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DLA to PIP

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6 years 7 months ago #195705 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic DLA to PIP
lorraine

I know how difficult it can be from personal experience but you must be open about the problems that experience on a day to day basis.

Gordon

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

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6 years 7 months ago #195715 by lorraine d
Replied by lorraine d on topic DLA to PIP
Gordon,
Thank you I will try.

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6 years 7 months ago #195725 by lorraine d
Replied by lorraine d on topic DLA to PIP
Gordon,

Well thats it, assessment over and done with. Got a call at 9.20 asking if I could go in earlier than my 10.30 appointment. So got there about quarter to ten. Husband dropped me off at the door while he went to park car. Had to sit an wait about 10 minutes - we were aware of cameras all over the place. The Hp was a very nice young woman and she just basically went through what I had put on the form but not obviously so, she asked about adaptions in the house what aids I had for toilet, could I have a bath etc. When it came to mobility she asked how long could I walk for, I just answered no idea but I walked a lot slower than my husband and I was always in pain in my knee and back when walking. She asked if I did supermarket shopping so I said no although occasionally I would go to local small supermarket for sanitary products, but had to use a trolley for support even if only going in for one item.

She asked how far did I think I could walk - she asked me to imagine a large supermarket like an ASDA superstore and could I walk down all the aisles, then could I walk down 2 aisles then could I walk down one aisle. I answered no to all of them. She said one aisle would be about 50metres. She then said 'so 20 metres then' and went on to ask about something else.

She asked about medications, other conditions, cooking, for the cooking I said I could prepare a meal sitting down but it takes me a long time but when it came to carrying pans from sink to cooker and cooker to sink then my husband has to do this and cooking meat on the hob he has to do this - so she said you share the cooking then. I forgot to say that I would only cook on 3 or less days a week. although I did remember later to mention that when I have cooked I am too exhausted to want to eat and enjoy it.

I told her that my husband took control of my tablets since I kept dropping them and when my 3 year old granddaughter found one of 'grandma's sweeties' on the floor that we had missed. thankfully she gave it straight to my husband. I have a dosette box and he fills it and gives me the tablets in a little cup so I don't have to handle them individually. I don't know if I would score anything for this or not.

She did observe me walking into the room and she walked with us to the door on the way out. She had me doing a few exercises and she asked me to squeeze her fingers and she did a couple of what I think were leg strength movements.

It all took about 35 minutes. I was silly to be so worried about it. Even though I forgot to mention falling and my knee giving way I had put that on the form so hopefully she read it. I also took the radiographers reports on my back and knees that the GP printed off for me - she read these and seemed to type something about them. She mentioned incontinence but I told her that since my doctor had put me on Vesicare then this had improved quit a lot and though I still had leaks and have to wear pads then it is much better than it was.

She told me I would hear from DWP in about 4 weeks.

We are going away for the weekend now so hopefully I can stop worrying about it for at least a couple of weeks.

Thank you for all your help and advice

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6 years 7 months ago #195738 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic DLA to PIP
lorraine

You should be able to request the assessment report mid next week and PIP Decisions are taking about 2-4 weeks.

Gordon

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

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6 years 6 months ago #197328 by lorraine d
Replied by lorraine d on topic DLA to PIP
Hi, As I half expected I have had a letter today from MOTABILITY to tell me I have not been awarded enhanced PIP and have to return my car. No letter as yet from the DWP.

I think I am going to ask for MR - do I ring the number on the letter from them telling me they have received enough information to make a decision. I would also like to see the Assessors report. I was thinking of ringing tomorrow but I don't want to ask for MR before I have seen the report as I would not know what the assessor said and could not dispute it.

Also I am due to see ortho surgeon on the 29th of this month about possible revision surgery on the knee he replaced 15 years ago. It keeps giving way. I did mention this at the assessment but I didn't have an appointment at that time.

Would it be better to wait until I have seen him before sending in the MR - I know I will only have 4 weeks to do this but will this be from the date of the decision letter.

I must say its a bit rich that Motability knowing before the claimant, since being informed Motability have had the time to write me a letter and put together a helpful package to assist me and then post it to me. I feel sure the DWP could have let me know if not first then at least at the same time I received the Motability letter.

I don't feel as upset as I thought I would but then again I havn't had the full details of the decision yet - I am going to be mighty upset if I have been awarded zero points.

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6 years 6 months ago #197330 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic DLA to PIP
lorraine

Sorry to hear of your result.

Unfortunately the DWP notify other agencies electronically whereas it can take the Decision Letter 10-14 days to reach the claimant.

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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