PIP Mandatory Review

[swallowedAfly]

I've been awarded the lower rate of mobility and nothing for daily living. The report has flagrant lies ie X eats every day when it is clearly audible on the recordings I had to chase for weeks that when I asked I hadn't eaten for nearly 3 days. The assessor felt the need to report to safeguarding that my son was a young carer because of the levels of support he had to give in daily living yet she awarded zero points which I find bizarre. She's put zero for toilet stuff despite knowing and repeatedly being told and empathising (again clearly audible) that I had to use incontinence pads and have spare clothing etc.

I feel like it's a mistake like she hasn't listened to the second recording or pressed send without filling in all the fields or something but I know in reality they do just lie and try to award nothing. I had nearly 3 hours on the phone and had to take a break.

I've only given a couple of examples here to give you an idea of how contradictory things are.

I'm currently doing my mandatory review application.

I'm wondering is mandatory review just a tick box exercise that never achieves anything but is meant to discourage you further or do decisions ever/often get changed based on them?

I've made clear on the form that if it is turned down I will be going to appeal and will seek support and collate further evidence etc so they know I'm not going to be bullied out of continuing.

I confess I've been a bit devastated by the whole thing. I was incredibly distressed in the lead up to the call, had put off applying for a long time because of how humiliating the whole process seemed to be and I had to reveal deeply personal things during the process and be reported to doctors and ss because she classified my son as a young carer.

A friend has reassured me that the fact they've awarded anything ie. the lower rate for mobility (which I actually thought I had less chance of getting than the daily living amount which I without doubt even to the meanest interpretation qualify for the lower amount of and I would argue possibly even the higher rate but I would have accepted the lower) means I have a strong claim as they try to get away with awarding nothing. I just can't comprehend how she has awarded zero points of all of that side.

Any advice on whether mandatory review ever achieves anything or I should just start preparing myself for appeal, support and encouragement or anything else is welcome. I have found it hellish so far.

I'll be applying for medical retirement too. Think I'll only get the accrued benefits level and it will only be about £200 a month but it's better than nothing and everything helps. That'll be another lot of hoop jumping and appealing potentially but will have to be done. Yes it's hellish and it's incredibly loooonnggg and drawn out and makes you more ill. Just have to make it to the other side.

I got PIP whilst working full time ….many people do…don’t give up….but the mandatory review is generally a passing post to the tribunal….forget what the report says ….that’s not going to get you any points ….look at the descriptors….say what happened last time you tried the activity…..your own evidence is the best evidence …..your support doctor doesn’t know how your condition affects you….but you do….and if you end up going to tribunal then at least you earning now.
definitely apply for I’ll health retirement…..go for tier 2 …. 🤞 good luck

They do think it is a competition though and they obviously have targets to meet. This is why they are so ruthless and make it into a competition, due to apparently having a lack of resources.

You do seem quite defensive. It would serve you better to see it from their perspective (ruthless people with targets, who see all different levels of illness and how it affects that person); then you could win your battle with them.

The PP with the oral issues was just telling you her experience, not suggesting that you shouldn't get any points. You asking for an echo chamber of sympathy is not as helpful as people advising you on the way they judge things. It's trying to help you.

There are levels of high functioning and low functioning mental illness as you know. It is not the disorders that you have, it is how it affects you. They see people like PP's DH who had a total breakdown and lost everything and couldn't work. If they have targets to meet and "scarce resources," they will more likely award that person with PIP for mental illness, rather than a person who manages to work everyday and keep a job for years.

I think you sound at your wits end and I would definitely battle until the end.

Similar thing happened to me. Didn't get enough points to be awarded PIP and the mandatory review came to the same conclusion even though a lot of the report was wrong.

Went for an appeal, didn't hear anything for a year and then received a phone call out of the blue to say it's been looked at again and have been successful.

Thanks KitKat. I will try for tier 2 but can't imagine getting it for mainly mental health. It would make a huge difference if I could. I'm trying to avoid getting my hopes up about getting anything.

I'm not asking for an echo chamber of sympathy but people didn't seem to be reading - eg. implying I work every day and enjoy my job and saying that not eating for days isn't worth any points when clearly not being able to prepare a simple meal is one of the criteria looked at.

I've gone through all the descriptor explaining how my condition effects them and breaking everything down into eg. all the time, the vast majority of the time, x amount of days per week and giving examples etc. 7 typed pages. I'm exhausted. I can so see why people give up.

@swallowedAfly I gave you sympathy, you certainly did not ask for it, but I gave it because I know exactly what it's like applying for PIP. It's terrifying, you just never know how it's going to go and the results can effect your life dramatically one way other. I've posted on here previously about PIP and ESA and received both sympathy and fantastic advice, which, surely, is what mumsnet is all about? Good luck with the MR.

Thank you Dawn. It is done, printed and sealed in an envelope (a reused envelope because there are none in the house) with a stamp on (that I had to search the house for). Now it just needs to make it into the postbox which my son will hopefully take care of on the way to college.

Pathetic maybe but it feels like such a huge accomplishment. The assessment and the result so took it out of me and made me spiral and I've putting off facing this and getting done for a while so it's a relief it's done.

It may only be a stopgap on the way to appeal and tribunal but it's one that has to be made. Going to now try not to get my hopes up.

Apologies if I sound defensive or whatever on here. I'm just frazzled and exhausted.

Don't put it in a post box. It needs to go recorded or special delivery so you get a receipt. Loads get 'lost' with out this

@swallowedAfly Please send it so you can track it. I'm sure I had a leaflet through the door saying you can arrange online to have things collected from your home and posted for you by Royal Mail. It's too important to just stick a stamp on, as the PP said, so many get "lost". Well done you for completing it, try to relax today, you deserve it. Please let us know how you go on, I'll be crossing my fingers for you.

