Published on 12, July, 2020
Your helpful advice would be very welcome.
My daughter (16) was awarded enhanced for both the care and mobility elements of PIP scoring 12 points on each (minimum required). We are relieved and feel she deserves the enhanced judgement.
However, there were some decisions that were nonsensical. I.e. she was awarded 0/12 for communication. She is autistic! Communication is THE ISSUE she struggles with!
I don't know what to do now. Do I ask them to reconsider or just leave it? My worry is that if I leave it, what happens when they review it in 3 years time and they give her the same again and I didn't challenge it this time? If I challenge it, could they downgrade her on other elements and downgrade her from the enhanced rate?
Do I just write to them to lodge that we do not agree with some aspects of the decision but accept the overall outcome.
Thank you for reading.
Don't rock the boat. Each assessment depends on the assessor, and the evidence provided. This can go into appeal territory.
Next time try to have more information, or demonstrate the communication issues in a different manner. You may have done that but the assessor wasn't considerate of it. Either way, if she got the enhanced rate, in 3 years just repeat what you did in the areas that scored high. Things should be fine.
I personally would just leave it. It would count as an appeal, and could affect the claim.
Being blunt, I really don't know why you'd want to appeal a fully enhanced PIP. They are as rare as rocking horse ***.
Well said. I was even happy when my esa assessment meant I no longer get more money under the new rules, but I don’t have to go into the job centre so often and I don’t have to participate in any schemes, but I can and I am. The money would have been nice but for me, the biggest stress and the thing that was no longer helping me, was going into the job centre. And I got the enhanced rate of daily living, which considering what you go through to get it and how easily it can be denied, I’m just very grateful for all of it and now I’m going to make the most of it. I’ve got at least 18 months of one to one support, paid for, via the job centre and already after just one session, it is worth its weight in gold, and more than makes up for any lack of extra money due to the change in policy. They’re giving me something far more valuable.
The WRAG thing was disgraceful considering what happened with the money. I don't know about the changes with jobcentre attendance, but if it's working for you, at least something good has come out of it.
I'd say that the way you are viewing the support situation is pretty good. If you can take something from it, you might as well.
I hope you get what you need.
I like that ~ I have autism, autism doesn’t have me
I think the initial period was the hardest for me, but as you say once things start to fall into place with acceptance, and what you do with that acceptance, life starts to change for the better. I think accepting what you CAN'T do is as important as what you CAN do.
I had a period of trying to figure out if in certain situations, and relationships, if autism was a factor. I just gave up on that pretty quick.
There was a wise gal that posted here who once said "I have autism, autism doesn't have me". Things clicked when she said that. I'm me primarily, autism isn't going to consume my life. The whole late diagnosis thing does kind of throw you out. It's easy to get lost in it.