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PIP Mandotary Reconsideration

NAS37145

Hi there.

My son was diagnosed in Dec 17.We applied for DLA in Feb 2018 which was turned down. It went to appeal and the decision was overturned in May 19 and my son  received middle rate care and lower rate mobility to be paid until Dec 20.As my son turned 16 in Dec 2019 we had to apply for PIP.As all face to face assessments were cancelled due to Covid 19 it was done via the telephone.After an initial introduction with my son and with the assessors permission it was myself who answered all the questions regarding the application as I represent my son.On receiving the decision yesterday my son scored 0 on all sections.The assessor had written that my son spoke clear and consistent throughout the interview??My son confirmed his name and it was myself who spoke for the remaing 30 mins!!He wrote my son is able to budget and attends the supermarket with myself??What??I shop online for a starter and my son hasnt been to the supermarket with me since about the age of 5!!Although my son isnt currently at school I do take him to and from in the car as he finds bus journeys confusing and overwhelming.At school he has a mentor and a reduced GCSE timetable plus various interventions in place to support his study...the assessor states my son is currently in mainstream school studying GCSEs with no one to one support.The list goes on!!Is it usual for a child to receive DLA after appeal then a mere 12 months later be refused PIP when they hit 16 and nothing has changed with them??How successful is the appeal likely to be??Any advice and support gratefully received!!!!!Many thanks x

  • I've heard horror stories about PIP, but got mine first time.  I do have other issues apart from ASD, but they seemed mostly interested in the ASD.  The thing to do is when you fill out any paperwork, be as anally retentive in the answers you give.  Every last detail.  For example, if he cant remember to take medication on time, tell them.  if he has constipation from taking meds, tell them.  Imagine the absolute worst day you ever had with him and put it on paper.  if you say he is ok 99% of the time, you wont get it or get it on appeal.  They are interested in your worst day, not the times that arent.

    Ask for a face to face unless its not possible for some reason.  if he has a meltdown in front of an assessor you will probably get it without any issue. My sister took her son who has it to an assessment and he did a meltdown with shouting and screaming.  The woman asked about 5 questions of him prior to it and that was PIP assessment done.  He got it.  Phone calls make it harder to convey exactly how something is.

    Good luck with it all.  i tried and failed to get an appeal through for ESA, so know what an utter PITA it is.

  • in reply to Plastic

    Thanks!I will see this right through to the end! Just a shame that the decision for his DLA was over turned in his favour in May 19 after a 14 month wait and a mere year later here we are again!! Very frustrating

  • in reply to Azpie

    Thank you. Its just the out right lies that really get me. I will get my LA Welfare Rights team on board as I did for the DLA appeal...that took 14 months last time..sigh x  

  • The PIP system is like this - they lie.    It may need you to go all the way to a tribunal to get what you deserve - don't be put off - it's not that hard but might take 18 months - unless you can demonstrate extreme mental anguish.   Most people win tribunals - the DWP don't even bother turning up as they know they are in the wrong.

    Did you research how they apply the points beforehand?

    https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

    Look at how the points work and see how you should be scored.     You can easily shoot yourself in the foot by appearing too helpful in your answers.  

    I recommend you keep full and accurate records of EVERY interaction with the DWP as they like to 'forget' things - and make sure you always use special delivery for any correspondence with them - they lie about postal dates all the time.   

    Another trick they use is to demand you reply within 30 days - but you only get the letter with 5 days left to run you out of time - be prepared for this. 

    As far as I am concerned, they are the most incompetent, corrupt department I've ever dealt with.

  • This sounds familiar. 

    My advice is, get expert help,  then go through the routine mandatory reassessment,  if that fails go through to the appeal.

    I also scored zero points in all categories or my PIP application.  The assessor's opinion was that I had no problems with anything. 

    Everyone else disagrees.  Employer's fire me, neighbours avoid me because my speech and behaviour is bizzare etc etc etc.

  • I don't have experience with PIP claims for a young person as my daughter is 14 and still receiving DLA but based on various horror stories I've heard/read about etc this is not unusual. It does seem to be the norm for PIP to be turned down and from the sounds of it they have at best exaggerated how well your son copes and at worst flat out lied. Just keep appealing as from what I recall most initial claims are turned down, some are changed at the mandatory reconsideration most however have to go on to the tribunal stage. It's a disgrace but that's the system for you, if it helps NAS have some information about how things are scored so you can get a clearer idea of what they should have scored him (so you can bring that up with them) - www.autism.org.uk/.../pip.aspx on the right hand side of the page is a download titled "PIP: the points-based criteria". Hope that helps and don't give up!