6 Out Of 10 To Lose Higher Rate Mobility Plus PIP Refused For Spending Too Much Time On Facebook
Transfer from DLA to PIP success
My son had his assessment for PIP on October 2nd & he heard yesterday that his claim has been agreed, he will get the enhanced rate with top rate mobility component. It is all thanks to the help given by this fantastic site. Thank you.
Dear Reader,
The Court of Appeal has crushed any lingering hopes of a successful challenge to the PIP 20 metre rule. As a result the DWP estimate that 6 out of 10 working age recipients of DLA higher rate mobility will have lost their award by 2018.
Meanwhile a first tier tribunal refused an award of PIP because the claimant spent too much time on Facebook.
And, in a move that may surprise many readers, Maximus are now offering free help with completing your ESA50. Would you accept it?
Elsewhere, we have evidence of the not so subtle stereotyping of claimants in a Capita training manual for assessors and news of a new Benefits and Work resource coming soon.
Oh, and there’s a Maximus video of an ESA medical assessment you might want to watch too.
PIP CHALLENGE FAILS
The Court of Appeal decided last week that the DWP’s consultation on PIP, which initially hid the fact that the qualifying mobility distance was to be reduced from 50 metres to 20 metres, was fair.
This ended the last hope of overturning the 20 metre distance for PIP mobility. As a result the DWP estimates that 548,000 (61%) of the 892,000 working age claimants who were getting higher rate mobility DLA in 2013 will lose it when they are forced to apply for PIP.
349,000 (39%) are expected to be left with no mobility award at all and 199,000 (22%) with standard instead of enhanced mobility.
PIP APPEAL FAILED BECAUSE OF FACEBOOK USE
A claimant appealing against a PIP decision lost after he said that he only used Facebook ‘now and again’ in response to questioning by the panel.
After the claimant returned to the waiting room with his representative to await the decision, the medical member checked the claimant’s Facebook page on his smartphone.
When the claimant returned the medical member read out extracts from the claimant’s Facebook page, before he was accused of lying about the frequency of his use of social media. Because the hearing was over he was given no opportunity to explain that his partner also posts on his Facebook page.
The claimant now faces a long battle to try to get the decision overturned.
MAXIMUS OFFERS A HELPING ESA HAND AND SOME VIDEOS
If you’re struggling to complete your ESA50 capability for work questionnaire and you don’t have access to the Benefits and Work guides, there’s a new source of help available.
Maximus, the company that carries out ESA medical assessments for the DWP, have launched a free telephone support line to help you complete the form and decide what additional evidence to send.
The big question is, would you use it?
We’ve had quite a few comments left on the article already and it seems unlikely that Maximus’ phones will be ringing off the hook if our readers are anything to go by.
But, ever keen to be of service, Maximus have also launched a collection of videos to help inform claimants about the work capability assessment process. It includes a video of a face-to-face medical assessment.
We’d be interested to hear how closely the video matches your experience, so please do leave a comment.
CAPITA PIP TRAINING
We’ve been sent a copy of the PIP training pack issued to Capita health professionals.
One of the things that struck us, was the apparent stereotyping of claimants.
In the section on Social and Occupational History, over half of the text is devoted to the importance of exploring the claimant’s use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs plus their possible fondness for a flutter on the horses.
It’s not a comforting thought that the tabloid view of claimants may be influencing even the training of supposedly impartial health professionals.
UNIVERSAL CREDIT SLOWS
The take-up of universal credit is slowing, even as it is rolled-out to more Jobcentres.
DWP figures show that claims are currently being made at a rate of 6,000 a week. But this is actually less than in June of this year.
With just 126,000 people receiving universal credit in mid-September, the chances of the DWP reaching its greatly reduced target of half a million claimants by May 2016 now look very slim indeed.
NEXT TIME
In the next edition we’ll be introducing members to a new resource, our sample PIP medical assessment form, the PA4.
We’re creating the form from our study of a collection of Atos and Capita reports kindly sent to us by readers. It will allow members to see what a completed form should look like, highlighting the different areas where Atos and Capita tend to make standard observations or responses.
If you haven’t had a PIP medical it will help you to prepare by knowing precisely what the health professional is supposed to be collecting evidence about, if they are doing their job properly.
If you’ve had a medical and are challenging the decision, it will help you judge the ways in which the report on you may fall short.
We’re also updating our very detailed guide to ‘The Best Possible Ways To Challenge A PIP Medical Report’ based on what we’ve learnt.
