pip worth appealing?

[Userkyzab]

Does anyone have advice, I've had pip for 4 years with a genuine physical and mental health conditions.

At review, assessor seemed to have their mind made up at the start (that I was fine and scored me zeros). My situation hasn't changed at all and got worse in the last year (though could get better, it fluctuates)

I'm now hyperfocusing on not having current evidence. I have diagnoses but they were given 4 - 6 years ago and with the pandemic and difficulty seeing doctors, along with my anxiety about seeing doctors, that's all I have. I had one recent report from a doctor but it was general. I sent that in later. Not sure if they saw that before making their decisions.

the MR summary report seems to be a standard and general one, not a response to what I've written in the MR.

I'm not sure what else to provide for appeal because I've been very clear already and fully understand where I could have scored points. So the only thing I can think of is the evidence is now not strong enough as it's dated. I can easily describe the problems I have on a daily basis but it might not be enough?Wish they would give this feedback then, rather than a standard response.

Whether to appeal? I think I'll only be repeating myself.

What are your diagnoses? If it's things like anxiety which can improve over time, I think you might need to see a doctor again to get diagnosed again and the extent of your disability confirmed. Then your evidence would be current and they couldn't say it's outdated?

All the best x

thanks, they haven't said it's outdated, it's a conclusion I'm drawing because they have not scored me according to the problems I'm having.
Anxiety conditions and physical health conditions, yes

Make sure you let them know how it affects your daily life , make it clear to them how it prevents your day to day wellbeing , what you struggle with and why you say need help planning a journey etc.
The diagnoses they ask for are important but I was told it is how it actually impacts your daily life

I know you explained already to them sorry if it read there that I had ignored that

no it's ok, I get it, that's the position you would take. That's what I'm looking to hear. Thanks

if i'm repeating myself, just wonder whether to send same information back as the appeal (rather than rewrite it in a different way!)
can't see what else I could add.

The issue is that whilst you have described the impact your conditions have on you under each of the relevant descriptors, the assessment requires that you be backed up by evidence. Otherwise all applicants would just say “I can’t wash myself / cook a meal / interact with other people / walk 50 metres etc etc. If your condition has worsened since your first award you need to try to get some up to date medical or social services evidence to support your claim.

thanks, it's just that a lot of what was written in the MR (from assessor) is incorrect, so I am wondering if I need to correct everything when compiling my appeal.

but what's putting me off is my MR essentially did that anyway

so then I'm thinking what you're saying. having said that I didn't read the report before submitting the MR, I was too anxious to read it as she was quite stern on the phone. So I submitted my MR without reading it and stated that in the MR. But now I've read it and wonder if I should correct all the mistakes (though they are 'corrected' if anyone were to read my account, so then that sends me back to the evidence. I have evidence just nothing new medically, since the pandemic, except perhaps I could get the doctor to report on recent calls etc. I have avoided most checks and assessments even a blood test due to anxiety and also exhaustion with getting to the surgery).

Yes, when I helped people do MR letters we have literally gone through it line by line and writing “The assessor states I can do XYZ, however because of (condition) I actually find it difficult because…. and on bad days I can only do….”

You should explain your difficulty in accessing medical help but for your longer term good I’d be considering talking to adult social services about this to get help accessing the help you clearly need. For your general health you need a strategy to be able to access the doctor

Always worth appealing , go through each section and write what what discussed vs what had been noted and stress the differences

thankyou, you have really helped. I am actually in therapy to assist me in overcoming the phobia around medical. I may not have presented a coherent enough account but tbh I thought they had it as i had a telephone review and was told they had read through all my notes.

I really don't have a clue what social services help with aside from things like child protection. Do they actually help with things like this. i was using pip to pay for therapy which i will have to stop now.

I love your name, I need that calm right now.

maybe I should just do that for now and then ask myself afterwards whether there is strong evidence for each and do I have it or can I get it (or not, I accept I might not be awarded but zero points when I've struggled for years seems not to acknowledge anything)

I completed the document for my dad. He has copd / heart failure.
I wase honest in the comments section. He can wash himself but some days he can't as he struggles to stand. He can wall unaided but he isn't safe as he is 85 and unsteady on his feet.
I wrote in the comments how yes he can do these daily tasks and someone can visit him on a good day and he is fine but on a bad day he struggles and needs support.

I've done my son's forms (was DLA now PIP) and I never use the boxes allowed on the forms... I type..in exact detail how his disabilities affect him in every day life.
I think you will have to ask for mandatory reconsideration first, unless you decide to wait and do a fresh application but the same applies... detail EVERYTHING.
We rarely see doctors now he's an adult (nearly 30) except for yearly reviews which don't detail anything, but he's still autistic with OCD and an autoimmune disease so it's down to me. I break every section into bullet points (good as well as bad..)he can do X but not Y without assistance/physical/verbal support.. whichever is the case. I don't exaggerate or dismiss anything.
I find it easiest to think 'what SHOULD an adult man be able to do for himself...can he?' And it helps to detail all the support he needs (even if he doesn't always get it!)

Adult social services are there to provide help for adults - worth a phone call for an assessment of your needs

Visit the Benefits and Work website, brilliant place for support. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

Evidence of the help you are receiving with personal care/mobility all counts as good evidence eg the therapy sessions if they are providing prompts or plans to assist with personal care. Taxi receipts, cleaner etc. The assistance doesn't have to be from a medical professional to count.

It might be that you have stated a need eg needing help or prompting with meal planning for example but haven't been clear who provides this help.

Anxiety can be a tricky one because it's not a diagnosis in itself so you might need to provide up to date evidence of that - doesn't have to be medical evidence but examples eg I had a panic attack on x,y,z dates & DH/friend had to pick me up.

Good luck. Lots of appeals are successful & you have nothing to lose from appealing.

Contact a wonderful organisation called Fightback4justice, you'll find them on facebook and google. They really know their stuff and should be able to give you some advice for free