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PIP Appeal details

mp500

So, I need to appeal my PIP decision. I have a hard time explaining things so I've been reading through the legislation and racking my brain to try and come up with something reasonable. Its not finished yet, but I've written a few paragraphs and some notes on the back of an envelope which I will type out below, in the hope that anyone reading could tell me if it makes sense, or if they have any suggestions on how to word it better. 

I got 0 points for mobility (I was hoping to get 8 to claim lower rate). I got 4 points for daily living (this was for social stuff, not sure if I'll be able to get any more here).

Here goes:

I got 4 points for "Needs social support to be able to engage with other people". The 8 point one requires you to have "overwhelming psychological distress". I'm not sure what this means or whether it would apply to me. The problem I have with social situations is that I have considerable social anxiety and often go out of my way to avoid people (even people I know), but this just exacerbates the loneliness and isolation. I do at times get worn out from dealing with other people. I can easily go several weeks at a time without speaking to anyone else except very brief interactions in shops etc. Any opinions on this are welcome.

Managing treatments - Got 0 points for this. I have had medication and psychotherapy before which has helped my conditions. I would like to consider having treatment again if any is available but I will need help to access this. - Not sure of the best way to explain this to DWP droids but I'm sure people here will be sympathetic to what I'm on about.

Making budgeting decisions - Might be able to get a couple of points for this but really not sure.

Planning and Following Journeys - I usually do the same journey repeatedly. Less frequent journeys need a lot of planning. Quite often I don't even bother going out due to tiredness. Need time afterwards to get over the stress. Therefore this cannot be done "repeatedly or reliably".

Other:-

The decision maker brought up the fact that I had driving lessons. I don't see how taking a few driving lessons 18 years ago is of any relevance to a PIP claim today. But even if it was I think I would have difficulty with concentration.

I have been suicidal a lot this last few years and am not sure whether to mention that I almost jumped out in front of a car a few months ago. I am very embarrassed writing this. I've lost count of the number of times I've stayed at home so I can listen to loud music to try and shut out intrusive thoughts. I have no medical evidence for this but I have discussed it with the Samaritans [yes, I know their phone number and address before anyone tells me].

Assessment - I do not particularly remember how I felt at or after the assessment but according to my diary I was tired, felt suicidal and was angry and upset about being reminded about my illnesses.  The assessor, who did not have a name or job title, did not appear to have a copy of my claim form.

Medical Report - I have asked the DWP twice to supply a copy of this but after three months they have not done so. I have forwarded a complaint to my MP. It is difficult to write an appeal if I cannot see what evidence has been used.

----------------

It took me a lot of effort and stress to come up with that so if anyone has any thoughts, please let me know. Thanks.

Parents

  • OK, I've written out my mandatory reconsideration letter (which will also serve as an appeal letter when the refuse the MR). I'll copy and paste it below in case it either helps anyone else who is going through the same thing, or if anyone wants to point out anything which doesn't make sense.

    I am writing to request a mandatory reconsideration of the PIP decision dated 17th July 2025 (which was not received until the 25th).

    I would have expected more points to be awarded for both Daily Living and Mobility.

    Firstly, the decision maker states that I claimed difficulty with preparing food, taking nutrition, washing and bathing and dressing and undressing. I did not claim any difficulty with these which suggests that the decision maker did not bother to read my claim form.

    Managing Treatments:
    The decision maker states “you have no prescribed medications or therapy”. This is in contradiction to my claim form which states that medication and therapy has been recommended, and that I struggle to understand changes to my depression symptoms. The fact that I do not receive any treatment at the current time does not mean that I don’t struggle with them when I do.

    See pages 18 and 39 of the claim form as well as the medical evidence supplied.

    Making Budgeting Decisions:
    I would have difficulty managing a household budget due to issues with planning and concentration, caused by Aspergers Syndrome. In practise, I live with relatives who manage most of the utility bills etc.

    Planning/Following Journeys:
    I stand by the comments made on page 35 of the claim form, which the decision maker has taken no notice of.

    I have difficulty planning journeys. I stick to well known routes/places where possible so I don’t have to spend a very long time planning or getting anxious about what might happen.

    The decision maker states that “evidence shows that you are leaving the house the majority of days”. It is not clear what this evidence is as it certainly contradicts my own experience:-
    1. I am a very active person and cannot cope with being sat in a chair staring at the wall for 20 hours a day. Even if I am too depressed to feel up to going out somewhere, or to know where I am going, some compromise has to be made.
    2. I have been a victim of harassment in my local area and in my own house and have to get away from it.
    3. It is not uncommon that I do not feel up to going anywhere at all and will be stuck here most of the week.
    4. I almost jumped in front of a car a few months ago and often listen to loud music in an attempt to shut out intrusive suicidal thoughts.

