PIP telephone assesment

Hi june49

You have a very small window of time to write to the decision-maker before the decision is made. I'm not saying it will make a difference, but if you have the energy, it's probably worth the time. It doesn't stop you from putting in for an MR later if necessary. If you write, you say in your letter that you reserve the right to put in for an MR after you have received the decision letter.

It's worth challenging the time limit. A small number of people have been successful in getting their time extended. Be aware, though, that award lengths have become shorter. The problem with 18 months is that if they follow the pattern of sending out a review form a year before the award end date - you could be sent a form in about eight months' time - which is the last thing you want. You can point that out in the letter.

Be careful how you set out your argument for a longer-length award. You may want to lump everything together as you have done in your post and say none of them are going to improve - but their argument will be - 'but they could do - and so we will check in 18 months time. Eg Carpal Tunnel - most people can have an operation, and the issues improve. I'm not saying that is true of you, but it's the sort of thing the DWP will say there is a viable treatment. Unless you can show them the problems are always going to be there - for example, you have had an operation and it failed, or you've been told it can't be operated on - you would never win that argument. So if you want your award length to be extended focus on the 'bigger' things, such as your arthritis, Bipolar, Depression and anxiety and other things you may not have mentioned here. If you can get any letter from your support worker - do so, but only get them to mention things that they are responsible for supporting you with, or things they have observed, that are relevant to the PIP criteria.

There may be all sorts of things in the PA4 which you disagree with, but the most important thing at this point is to look are where you have not scored as many points as you thought you would and argue where you think they are mistaken. Highlight the evidence you sent in. You said you sent in a bundle of evidence, but at this point, you want to make it easy for the decision-maker to understand your argument. So if you are arguing about the distance you are able to walk - you say something like, "The assessor has said that I can walk over 50 meters, but she is mistaken and has omitted information I told her. Because of severe arthritis in my hips and knees (see letter from Mr P Rider, Consultant Rheumatologist, date 19. 4 .21), I am in acute pain, and I can only shuffle with the help of a stick very slowly. I have to stop in less than a minute and lean against a wall or sit down to stop myself from falling. At home, I hold onto furniture (see letter from Support worker ...date) to move around, and I have recently fallen twice.... etc. etc. I struggle to stand and walk 20 metres."

Obviously, I just made that all up, and it doesn't have to be as complicated, but if you can actually tell them which bits of evidence to look at, it is easier than them trying to work out what should match up.

Will the decision-maker stick to what the assessor (health professional) has suggested? Generally, they do, but not always, and occasionally the points can vary positively or negatively.

If you're going to write to the decision-maker, you really need to do it in the coming week. As I've already said, It won't stop you from putting in for an MR if you need or want to after the decision comes out.
BIS