To think 7.7cm x 3.7cm size boxes are a ridiculous size for the PIP review forms

[B0x3s]

Helping my daughter. Many sections have 5 lines of 7.7cmx 3.7cm space. It’s a ridiculous size for anybody to try and cram any amount of evidence in let alone those receiving a disability benefit.

Oh no i love it. I write a lot of cases for psychosis, schizophrenia, strokes, early dementia, active cancer treatments, children transitions from DLA, lots of developmental delay, learning disabilties, really severe phsyical disabilties. 95% of reports i write i award, the 5% i dont are generally people who are in prison etc and cannot have an assessment. Its really rewarding, because the cases are, for the most part, vulnerable members of society. Its a very different side of PIP where we are encouraged to score up not down if uncertain. The world of in person assessments seems very different and less claimant focussed. I have my cases for sometimes 2 months trying to gather evidence, and get very attached to some of them to make sure im getting the best outcomes.

Yes that does sound rewarding.

They shouldn’t, but unfortunately when an answer is split between the form and an additional sheet some staff do ignore what is what is on the additional sheet(s).

But how can they make decisions without reading it all?

Some do. They shouldn’t and it may result in the award not being accurate, but some do.

How do you know?

Im not going to try and argue 100% of staff would use all available information, as there are bad eggs in every sector. But, if audited, they would be pulled up for not using it and ultimately end up re-writing, which we arent allocated time for, not many people would actively create additional work for themselves on top of already pretty tough to meet targets.

I can also only speak for back office, paper based, but our entire role is based on using provided evidence to complete an assessment report, i cannot imagine anyone in my area not using additional provided pages to inform their decision making, as the more information they have, the easier it is to justify descriptors.

Because I have seen cases where it has happened.

When I’ve filled out PIP forms and it’s a review for example when I did my nieces

I just wrote
no change person A can not do ABC
because of XYZ

i include a copy of their prescription and also write the prescription details in the box

I included a short letter from her doctor confirming that the wheelchair they use is prescribed from the enablement centre

a letter from her consultant outlining her illness and disability

and that’s basically it

I photo copy everything and send it recorded and tracked and signed

I check a few days later to make sure they have recieved it

takes me maybe an hour or two

First award was 3 years and was a face to face interview

second was 5 years telephone review

now she has one with no end date. ( done of the papers / review form no actual assement)
This was awarded to her last summer

Do you work there?

But with boxes it can all be fitted in I should fill it in the box? But with ones I can’t I should put see attached sheet.

No, but I support parents who have disabled DC (including DC over 16 before anyone saying children get DLA). I also have DC on PIP, but it hasn’t happened with their claims.

It is up to you whether you want to write in the box for those answers that will fit or whether you want to type all answers.

👍

We’re asking for an extension. This form has really annoyed me. I have a degree in English and I’m struggling with it. It really annoys me as some are going to find this hugely more difficult than me.That will surely have an impact on their claim.

@B0x3sif you ask for an extension (I did due to not receiving the form until 3 weeks after the notice of review text from DWP, due to Royal Mail delays), you’ll get confirmation of the extension date by text. You can submit the completed form at any time before the new date so e.g. it could be just a few days after the original date and you won’t have delayed the process by much. I agree the form is poorly worded and confusing, I suspect it’s deliberately so.

That’s really good to know as I still want closure and to get it off as soon as we can. I hope you don’t get penalised if you don’t word things exactly right or repeat when you shouldn’t through no fault of your own. They must get loads at tribunals highlighting the inadequacies of the form.

The DWP still pays more postage on the outbound forms at least if there are more pages.
Not sure how the contract for return post works.

I've seen plenty of cases where the assessor has clearly not looked at the form at all and awarded 0 marks across the board. Very frustrating because it then takes time to do the mandatory reconsideration and usually the appeal too. Every time the client was awarded points on appeal and 9 times out of 10 they were awarded PIP - from an initial 0 point assessment.

Thank god the whole thing is under review and there will be new forms coming from this hopefully before my son’s next review. I fear for him when he has to rely on PA to complete the forms for him.