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DWP now refusing to post out copy of PIP assessment report before Award decided?

Posted , 10 users are following.

TCup
TCup

I have read on another forum of an applicant being told by the DWP that they are no longer sending out copies of assessment reports to applicants prior to a decision being made on their award.  Has anyone else been told this?  I called the DWP 3 weeks ago to request a copy of my report and never received it in the 10 days I was originally quoted.  So I called last week and again this week and was told on both occasions that my report had not yet been sent out because of staff shortages but would be so in due course.  I am beginning to think they were just lying and I will indeed receive my award details before my copy of my assessment report arrives! Anyone know why this could be? It has been just over 6 weeks since my assessment and I have also just read that the waiting time for DLA to PIP applicants from assessment to award is now 17 weeks!  It is getting rediculous and it is so hard knowing who to believe!    

0 likes, 109 replies

109 Replies

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  • anthony97723
    anthony97723 TCup

    Posted

    I recently asked for a copy of my assessment report but was told that the DWP only send out a report within 10 days if the claimant was making an appeal against the decision.

    As I only wished a copy for my records I was told that I had to write to the local benefits office (via the post handling centre in Wolverhampton) and request a copy. It was highly likely that my request would take sometime to process, if at all.

    I suppose one day some clever cloggs will use the Freedom of Information Act to speed things up, but due to staff storages we are stuck with the present system.

    • TCup
      TCup anthony97723

      Posted

      Thanks - I just rang the number which I was given on my ATOS invite to assessment.  I don't know what they are playing at but it doesn't seem very professional of them to send out reports to some without hesitation, tell other that they can only have a copy if they are requesting a MD and tell others probably damn right lies - like they are understaffed and a copy will be sent out at some point!

  • courts90770
    courts90770 TCup

    Posted

    Yes this has happened to me Hun. I was on PIP regarding my mental health, Bipolar Disorder. I went for my assessment it was heartbreaking the assessor began crying and hugging me because it got to her yet I received a letter telling me I was no longer entitled? I scored 0 on everything apparently even though the assessor made me sign a piece of paper saying I consent to her contacting my gp, cpn and psychiatrist as 'she was concerned about my mental health/state and the effects it's having on my day to day life' so I went and got some advice. And phoned dwp to tell them I'm putting in for mandatory reconsideration and I want a copy of my assessors report his words were; 'I cannot issue you the AR today it will take over another 2 weeks or more as it has to be sent to the case manager so they can double check it and for medical reasons and erm, erm, something erm, confidentiality but erm, as soon as it can be sent out it will be. But the case manager has to do it' Soooo, not too sure where that leaves me? Because the MR you have 28 days? So by the time the assessment comes it will be cutting it very, very short. As to what I've read, heard and witnessed they are just trying to cut PIP down dramatically without a care about how this affects the person they're doing it to! Ridiculous and inconsiderate doesn't hit the mark.

    • TCup
      TCup courts90770

      Posted

      That is terrible!  I bet your report was in favour of you receiving an award and they want to alter it before you see it!  If they do that then I honestly cannot understand how they can sleep at night knowing they have commited fraud - which it is!  Keep us updated and make sure you get professional advice and support with you MD.  Good luck and stay strong x
    • les59996
      les59996 courts90770

      Posted

      The DWP do seem to be shifting tack on this.

      From what I know from the PIP regulations there is nothing in them or in any other relevant regulation that puts the DWP on notice to issue these reports prior to the appeal bundle being sent out.

      Maybe someone could confirm or clarify that?

      I must say that it does follow in line with the general principle of disclosure. Disclosure only happens when the matter progresses to a court hearing.

      If this just happens to thwart claimants by not telling them how or why they failed in their claim then do you really expect the DWP to be otherwise than unhelpful?

    • courts90770
      courts90770 TCup

      Posted

      Yes definitely Hun and thank you so much means a lot I hope all goes well for you too! X
    • courts90770
      courts90770 les59996

      Posted

      See with esa, the decision letter was very detailed whereas this one is so vague you wouldn't believe it. It simply had no reasoning I will find the letter and I will quote it lol

    • TCup
      TCup courts90770

      Posted

      I am on esa - they said they were reassessing me in March this yeaar sohad to fill in one of their forms and await to be called for an assessment.  They never called me for one though  and just wrote to tell me I was to remain on esa in the support group!  I just wish my PIP application was as easy and quick!
    • courts90770
      courts90770 nicolette72364

      Posted

      I used to be then I had assessment and they decided to disallow my claim but my money on income support was higher and the time it would take to appeal whilst I have a dependant child I chose not to appeal wish I did now but now with PIP I'm definitely appealing my bipolar affects my life every day, all day I try my hardest to be a good mum. I try not to cry infront of him the lot but lately it's all getting way too much I'm back on a cocktail of meds and more are getting added on Tuesday. Just worried about it all x

    • courts90770
      courts90770 TCup

      Posted

      That's really good news! And lol I wish mine was straight forward too! Haha x

    • nicolette72364
      nicolette72364 courts90770

      Posted

      I know it must be hard for you and it's wrong the way they are treating people, but try not to give in and fight them all the way.

      good luck with it I hope you win.

    • les59996
      les59996 courts90770

      Posted

      From the DWP's perspective, you were assessed for ESA and failed it. You didn't appeal (the DWP could quite rightly in their minds assume therefore that the decison was correct) then you go one to claim PIP, get refused.

      On the face of it how do you think it looks?

      This is also a serious situation if you do get a PIP award but not at a level that you think you should get. But not to rock the boat, you don't appeal.

      When it comes to the next reassessment how would you argue that you are entitled to the increased award because to them you accepted it first time round that you weren't?

    • courts90770
      courts90770 les59996

      Posted

      Well actually, the reason I didn't appeal it was at the time it happened I'd lost a close family member and also my relapse had began to show so I let all my stresses build up instead. However, I did in fact phone dwp regarding pip to see whether or not me not appealing my esa could or would affect my pip and they told me 'no not at all because the two are completely separate' and why? Cos now my situation has completely changed to what it was when my esa was processed so yeah. That's why.

    • courts90770
      courts90770 les59996

      Posted

      Also I have been in reciept of pip since 2014 I didn't claim esa until 2015 so I didn't 'go on to claim pip' I was already claiming pip

    • TCup
      TCup les59996

      Posted

      Les, if someone is on esa, do you think the DLA will know that and take it into consideration when awarding PIP.  I know both benefits are different but if someone is in the support group for ESA - would that not give them an advantage if the DLA knew that when they were being considering for PIP?
    • pam02338
      pam02338 TCup

      Posted

      The DWP cannot alter a report completed by the assessment provider, as DWP decision makers have no medical training - they rely on the assessor to make a clear judgement - the assessors give their idea of the points you should score, but the final judgement is down to the decision maker.  Every part of the procedure is examined if the claimant goes to tribunal, so it would all be found out anyway, and the tribunals are independent. 
    • george10808
      george10808 courts90770

      Posted

      Instead of making pip means tested politicians went for the easy option of using every dirty little trick possible to hit their beloved benefit cut targets.
    • pam02338
      pam02338 george10808

      Posted

      How can you means test a benefit intended to cover the extra cost of disability ?  There is no basis from which to start.
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