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Post by The Doctor on Sept 11, 2016 10:17:43 GMT
I was about to type out a long thing but this covers most of it: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-pip-claim/your-assessment/I can't describe specific working experience with supporting people through PIP assessments on a public form for obvious reasons. Things I would add: anything said by someone with you will NOT be taken into account or noted. If you want that information considered it must be given in written form to the assessor at the start. It will be ignored but they have to log it. This means if you have to go to Appeal the fact it was ignored becomes a strong part of your Case under law. I know that sounds backwards but it's the way it works. Your assessment begins the moment the assessor appears. So if you say you have trouble walking and get up to answer the door this can count against you. Best let someone else do it. Remember: you are discussing your worst day, not when you do well which is of course counter-intuitive. If you are physically not feeling able to do the practical part of the assessment you say NO straight away. Many folk say YES when they are in pain thinking they have to show their discomfort which doesn't actually help. I've been in assessments which were done in 10 minutes and others that have taken 1hr 30 mins. I've never seen a correlation between length of time and the result. However, if it's under 30 mins and you get a negative result this can help an Appeal so it is important to note how long the assessor is there. The assessor will be typing on a computer the entire time so make sure you speak slowly and repeat as necessary so they get it all down. Remember the points system. If you need to refer to a copy of how points are awarded so you are describing your symptoms correctly to match then that is your right: www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-systemYou will NOT be provided with a copy of your previously submitted form. However, the assessor will have a copy on them so you can demand to see it at any time if you do not have a copy to refer to. Remember: luck is not required as there is a set process which must be followed by law. If it's a negative result you need to let me know that day so I can walk you through what to do next. Oh and don't get annoyed when the assessor says "the decision is not up to them". They always say that. -Ralph |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 11, 2016 19:02:47 GMT
Shame the PiP assessment isn't tonight, rather than tomorrow morning. Wobbling all over the place!It's like my legs are drunk!
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Post by The Doctor on Sept 11, 2016 19:07:39 GMT
You do not have to show physical infirmity during an assessment. It makes no difference to the outcome. It's a points-based system based on your answers.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 12, 2016 9:20:50 GMT
Tis done. 1 hour. Didn't move from the sofa in all that time, speech very erratic like it gets when I'm in pain and stressed. Walking aids scattered round the room.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 23, 2016 8:04:32 GMT
Hurrah, PHI rise has gone through. Time for another letter to the DWP to tell them and remind them it doesn't matter once I have my payslip in hand.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 1, 2016 8:14:20 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 1, 2016 10:34:59 GMT
Makes my job easier.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 14, 2016 12:42:18 GMT
DWP letter on the doormat waiting for me.
PiP award at enhanced rates for Mobility and Care!
Not onlt have I got the benefit I've got more money out of them!
So so relieved it's over¬
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 28, 2016 8:36:06 GMT
The PiP is now resting in my account :-)
I had a mild worry, due to them not printing a hint at the account details on the letter I got informing me of the award, that it would end up in the wrong place!
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 28, 2016 23:02:09 GMT
Whew!
Andy
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Post by Philip Ayres on Aug 31, 2017 11:25:13 GMT
what's the very last thing I need in the post today? A letter from the ESA people! "according to our records your PHI is due an increase". Yes you're right it is, but I don't know what it is for sure yet, my personnel officer has gone her 3 week honeymoon, the insurance company frequently don't don't tell my employer before the September payrun, my employers frequently forget to apply it for the October payrun so it can be December before I get a nice clean payslip proving what I earn. Assume 5% incs cos that's what I always get but it really doesn't matter does it because I receive PERMANENT HEALTH INSURANCE ARRANGED BY MY EMPLOYER AND MY CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT HAS NOT ENDED which means the money doesn't count as income for ESA purposes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So yes, they're demanding information they don't need to know. AGAIN! </Rant> Hurrah, PHI rise has gone through. Time for another letter to the DWP to tell them and remind them it doesn't matter once I have my payslip in hand. DWP letter arrives today. Even though I had a good idea it would be the "tell us how much your PHI goes up by" letter I still had The Fear opening it. It was the PHI increase letter. I won't know for sure for another month yet until I get my September payslip, longer if there's a muck up at work. I know I'm due an increase, and I can guess how much cos I've got guarenteed 5% incs but it doesn't matter because, in DWP speak, I'm recieving Permanent Healh Insurance arranged by my employer and my contract of employment has not ended, so the PHI doesn't count towards my income for DWP purposes! |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Aug 31, 2017 11:36:23 GMT
Goes into PC files
Gets last year's letter out.
