New PIP claim

[Bandc2014]

Hey there everyone 👋. Recently made a first time claim to PIP back in May this year (after finally being diagnosed with a form of EDS that has affected me my whole life) . Work is getting extremely difficult to manage and just thought the extra income would be great incase I had to decrease my hours so I wouldn't have to worry about money and just focus on my health. Anyway, I had my phone assessment 4 weeks ago (which I believed I messed up as my anxiety was tenfold and I kept forgetting things), dwp recieved 2 weeks ago, currently with decision maker. I requested the report last Tuesday but have not recieved it in the post. I have been physically sick thinking about how badly I messed up. Does anyone know how long it will take for a decision or even for my report to come? From Northern Ireland just incase maybe that makes a difference to processing times. Also thank you to anyone who has read this far and responded, very much appreciated. 😊

I never understand why DWP or its equivalent play the cards to chest game with PIP outcomes unless there's some process to actually finalise them.

If you've not got the points you think you should then, assuming NI has the same set up as GB, you can ask for it to be looked at again. DWP call that mandatory reconsideration.

Go through the outcomes for each activity/descriptor making clear what they've not understood. If you can get help from some outfit similar to Citizens Advice in GB then do it. There are no magic words but if you're helped by somebody familiar with the assessment criteria you can make sure you capture the points that are looked for.

I knew within 5 days of my assessment what the result was. I received the recording of the meeting 2 days after the assessment.

Just received my assessment report and have been give 2 points overall by the assessor. I can't believe how bad the report is. She was so nice and reassuring on the phone but has basically written up the opposite to what I have said and what was written on my application form, I feel that she has made out I am lying. My question now is will the decision maker go ahead and agree? Has there ever been a decision in favour of the applicant? Its just all medical evidence that was sent in contradicts everything the assessor has down including a written letter from my GP. What happens next? Also recieved a message this morning to say they haven't made a decision yet. Surely with the assessors report so clear cut it would have been straight up no.

They officers who decide eligibility are supposed to look at ALL the evidence an not just the outcome of the assessment with the Healthcare Professional (HCP). The lack of any sort of match between a claimant's actual condition and what they can and cannot do compared to what HCP reports say is a standing joke amongst advisers.

You need to wait for a formal decision letter before formally contesting what's been said but there's no harm in getting your ducks in a row first. Try scoring yourself against DWP's criteria: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d80e00701781e1b341dbd1/pip-assessment-guide-part-two-the-assessment-criteria.pdf page 86 onwards.

Once you've got the decision it's worth seeing if CA or other agency can help you with Mandatory Reconsideration.

You appeal. First it goes to mandatory reconsideration - my daughter's was overturned at that point. She too only scored 2 points. The assessor got it badly wrong.

Then you can go to tribunal if that fails. You might likevto get some support from a charity that helps people with the forms, appeals etc. Good luck.