DWP text, healthcare report

Hi, I currently receive PIP, and a while ago now, I can't remember exactly sorry but I filled out the review form and sent it off.

I received a text to say they had received it and I may need to see a healthcare professional, which I expected as they always say that.

This was a few months ago I think, well anyway today I received a text to say that they received the healthcare professionals' report and they will review my case and make a decision and this could take up to 6 weeks.

I haven't seen a healthcare professional though, I wasn't invited for a face-to-face or a telephone appointment. I had been expecting them to send an appointment letter to come through as they normally send one.

I am going to write to them, (i will send recorded) asking for a copy of the report anyway but I've not had this before.

How can the healthcare professional make a decision and produce a report without seeing or speaking to me? Normally they see me and then produce a rubbish report!

Also, I assume this isn't going to end well? I very much doubt DWP will keep me on the same rate from just this paper review?

I am worrying now I've missed something but I've definitely not had any phone calls or letters of invitation to see someone and at the moment I am still receiving my normal PIP.

is this tactic normal?

thanks in advance for your help.

Hi gary, and sam,

I had a paper based review, and even as i write the dwp's dm, has still not given me a decision on the assessors report.

Of which i have got a copy from the dwp. To be honest it's a bit of swings and roundabouts as in regards to telephone, video job, or PB-review.

My personal experience from the report ar3 v2 assessors report is relative negative. As the assessor based pretty much everything on a past pip review.

In the report the assessor keeps refering to , ... in his last review he received bla bla bla on activity 1 (c) << thats an example.

The assessor could basically only keep saying in the report in my view mr fibro can for the majority of times do this and that activity.

I sent in tonnes and tonnes of evidence from GP's to half a dozen of other specialist. Yet the assessor completely ignored relevent evidence as in regards to how my illnesses and conditions affect me on a daily basis.

It's my view that the assessor knew i should be on higher rate, but has deliberately turned the tables upside down, in order to make sure i would not get a higher rate on one or both components.

So to cut a long story short the assessor stitched me up on 1 point yes 1 point meaning i will not get the high rate for the care component.

Furthermore my experience over the years of constantly jumping through DWP hoops is this... wobeit ESA / PIP or both, the DM will always base his or her final decision on the assessors report.

I am now in a situation where i can try to get a letter sent to the DM asap explaining to the DM that the assessor failed to undertsand the impact that fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue has on me as in regards to planning a simple meal.

The assessor say mr fibro uses aids therfore has no probs in the kitchen planning and cooking a simple meal. Because he has grip, as he can do himself some cold cereals for breakfast.

Well if the assessor knew enough about suffering fibro, and chronic fatigue, then surely the report would had said different.

The other issue was this.... Using an hearing aid as an aid with being able to communicate.

I have bilateral tinnitus, and i use 2 hearing aids, these are used to help mask out the tinnitus sounds. If anyone in the forum suffers with tinnitus they will know what im talking about. Its a distressing condition, which causes sleep deprivation, fatigue, loss of concentration, and causes and or heighten ones anixety and depression.

So during the day time using such hearing aids specially designed for my ears only play pink white noises to try to mask the horrific ringing, roaring, droning noise in my ears.

The hearing aids are trying to help me be distracted from the tinnitus in order so i can concentrate and listen clearly.

The assessor wrote in the report... ar1 states there is no restrictions in this activity, there is no evidence to indicate he has any restrictions with speech, or hearing, or cognitive functioning.

Therefore for the majority of the time he can express, and understand complex verbal information unaided.


I wont go any further into my report has it it quite long winding ( planning a journey was another one)

So some how i have got to try and make it clear to the DM that the assessor was incorrect, or had not included bla bla bla from all the relative evidence that i had included both to the pip assessor and the DWP.

If the DM gets back and says they find the assessors report is of true accuracy ??????

Then when the DM's decision lands on my front porch, i will automatically go for a mandatory reconsideration.

And that will only contain evidence which i had already on 2 accounts given to them!!!!

Then if the DM still decides that having tinnitus and using 2 hearing aids to mask tinnitus sounds in order so i can concentrate on someone speaking to me verbally. Then I will have other choice but to appeal on the matter.

I have read somewhere recently that PIP can be granted to a claimant who suffers with tinnitus alone.

I just dont understand as sam has mentioned, that how can an assessor, assess someone with tinnitus if they had not done a face or whatever with them.

My thinking is this... the assessors do not give a toss about a claimants well being at all.

They are motivated by greed in way of bonuses, the more they can get off benefits or components etc the more their fat cat employers make, and pass bonuses on the assessors for reaching their monthly targets.

So to an assessor they think, oh well if he she is not happy with my report, then they can simply put in an MR or go for an appeal.

Basically they cause the claimant/s more ill health. I have never yet met an honest assessor, who is their for the well being of the claimant.

Regards.

I met one really decent assessor years ago, when supporting a very disabled work colleague. She agreed to be recorded, gave the claimant a fair report resulting in well justified max award.
Later went to same centre with a relative: they had no assessors willing to be recorded. Conclusion: the rare good ones do not stay!!!