PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENTS
Discussion
The one thing I know is that most applications are rejected but agreed on appeal. There are numerous "companies" who can manage your application but pretty sure there are a couple of charities who give advice etc The application needs to focus of how the condition(s) affect you on a daily basis, not the condition(s) themselves.
Agree with Tony.
A friend of mine has epilepsy which has become more resistant to the 4 medications she takes to try and control it; as a result over time she had to go from working full-time down to nothing, eventually - despite her best efforts - making her fully reliant on the benefits system. Over time they moved the goalposts on PIP question weighting and removed her payments entirely. She took them to tribunal and the judge and panel ruled that not only was the DWP legally in the wrong to remove the payment, they should have been paying her the highest rate all along. Even in the run-up to the case being heard they tried to deluge her with paperwork to make it as difficult as possible for her to put a case together.
The upshot was that the DWP had to reinstate the payments at the higher level and backdate the underpayment for something like 2 years which resulted in her receiving a five-figure payment. After 18 months of scraping by and relying on the financial support of family she was finally able to be back on an even keel.
I was with her in the tribunal and helped her with putting her case together and it struck me how the questions the DWP ask have been carefully-worded to prevent you from providing the 'real' answer. In her case, she appears physically fine outwardly for much of the time - epilepsy is an 'invisible' disability. The DWP ask things like, "Are you able to bathe yourself?" or "Can you prepare and cook a meal?" etc. Well yes she can; apart from when she's unconscious on the floor with a head injury or a broken rib etc as a result of falling during a seizure.
The point was that whilst most of the time she was able to do these things, there are periods of time where she cannot. The judge was incredible and said that my friend had given her significant insight into exactly what it's like to live with a condition that can randomly render you utterly helpless, exposed, disoriented and often in danger (my friend once had a seizure crossing the road and was fortunate not to be hit). The focus should be on the outcomes and how it affects quality of life.
Most medical conditions can't be neatly slotted into DWP-satisfying boxes so be prepared to have to fight your corner and good luck.
A friend of mine has epilepsy which has become more resistant to the 4 medications she takes to try and control it; as a result over time she had to go from working full-time down to nothing, eventually - despite her best efforts - making her fully reliant on the benefits system. Over time they moved the goalposts on PIP question weighting and removed her payments entirely. She took them to tribunal and the judge and panel ruled that not only was the DWP legally in the wrong to remove the payment, they should have been paying her the highest rate all along. Even in the run-up to the case being heard they tried to deluge her with paperwork to make it as difficult as possible for her to put a case together.
The upshot was that the DWP had to reinstate the payments at the higher level and backdate the underpayment for something like 2 years which resulted in her receiving a five-figure payment. After 18 months of scraping by and relying on the financial support of family she was finally able to be back on an even keel.
I was with her in the tribunal and helped her with putting her case together and it struck me how the questions the DWP ask have been carefully-worded to prevent you from providing the 'real' answer. In her case, she appears physically fine outwardly for much of the time - epilepsy is an 'invisible' disability. The DWP ask things like, "Are you able to bathe yourself?" or "Can you prepare and cook a meal?" etc. Well yes she can; apart from when she's unconscious on the floor with a head injury or a broken rib etc as a result of falling during a seizure.
The point was that whilst most of the time she was able to do these things, there are periods of time where she cannot. The judge was incredible and said that my friend had given her significant insight into exactly what it's like to live with a condition that can randomly render you utterly helpless, exposed, disoriented and often in danger (my friend once had a seizure crossing the road and was fortunate not to be hit). The focus should be on the outcomes and how it affects quality of life.
Most medical conditions can't be neatly slotted into DWP-satisfying boxes so be prepared to have to fight your corner and good luck.
Edited by Funk on Thursday 23 December 14:32
21TonyK said:
The one thing I know is that most applications are rejected but agreed on appeal. There are numerous "companies" who can manage your application but pretty sure there are a couple of charities who give advice etc The application needs to focus of how the condition(s) affect you on a daily basis, not the condition(s) themselves.
The number of applications that are rejected is quite high, but an appeal may overturn that decision.I believe the assessment is actually conducted by an external company who the DWP sub-contract the work to.
I firmly believe they have targets and hence why some cases which are blindingly obvious are rejected or you 'just' miss the cutoff score.
If you are not familiar with these i highly recommend you get help and certainly a google - there are forums discussing rejections, appeals etc.
Hussein-z3ksd said:
21TonyK said:
The one thing I know is that most applications are rejected but agreed on appeal. There are numerous "companies" who can manage your application but pretty sure there are a couple of charities who give advice etc The application needs to focus of how the condition(s) affect you on a daily basis, not the condition(s) themselves.
The number of applications that are rejected is quite high, but an appeal may overturn that decision.I believe the assessment is actually conducted by an external company who the DWP sub-contract the work to.
I firmly believe they have targets and hence why some cases which are blindingly obvious are rejected or you 'just' miss the cutoff score.
If you are not familiar with these i highly recommend you get help and certainly a google - there are forums discussing rejections, appeals etc.
You can easily find what they call descriptors online for each question and you really do need to phrase your answer in such a way that there is no way they cant fail to give you the required points.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&...
I think many people vaguely waffle on without addressing each question the way it needs to be answered in the assessors eyes.
Now I understand the process I've not had any issue on my last two renewals.
Edited by blue_haddock on Friday 24th December 09:42
geek84 said:
Good Morning Folks
Many thanks for your responses.
Do you have a local Citizen's Advice place? While I was in hospital I was advised to apply and they did help me with the process. Once they got the application I did have a wait till about December (from August) to have them get back to me then I had a hour long interview with a nurse about my condition. Many thanks for your responses.
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