    Other items of note:
    The decision maker comments multiple times that I have had driving lessons. This was 17 years ago and I’m not sure what its relevance is to a PIP claim today. He also makes repeated references to attending appointments. It is not clear what/where/when these appointments are or what their relevance is. If I remember rightly, I have only had two ‘appointments’ this year.

    I do not particularly remember how I felt at or after the medical assessment but according to my diary I was very tired, felt suicidal, and was angry and upset about being reminded of my illnesses. The ‘healthcare professional’, who did not give her name or job title, did not appear to have a copy of my claim form. She was, however, polite and courteous, which did make it much easier than other DWP assessments I’ve been to.

    I have asked the DWP twice to supply me with a copy of the medical report from the assessment, but after 3 months, they have not done so. I have now forwarded a complaint about this to my M.P. It is difficult to write an appeal letter when I cannot see all the evidence which has been used.

    I have never understood Aspergers Syndrome (or Autism) particularly well, and I have to go to an incredible amount of effort to try and explain it. It took me a considerable amount of time to fill in the claim form, and to write this letter, and I had to seek some independent advice in order to do so. My previous psychotherapist (who specialised in the field of Autism) told me that autistic people tend to experience feelings in a ‘more extreme’ way than others, and often have trouble identifying and naming those feelings.

    Hopefully that will suffice. I'll send it by recorded delivery tomorrow.

Reply

  • OK, I've written out my mandatory reconsideration letter (which will also serve as an appeal letter when the refuse the MR). I'll copy and paste it below in case it either helps anyone else who is going through the same thing, or if anyone wants to point out anything which doesn't make sense.

    I am writing to request a mandatory reconsideration of the PIP decision dated 17th July 2025 (which was not received until the 25th).

    I would have expected more points to be awarded for both Daily Living and Mobility.

    Firstly, the decision maker states that I claimed difficulty with preparing food, taking nutrition, washing and bathing and dressing and undressing. I did not claim any difficulty with these which suggests that the decision maker did not bother to read my claim form.

    Managing Treatments:
    The decision maker states “you have no prescribed medications or therapy”. This is in contradiction to my claim form which states that medication and therapy has been recommended, and that I struggle to understand changes to my depression symptoms. The fact that I do not receive any treatment at the current time does not mean that I don’t struggle with them when I do.

    See pages 18 and 39 of the claim form as well as the medical evidence supplied.

    Making Budgeting Decisions:
    I would have difficulty managing a household budget due to issues with planning and concentration, caused by Aspergers Syndrome. In practise, I live with relatives who manage most of the utility bills etc.

    Planning/Following Journeys:
    I stand by the comments made on page 35 of the claim form, which the decision maker has taken no notice of.

    I have difficulty planning journeys. I stick to well known routes/places where possible so I don’t have to spend a very long time planning or getting anxious about what might happen.

    The decision maker states that “evidence shows that you are leaving the house the majority of days”. It is not clear what this evidence is as it certainly contradicts my own experience:-
    1. I am a very active person and cannot cope with being sat in a chair staring at the wall for 20 hours a day. Even if I am too depressed to feel up to going out somewhere, or to know where I am going, some compromise has to be made.
    2. I have been a victim of harassment in my local area and in my own house and have to get away from it.
    3. It is not uncommon that I do not feel up to going anywhere at all and will be stuck here most of the week.
    4. I almost jumped in front of a car a few months ago and often listen to loud music in an attempt to shut out intrusive suicidal thoughts.

    Other items of note:
    The decision maker comments multiple times that I have had driving lessons. This was 17 years ago and I’m not sure what its relevance is to a PIP claim today. He also makes repeated references to attending appointments. It is not clear what/where/when these appointments are or what their relevance is. If I remember rightly, I have only had two ‘appointments’ this year.

    I do not particularly remember how I felt at or after the medical assessment but according to my diary I was very tired, felt suicidal, and was angry and upset about being reminded of my illnesses. The ‘healthcare professional’, who did not give her name or job title, did not appear to have a copy of my claim form. She was, however, polite and courteous, which did make it much easier than other DWP assessments I’ve been to.

    I have asked the DWP twice to supply me with a copy of the medical report from the assessment, but after 3 months, they have not done so. I have now forwarded a complaint about this to my M.P. It is difficult to write an appeal letter when I cannot see all the evidence which has been used.

    I have never understood Aspergers Syndrome (or Autism) particularly well, and I have to go to an incredible amount of effort to try and explain it. It took me a considerable amount of time to fill in the claim form, and to write this letter, and I had to seek some independent advice in order to do so. My previous psychotherapist (who specialised in the field of Autism) told me that autistic people tend to experience feelings in a ‘more extreme’ way than others, and often have trouble identifying and naming those feelings.

    Hopefully that will suffice. I'll send it by recorded delivery tomorrow.

Children
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