Doesn’t need to be recorded delivery…..but most definitely need proof of postage receipt ( which is free) …just take it to count in PO and ask

Yes but you didn't say you were talking about the preparing meals descriptor, so I ( wrongly it seems ) assumed you were talking about the eating and drinking descriptor. Apologies for misunderstanding.

Saw advice about send recorded too late. My son put it in the post yesterday.

You're supposed to get a text confirming they've received it so I will wait a week and if I haven't had that I'll call and if they claim to not have received it I'll send another copy with a note added as to why it's late.

Thanks Babyroobs - apologies if it seemed I was sniping at you. Yes it was the preparing. I was trying not to give too much information or go into detail on here as I was already feeling so yuk about having to tell the assessor about all the ways I can't cope and things I can't cope with. It's so counterintuitive to talk about and spell out things that you spend all your time trying to hide usually.

It pains me to say it, OP, but your experience is not in any way unusual.

I've been doing PIP applications since PIP started, and still around 50% of them end up going to a tribunal. I've yet to lose an appeal.

My client group is entirely people with MH issues, although some have physical health issues as well. Where they make a big deal of the fact you haven't seen a psychiatrist for ages, I counter that by explaining that this is indicative of the fact that MH services are over-stretched and under-resourced, not that the input of a psychiatrist isn't needed. I have also had tribunals accept evidence that is quite old, when it's because someone hasn't seen a MH professional for over a year.

It seems to be really hard to get medical evidence from MH teams, but if the "summary of medical history" at your GP practice includes your MH diagnosis, a copy of that can be helpful evidence. At some surgeries, you can download this if you have online access to your records.

Just from reading your posts on here, there's no doubt in my mind that you're entitled to PIP. It makes me really angry that people have to go through all this hassle just to get what they're entitled to. It's positively corrupt imo.

And Hunt is looking at making more cuts to benefits while cutting inheritance tax. He clearly thinks the poverty of the ill and disabled is less important than protecting the wealth of the rich.

@LakieLady Hope you don't mind me asking but as you've got vast experience with mental health PIP reviews, would including a social care assessment showing someone needed support from the local council help at all with a PIP review? Or withs it have a negative impact as it shows my dh is eligible for £300 per week worth of support from our local authority but he won't actually get that full amount of care, that's the maximum they would pay. However, I wondered if I included that in his PIP review, will the assessors look at it and thing that he doesn't need PIP money as he's getting plenty of help from his local council?

PIP is not means tested….doesn’t matter how much money you have….or what other entitlements you have ….I included my sons LA needs assessment as evidence for PIP

@Kitkat1523 thank you. Yes, I did know PIP isn't means tested, it was just the fact my dh mainly is awarded it as he can't be left alone and can't go out without me or a support worker. The council are now going provide a couple of support workers to take him out, give me a break etc and I just wondered if PIP assessor will read the social care assessment and think he no longer needs PIP as the council are providing a lot of his care. From what you say about your sons assessment, we shouldn't have a problem so thanks for the information.

Thanks LakieLady. It’s hideous really. Both the horrible state of mh services and the cynical, and frankly I’m sure dangerous in some cases, way that people are treated in the pip assessment processes.

I have not received a text to say they’ve got my MR a week on so I’m guessing it’ll be denial they’ve received it next. I’m going to chase with an email today.

I was told around 20% chance of overturning at MR ….but. 68% chance at tribunal ( as long as it’s a face to face or telephone appeal…..a paper based appeal is around 7%) …..so hope for the best but expect the worst for MR…then if needed….you can concentrate on your appeal

Thank you. I still haven't had a text acknowledging receipt of MR. I emailed capita but they said it's DWP who does that. Sadly that means that one phone line with epic wait and I'm bloody awful at facing having to do phone calls. I posted it to the address at the top of the award letter as instructed but I didn't realise at that point I needed to be so mistrustful as to send it recorded delivery. Have to phone and see if they've got it and if they claim not to have received it have them make a note that I called and am resending so it will be over the month window.

Aargh! Still haven’t faced calling dwp. This is how they get away with it.

Realising it’s particularly tough for people on their own and with issues that make it hard for them to chase and persevere.

Must face calling!

Op do not despair or give up.
75% of pip appeals to tribunal are successful. The MR stage is just a process you are obligated to go through. It is the DWP looking at their decision to see if they agree with it and suprise surprise they generally do 🙄

Another thing to bear in mind is successful appeals are mostly based on exactly the same evidence as was originally submitted with the PIP form. There is no need to spend time trying to chase down medical reports, just use what you have and get some support, local Cit A or a disability advocacy group. Stay strong, the tribunals are independent and generally make sensible decisions I am afraid I can't say the same for the DWP.

Thank you I’m going to call. I posted mr 2 weeks ago and have heard nothing

I’m now in the hell of being on hold. I’m going to be so annoyed if they claim not to have received the MR paperwork.

Hang on in there, OP. Can you put the phone on speakerphone and distract yourself while you're waiting on hold?

Yes, that's what I've done. Nearly half an hour on hold already. You really should be allowed to send an email to check things. Painful music interrupted every 10 seconds to play the same recorded message. Music at such a pitch it hurts your ears. I'm paranoid and fed up but I feel like everything about the whole process is deliberately painful and slow and requires stupid amounts of chasing and fighting. Now convinced the hold music is designed to make you want to hang up and give up lol.