Just had pip review award back but no change so not happy

Hi george

The first thing you need to do is contact PIP and ask for a copy of the assessors report called a PA4.

When you have the assessors report, you will have a better understanding of how the DWP Decision Maker has come to their conclusions and you will now be able to argue against them.

I usually use a highlighter to highlight any inaccuracies, once you have gone through the report you then set out why you are applying for a MR and go through each descriptor one at a time why you disagree with the assessor and try and match it with any supporting documents you may have sent in.

Understand that the assessor is offering an opinion when they say 'in my opinion' you can do the PIP activities, tackling these head-on is unlikely to be successful, you need to show that the basis of that opinion is founded on incorrect information, so try and refer to your evidence to undermine what they have said, remember they are just an opinion which is not based on fact.

Also, try and stick to issues that lead to your scoring points, I often hear members referring to the assessors spelling, as an example, whilst it may show a lack of professionalism, raising it as an issue isn't going to help you get an award.

Your primary task is to show that you meet the criteria, there are many reasons you may have failed, you need to address each of these but don't get bogged down in criticising the assessment report unless you can clearly show that it is incorrect, it is a lot easier to argue the facts of the situation.

Lastly, make sure that you understand the criteria that you are being assessed against you can put the best case forward that is possible but you won't score points if you do not meet the PIP Descriptors.

The first stage to challenging a Decision is for you to request a Mandatory Reconsideration; www.gov.uk/mandatory-reconsideration/how...tory-reconsideration

Don't use grey words such as 'likely to worsen over time', when completing a form it should be in black and white.

When you have a better idea of the issues with your claim, come back to the forum and we will do our best to help.

Gary

Hi George

It can take 6 to 10 days for the assessor's report to come, though it could be sooner. They don't usually give you an extension for Mandatory Reconsiderations, but you can try - but don't leave it until the last minute to ask. Having read your post I think it's imperative that you get hold of the PA4 - or you are trying to argue your case without really understanding how they came to their decision. It's as Gary says - you need to show that you meet the criteria. Just asking them to up it to enhanced won't work. If you think you already gave them the evidence, you will need to point it out for each question and argue where appropriate that they were "mistaken..." or "they misunderstood...", or "they omitted..." or "they failed to recognise...." etc.

MRs are not easy to win. Less than 30% are successful. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try - I just want to warn you of the possible outcome. They will not send you for a face-to-face assessment for an MR - it is always a paper-based decision. If you don't win your MR - you can go onto a Tribunal. You can ask for the Tribunal to make a paper-based decision, but sometimes the panel refuses and say that they want to meet the claimant. Now let's hope it doesn't come to that and you are successful at the MR stage.

You asked about putting in for a change of circumstances. You can do this at a later date- but when you do so, they will send out a review form and once they receive it, they will decide what sort of assessment you will have. (paper-based, telephone, video or face-to-face). You will also need to show where your condition has grown worse (since the review)

BIS