision Makers lack imagination when being asked to accept problems where there is no defined cause.
You say he has problems dressing his upper body but not why he does. It is not whether he actually uses an aid but whether he could that is assessed, so you need to show that an aid would not actually help him with his dressing or that he is unable to use a suitable aid.
Gordon
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- Absinthe
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5 years 6 months ago #219189 by Absinthe
Replied by Absinthe on topic PIP Award letter
Thank you.
We have a letter from the Pain clinic stating cognitive impairment due to medication, this was sent along with his PIP assessment form as supporting evidence. From the pain clinic report he gets 25% extra time in exams because of cognition impairment..
Would this count?
We have a letter from the Pain clinic stating cognitive impairment due to medication, this was sent along with his PIP assessment form as supporting evidence. From the pain clinic report he gets 25% extra time in exams because of cognition impairment..
Would this count?
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- Gordon
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5 years 6 months ago #219198 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP Award letter
Absinthe
I think it will help, perhaps not with an MR but you will need to show that he is affected in this way on the majority of days and to a sufficient extent that it limits his ability to follow a route.
Gordon
I think it will help, perhaps not with an MR but you will need to show that he is affected in this way on the majority of days and to a sufficient extent that it limits his ability to follow a route.
Gordon
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