Forms from Universal Credit?

That’s great news Brian, and I am joining you in smiling.

Unfortunately there is no direct link between PIP and Capacity for Work (UC). The Capacity assessment looks at your ability to cope with the work place and all that is involved with going to work. PIP looks at the difficulties you have with everyday, not work, living and getting around. It is quite common for people to qualify for PIP but still be able to work, although, in my opinion, less common and less likely for people to be assessed as incapable of working but not qualify for PIP.

You are right, you do now just have to wait, although any PIP you do get will be back dated to when you applied for it. Think of it as the DWP sponsored savings scheme.

Hoping you have good news soon,
Catherine

Hi Brian

The best thing you can do is what you have already suggested and look through the latest guidance on telephone assessments for PIP - there are bout 12 pages. We advise people to do their own recording if you can - but don't inform the assessor what you're doing. Have a drink of water handy. You will find in the guide the types of questions you might be asked. Be prepared that assessors will often throw in a question you are not expecting. Sometimes this can feel like a trick question. Sometimes that may be the case, but sometimes they have to ask something which is personal to a particular claimant.

I hope that it goes well for you. Forty-eight hours after the assessment you can ring and ask for a copy of the assessment report. This is a PA4.

BIS

Hi Brian

I would not initially mention that you recorded the assessment.

Contact DWP and ask for a copy of the assessors report called a PA4. When you have the assessment report you will have a better understanding of how the DWP Decision Maker has come to their conclusions and you will now be able to argue against them.

I usually use a highlighter to highlight any inaccuracies, once you have gone through the report you then set out why you are applying for a MR and go through each descriptor one at a time why you disagree with the assessor and try and match it with any supporting documents you may have sent in.

Understand that the assessor is offering an opinion when they say 'in my opinion' you can do the PIP activities, tackling these head-on is unlikely to be successful, you need to show that the basis of that opinion is founded on incorrect information, so try and refer to your evidence to undermine what they have said., remember they are just an opinion which is not based on fact.

Also, try and stick to issues that lead to your scoring points, I often hear members referring to the assessors spelling, as an example, whilst it may show a lack of professionalism, raising it as an issue isn't going to help you get an award.

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;

Lastly, make sure that you understand the criteria that you are being assessed against you can put the best case forward that is possible but you won't score points if you do not meet the PIP Descriptors.

If there is anything in the report that was not said at the assessment then I would mention that the assessment was recorded and you can prove that what was and not said at the assessment, go through the assessors report thoroughly.

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, half way down the page 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

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.

Gary