PIP mandatory reconsideration

[mumsofdragons]

Hi,

Just received a call from PIP today as I sent off my mandatory reconsideration on Tuesday (they received it on Wednesday).

The decision maker called to discuss my MR and that she will process it for me - is this normal as I'm really anxious. Why would she call just say she processed it?

Any guidance or help is appreciated

You say she called to discuss your MR. Did you actually have a conversation around what you said in your MR and which descriptors/why you thought your score should have been higher.

No, just that she was processing it. Is this normal?

It's normal but I didn't have it as I did my MR over the phone rather than by post.
I assume they were just clarifying something that wasn't clear in your postal reconsideration.

I get texts to let me know how things are progressing, do you get them too?

Oh ok thank you. She explained that she was processing it and that may lose points and if I was happy to continue.

I got texts after the calls

You say that you were told that you might lose points. I understand that PIP may call if you are on the standard rate of either component and you have asked for an MR as you think that you should have been awarded the enhanced rate. This is because they look at the whole award again and you may as a result of this be awarded fewer points.

Thank you, that makes sense now - I just wasn't expecting it.

Mumsofdragons - how long after sending in your MR did you hear from them please? I have just sent mine in and am wondering what to expect. Good luck.

@swallowedAfly

I sent my MR off on the 4th October, they received it on the 5th October. They made a desicion in my favour without contacting me on the 8th November.

I was finally awarded 10 points, standard mobility - after initially being awarded 0 points. Good luck!

That’s encouraging. Very pleased for you. Glad you preserved rather than gave up

@swallowedAfly

Thank you, wishing you all the luck with your MR! 🍀

I have posted on another thread but that has run out. I have had a PIP assment the other day and I don’t think it went well. The assessor made a lot of the fact I take my child to school.

I have Tourette’s syndrome, hypermobility syndrome dyspraxia and severe anxiety. My eyesight is too bad to drive as I have tunnel vision. If I am refused PIP is an appeal likely to work for those conditions. I struggle a lot but have worked recently and have 2 children’s

It's not about conditions per se, but about how your struggles fit in the PIP criteria. Often a recent testimonial from a close friend or family member about how they help or prompt you in eg eating, dressing, hygiene, taking medication is more relevant than a diagnosis letter from years ago.
If your PIP application is unsuccessful due to inaccuracies on the part of the assessor you have a month to do a Mandatory Reconsideration. If that fails you can take it to the tribunal stage. At that point if it fails you can begin a new application.
It's best to look at the descriptors on the PIP form and type out how you struggle with those. There are examples of what they mean by struggle if you don't know how to word it well.
Get everything together before a new application if possible.

I think I do meet the criteria or I wouldn’t have applied but a lot of the questions she asked me are nothing to do with the criteria. She asked me if I was able to change my baby’s nappy.

Call the PIP line and get a copy of the assessment report, then you know which inaccuracies to challenge (don't call them lies even when they are - it just makes them defensive).
You cannot be considered able to do something for PIP purposes unless you can do it:
Safely
In a Timely manner (no more than twice as long as a non-disabled person would take)
To an acceptable standard
Repeatably.

IE if you do the school run, does it take you twice as long as the other parents to walk the distance?
Can you cope with changes to the route?
If school called just as you got home, could you head straight back to school?
Do you need to rest to recover from the walk?
Does it cause pain and/or fatigue?(If so, how do you manage that?)

It's never just a straightforward "B says she can change a nappy so she must clearly be able to manage all required care needs" as the assessors often imply or outright state.

Is there a particular type of evidence that is useful. I still have the chance to send evidence in.

Consultants or hospital letter, GP access summary request, prescription list, OT or Physio assessment report.

Does anyone have a current claim or CoC in? When I rang for forms, the chap said about 9 weeks for Coc (He said 4 to 5 weeks for assessment the decision 4 weeks after that) They have had my form for 6 weeks now. I had the text from the service that does the assements over a month ago saying theu were looking at it.

I had a DWP home visit officer to complete and upload the forms. I'm wondering if they have decided to assess on paper, due to my multiple issues. Post round here is useless, so I think if I don't hear about an assessment this week, I might ring them.

My background is that I originally claimed 2 yrs ago and only got standard daily living. No mobility even though I was under seven hospital depts for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, 2 types of arthritis and badly controlled asthma, chronic urticaria. Sent loads of evidence and aids provided by OT and Physio. I was also struggling with journeys and socialising due to Autism traits. Was knocked back at MR and Tribunal as they simply wouldn't believe me. Have since had Autism diagnosis and other changes to meds / further deterioration of health.

Sorry for the waffle. Was just wondering how long folk are waiting for assessment.

They're prioritising new claims over renewals and CoC cases.
New claims are processed in about 2-3 months but renewals are taking more like a year.
The good news is that they continue paying at the initial award rate until they process the renewal/CoC and if you get an increase it gets backdated to the CoC form date.
With renewals they may backdate to when the renewal form is returned or not until the previous award ends. It's up to them.

Thanks @InMySpareTime wish the bloke on the phone hadn't told me 9 weeks now. The DWP officer who did the home visit to complete the form last month also said 9 to 12 weeks. I'll just put it out of my mind for now as I've got DD's DLA claim on the go at the minute as well.

I have done a GP summary access request. There is not very much useful on there. There is a note that I have not been given access to my full records for safeguarding reasons. Has anyone heard of this before?

I sent off for mandatory reconsideration for the pip after I was refused due to the assessor saying the complete opposite of what I said they gave me text message saying a date they will of reviewed my case for but its that date amd I still haven't heard anything does anyone know why this could be please

Letter could be in the post. I'm currently waiting for a letter to confirm an award, and it's taken two weeks to come through

I'd ring them tomorrow to see if they can tell you anything.

Fingers crossed for you.

They could just have a back log and the MR has taken longer than expected. I wouldn't get your hopes up as only around 15% of MR's are successful and most people need to go onto appeal.