PIP Award

Hi Zanne

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry to hear about the position you find yourself in. Thirty-four weeks for a decision is a long time. Did they do a paper-based assessment or did you have a telephone assessment?

If you had a paper-based assessment - you want to see if they wrote some sort of report. It's called a PA5 and you can ring the DWP and ask for a copy. Be aware that a lot of people who have had paper-based assessments are now being told that a report hasn't been written. (This only seems to have happened since the pandemic).

If you had a telephone assessment - there will be a report - and it's called a PA4 - and you can ring the DWP and ask for a copy.

If there is a report it will tell you why you have now scored zero points. The next stage is for you to put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration. If you look at our Guide to PIP Appeals benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip - it starts with the Mandatory Reconsideration information. You have to to this within one month of the date on the decision letter. It would be better if you have a report - but if you haven't, look at the decision letter and try and understand what has gone wrong.

Don't just ring the DWP and say you want to put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration - without looking at the guide first - or you can find yourself being pushed into telling them over the telephone what you think when you have no idea whether the call handler is taking down what you say accurately. I can almost guarantee if you do that your Mandatory Reconsideration will fail. It;'s not easy to over-turn them anyway - so you want to give yourself the best opportunity you can.

Have a look at the guide and if you have any questions - come back and ask and we will try and help. Scroll down the page to see the Guide to PIP Appeals benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip

BIS