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PIP stopped - should health report have been sent with award letter?
- Feather21
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2 years 6 months ago #272326 by Feather21
PIP stopped - should health report have been sent with award letter? was created by Feather21
Hello. I am a carer for my daughter. She has been getting the lower Daily Living award only for several years though previously she has had the lower Mobility award too as she cannot travel to unfamiliar places on her own.
For over a year she has struggled to walk as she gets breathless, very dizzy and her leg gives way, making her lose her balance frequently, so I let the DWP know. She also has several other physical symptoms but the tests have come back negative so her GP thinks it's a mental health problem though she was ill at the beginning of 2021 so he has agreed it could be long covid. She does have depression and anxiety but even if her symptoms are caused by her mental health, she is still getting physical symptoms. I have no way to prove how bad her symptoms are.
My daughter had a video assessment with me there to help her, as she struggles to deal with things on her own. I thought it went OK so we were shocked to find out her PIP had been stopped. The PIP assessor awarded her 0 points for EVERY section.
Everything we put on the form that she has difficulties with, the PIP assessor has decided she can do, including standing and then moving more than 200 metres. We put on the form she can walk between 20 and 50 metres with me holding her arm to stop her falling and I told the Health Professional it was about 30 to 50 yards before she has to stop and rest.
My daughter was sitting on our settee for the whole assessment, which started at 9.00am. She was not washed or dressed (she was wearing her dressing gown and pyjamas) because it takes her too long to get ready (an hour and a half to two hours for the bath alone, without drying herself) and it is exhausting for her. At no point was she asked to stand or move around.
The health report was not included with the DWP decision. Should it have been? I requested a copy of it two weeks ago but have not received anything. How can I argue against what has been put in the health report if I don't know what that is?
Does anyone have any advice please?
For over a year she has struggled to walk as she gets breathless, very dizzy and her leg gives way, making her lose her balance frequently, so I let the DWP know. She also has several other physical symptoms but the tests have come back negative so her GP thinks it's a mental health problem though she was ill at the beginning of 2021 so he has agreed it could be long covid. She does have depression and anxiety but even if her symptoms are caused by her mental health, she is still getting physical symptoms. I have no way to prove how bad her symptoms are.
My daughter had a video assessment with me there to help her, as she struggles to deal with things on her own. I thought it went OK so we were shocked to find out her PIP had been stopped. The PIP assessor awarded her 0 points for EVERY section.
Everything we put on the form that she has difficulties with, the PIP assessor has decided she can do, including standing and then moving more than 200 metres. We put on the form she can walk between 20 and 50 metres with me holding her arm to stop her falling and I told the Health Professional it was about 30 to 50 yards before she has to stop and rest.
My daughter was sitting on our settee for the whole assessment, which started at 9.00am. She was not washed or dressed (she was wearing her dressing gown and pyjamas) because it takes her too long to get ready (an hour and a half to two hours for the bath alone, without drying herself) and it is exhausting for her. At no point was she asked to stand or move around.
The health report was not included with the DWP decision. Should it have been? I requested a copy of it two weeks ago but have not received anything. How can I argue against what has been put in the health report if I don't know what that is?
Does anyone have any advice please?
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- BIS
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2 years 6 months ago #272339 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP stopped - should health report have been sent with award letter?
Hi Feather21
The assessment report is called a PA4. This has to be requested (which you have done so). It is not sent out automatically because lots of claimants don't want the report or realise that they could have a copy. You're right it is very hard to challenge a report if you don't know what has been said. You are supposed to put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the date on the decision letter. Don't leave it until the last minute. Ring and tell them you are going to put in for one and say that you are waiting for the assessment report. If you haven't received it in the next couple of days I would ring again.
BIS
The assessment report is called a PA4. This has to be requested (which you have done so). It is not sent out automatically because lots of claimants don't want the report or realise that they could have a copy. You're right it is very hard to challenge a report if you don't know what has been said. You are supposed to put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the date on the decision letter. Don't leave it until the last minute. Ring and tell them you are going to put in for one and say that you are waiting for the assessment report. If you haven't received it in the next couple of days I would ring again.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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