PIP

[newaccountwhodis]

Hi. New to the forum and PIP and am hoping some of the forum members can help me understand the claim process a little better, I applied for PIP in early December 2022. DWP told me that Capita had received my forms on December 9th. But i have not had a phone assessment scheduled yet. So i called Capita just to make sure everything was fine with my claim. They told me this morning that my claim "is in initial review" and that they "are requesting info from my medical contacts so they can do a Paper assessment". Is this a good/bad sign that my claim will be successful?

Report is referring to the report written as a result of your assessment. The assessor then forwards the report to PIP/DWP, who then use it to help decided whether or not you should be awarded.

@Sweetsweetlike

Thank you, that's helpful.

I’m in the same position as you, I applied last week but don’t have a clue about what happens next and how soon after applying do you get an assessment date etc, when did you apply? Il keep you updated with timings of mine as yours may be similar

Just got the forms online on Monday so I've been filling in and I'm going to submit today. Have you sent your forms off, have you sent any evidence like letters

I did mine on an online link , I submitted screen shots from the nhs app for my prescriptions and also a letter from my GP to support the claim / mine is for ptsd and anxiety not sure if I will qualify but was encouraged by Gp to apply!

Mine is for similar. Have you had any help filling it in. I'll going to submit mine today on line. Let me know if/when you hear anything x

I didn’t have any help so I hope I did it ok

but I did go into a lot of detail in the questions to show how it links with my conditions and the doctors letters reference it too

i got a text to say it’s been received and if I need an assessment they will be in touch but haven’t heard anything else, not sure how long after they contact you again

It varies a lot, depending on where you are in the country.

If you are turned down, get a welfare rights officer to help you with the MR.

Have a look at this website: https//www.benefitsandwork.org.uk

I'm just about to send in my mandatory reconsideration. They gave me zeros for everything despite all I sent and said in the interview. I agree with a PP, because I have kids I'm apparently absolutely fine...

It seems they hold children against you for some reason despite functioning for them! Dreading the assessment

I've had that text today so we will see

Wow, really that's awful.
What was the assessment like and did you have any help/advice filling it in

@backtoworknextweek I didn't have help as I'm a very "together" individual outwardly and also highly intelligent (not a boast, just means I don't like other people's input and get very grumpy when people try to help. My issue nobody else's fault 🤦🏻‍♀️). The assessment was absolutely fine, I answered all the questions honestly but making sure to highlight the worst days, said when things were hard, talked about how things made me react and feel, all the things you're meant to do. But, they still managed to just pick out the positives, ignore anything that showed me struggling and said that I was able and presented well... Well yes, that's actually due to childhood trauma which I did explain right at the beginning.. but it's amazing how they use tiny things to justify saying you can do everything with no problem, no support and no aids. For example, because I take my children to school and walk my (Assistance Dog!) that I am fine traveling and socialising. Totally ignored how I said I do things that are familiar and for my kids, that unfamiliar journeys make me self harm and have panic attacks ..

@FlyInMySalad this is what I'm worried about. I have a professional job and I'm worried they are going to use that against me. Although I've not mentioned it in my initial form, is this something they ask.

Don't worry too much.
If you do not get anything with the MR you can go on to a tribunal, which is what I ended up having to do.

But the difference with the tribunal is that the DWP have nothing to do with it. When you tell them what happens on your worst days, they listen.

I got no points on my initial assessment and also the MR.

I had to wait eleven months, but at my tribunal I was awarded PIP.

You're right about how they pick up tiny things to make out you can do things. I remember them asking me if I could open the cat food pouches! I knew, when they asked (at the original assessment) that this would tell against me, and it did.

The DWP are pathetic, but over 70% of claimants get an award if they go to a tribunal, so don't give up.

I mean, the DWP are entitled to attend the tribunals but they never do. So you get a doctor, a solicitor and a disabled person as the three-person panel. They are horribly aware that the DWP tell lies, and they do their best to find out the truth.

Really reassuring @TheShellBeach thank you! Just the ability to overlook everything you say to pick up on something else..
@backtoworknextweek they might not ask you but they will use it to prove you can do things. I even tried to mitigate that by saying many, many times that there are familiar things I do but that these are the exception because... But still the report back just states that Fly can do this and this...

I received a copy of my report today after my telephone assessment review two weeks ago.
From reading it, it looks like there are 13 points for daily living, none for mobility but the letter attached said this may change.
worried about it- what it may mean etc .
Can anyone help?

It means that the decision maker has not made the final determination.
The assessor just writes what they think a claimant deserves. It's the decision maker who actually awards PIP (or not, as the case may be).

Okay thank you . I don’t know what to expect to be honest 🤷‍♀️

How long from sending initial form off to assessment did you wait.

I've had a text to say "Hi from Independent Assessment Services. We conduct Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments for the Department for Work and Pensions DWP. This is for information purposes only, to let you know that we are managing your PIP assessment. We will look at the available evidence and will contact you with an appointment if we need to have a consultation with you"

Is this an outside agency on behalf of DWP?

Yes! Both Independent Assessment Services (IAS) and Capita are contracted to do the assessments on behalf of DWP. It just depends on where you are in the UK as to which of the two you get. So that text is genuine as I got extra same one before later being given an assessment date

*the same one

@Sweetsweetlike1 thank you. Did you wait long for your assessment date after the text. I was hoping I didn't need an assessment as I sent lots of evidence off