Changes 2 dates. Saves. Presses Print.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 23, 2017 5:52:11 GMT
Hahaha.
Work haven't paid my PHI increase. Not a huge surprise, has happened before but not since the DWP began watching me like a hawk and sending me letters anticipating it. Either the increase letter from the insurer arrives post pay run date or it gets lost somewhere in the firm's admin. It got lost for three months one year.....
This means I'll need to chase Work, write a letter to the DWP saying the PHI has stayed the same, write them another letter when the PHI goes up by double it's increase in Oct (or 3x in November...) and then another letter when it comes back down to what will be the new normal increased level.
All over a number that doesn't count towards the DWP ESA income calculations!
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Post by blueshift on Sept 23, 2017 5:56:49 GMT
Why on Earth is it so tricky?  (then again the more I find out about some national IT systems at work, the less surprised I am!) |
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Post by The Doctor on Sept 23, 2017 9:38:16 GMT
If you have a spare week I can detail the astoundingly complex benefits system to you.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 10, 2018 15:22:34 GMT
Hahaha. Work haven't paid my PHI increase. Not a huge surprise, has happened before but not since the DWP began watching me like a hawk and sending me letters anticipating it. Either the increase letter from the insurer arrives post pay run date or it gets lost somewhere in the firm's admin. It got lost for three months one year..... This means I'll need to chase Work, write a letter to the DWP saying the PHI has stayed the same, write them another letter when the PHI goes up by double it's increase in Oct (or 3x in November...) and then another letter when it comes back down to what will be the new normal increased level. All over a number that doesn't count towards the DWP ESA income calculations! Chased by the DWP this morning. That reminded me I hadn't chased work over why the money hadn't been paid, which now has mounted up a bit. |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 11, 2018 21:22:51 GMT
Work have got back to me. The letter went awol while my personnel contact was off ill. I now have a copy of it, which is dead on what I thought it should be, and a promise of it being fixed for Jan's payrun.
Last 5 months payslips, proving I'd not had the increase, plus the letter, in the post to the DWP.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 27, 2018 13:06:06 GMT
First stab at latest letter to DWP completed. This one is bothering me for some reason.
Traditional piece of legalese/quoting their own definitions at them to start which should make it ok, but the convoluted circumstances round this year's PHI rise might throw them...
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 27, 2018 13:18:03 GMT
and just as I typed that a letter from the DWP arrives. Fortunately it was a standard "we will continue to pay your benefit at these rates" letter.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Feb 11, 2018 17:34:17 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Feb 11, 2018 21:32:05 GMT
What isn't explained to folk in general is that PIP and ESA claimants legally have the right to ask for their medical assessment to be recorded. Two working days notice prior to the assessment are required to organise this and the request cannot be refused.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 7, 2018 8:28:29 GMT
Trying desperately to remember if my ESA is Income Related so I can dodge a charge at the dentist in a bit.
Unhelpfully they do not put that on the letters they send you....
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 3, 2018 13:24:25 GMT
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 8, 2018 15:11:58 GMT
DWP letter asking when my PHI goes up.
Replying by return of post to say when it went up, with a payslip to prove it, the date I told them it went up and when I expect it to next go up!
I opened it expecting my annual £10 Christmas Bonus!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 1, 2019 23:38:56 GMT
Very Odd. My ESA has been paid fortnightly ever since I started getting it, at least one benefit reorg back.
And yet today I find a single week's payment in my account.
Not seen any worrying DWP letters so not expecting it to be stopped or anything.
I will keep an eye on that .....
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 2, 2019 7:58:53 GMT
I would suggest a phone call.
-Ralph
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Post by browny87 on Jan 2, 2019 9:35:08 GMT
its not some weird end of year thing is it where they pay you upto a set date then start 2 week process again?
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 24, 2020 10:24:01 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 21, 2021 22:18:53 GMT
While I am not a 'young person', the same thing has happened to me. It's affected my mental health badly. Paid into the welfare system and when I needed it was told I would get payments of £0.00. Made me feel sub-human and worthless, like I don't count for anything. The irony is, it's pushed me further away from getting back into work due to the impact on my health. www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/32c0a2c5-867b-43e6-84e3-5030c2401cd5-Ralph |
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Post by The Doctor on Sept 22, 2022 6:53:10 GMT
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