New PIP claim

Hi AngelT,
I hope the assessment wasn't too bad. In a couple id days, make sure you phone DWP and ask for a copy of the PA4 (Assessment report). Dont be fobbed off you are entitled to this.
This should give an indication as to the likely outcome. If it seems you may need to ask for Reconsideration, then you can start to prepare this.
However, I hope this won't be necessary. Fingers crossed..
Let us know how you get on.
LL26

Hi AngelT

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, it is no use kicking yourself about what you should have said or not said.

Quite often we hear from members who have in their words had a disastrous assessment only to be awarded the enhanced component.

Once you get your PA4, go through it with a highlighter, highlighting any discrepancies.

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.

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