Until next time.
Good luck,
Steve Donnison
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BENEFITS NEWS
Capita training pack’s stereotypical claimant
Benefits and Work has obtained a training pack issued to PIP health professionals, part of which presents a depressingly tabloid view of sick and disabled claimants.
Maximus release ‘Helpful Video’ of an ESA medical assessment
Maximus have unveiled a series of three’ helpful videos’ for claimants going through the ESA assessment process.
PIP refused for spending too much time on Facebook
A shocked welfare rights worker, posting on Rightsnet, has revealed how his client had their PIP appeal refused because of the amount of time the claimant allegedly spent on Facebook.
61% to lose higher rate mobility as court rejects DLA to PIP appeal
The Court of Appeal has decided that the DWP’s consultation on PIP, which initially hid the fact that the qualifying mobility distance was to be reduced from 50 metres to 20 metres, was fair.
UN benefits cuts investigators arrive in UK
The United Nations has begun its investigation into the effects of welfare reform in the UK by visiting Scotland.
Disaster prone universal credit take-up slows down
The take-up of disaster prone universal credit (UC) is slowing down, in spite of being rolled out to more jobcentres across the country, statistics released by the DWP show.
Would you let Maximus help you complete your ESA50 questionnaire?
Maximus have launched a new telephone support service to help claimants complete their ESA50 capability for work questionnaire. But would you want to use it?
GOOD NEWS FROM THE FORUM AND BY EMAIL
As always, many thanks to everyone who takes the trouble to post in the forum or email us with news of your success. We know it’s many readers favourite, and most encouraging, bit of the newsletter.
Support group success
I just wanted to say Thank You .I received the letter today telling me I am in the support group and could not have done without this site help.
PIP mandatory reconsideration success
Just wanted to let you know I finally got pip standard care on reconsideration [further post] i wanted to say thanks for all your advice . . . i am so relieved - as i know mr success rates are low as was expecting to have to go all the way to an appeal.
Enhanced PIP care and mobility
Thank you
Thanks to this Wonderfull site I Finally Got the Enchanced Rate Of PIP in both Care And Mobility
Thank You All So Much
ESA success thank you!!!
Today recived a letter from dwp and I have successfully been put in support group income related !
It was down to b n w who helped me and guided me with there guides it was worth every penny spent!
Thanks to Gordon and the team
DLA tribunal
Hi Gordon, Just to let you know I went to my Tribunal in September (date on earlier post).
I am happy to say I WON, with funds to be paid back to November 2014. Thanks for all the help, from your information guides to posted comments.
ESA support group
GREAT NEWS THANK YOU B N W
Got a letter to day from ESA
Put straight in support group !!
With out your help I would not of got that!
ESA support group, with no assessment
After 18 years diagnosed with MS, I had to give up my work as I could no longer cope physically or mentally. I was DREADING applying for ESA, after all the horror stories of waiting times, and assessments, but thanks to Benefits and Work, it was much less stressful than I thought. I followed the guides to a t, and included as much supporting evidence as I could lay my hands on. What a surprise!!. . . .I had prepared myself for a fight, but my claim was sorted within eight weeks and I was put straight into the support group with no assessment!!. I cannot thank Benefits and Work enough for their invaluable help, and urge anyone who is worried like me to use the guides as you work through the ESA 50 form including anything that you struggle with in day to day life, no matter how small and trivial you think it is.
ESA award support group
Well after the panic of last week I have just opened a brown envelope and it is good news, I have been placed in the support group. You are absolutely right about the standard letters this is exactly the same but with a little more information. I want to thank you as without the help of your brilliant guides I'm sure the outcome would not have been so favourable
PIP on written appeal
Thank-you and the website for all your helpful advice through what has been an extremely stressful episode in my life.
I'll be as brief as I can.
I had been awarded standard living allowance only. I asked for reconsideration and they still said no mobility award. So many mistakes and inaccuracies in report.
Too stressed to face a head to head appeal sent in a very detailed report. On the verge of a total mental breakdown couldn't face speaking to anyone. I took a risk and sent in a written appeal.
Amazed to receive court letter 28th August 2015 been awarded enhanced living allowance and enhanced mobility back dated 12 months.
Support group after medical
I just wanted to say a big thank you.
The invaluable information that you have provided concerning ESA, from filling out the horrendous form to preparing for the medical. I was thinking I’d need you for a possible appeal but no we’ve made it into the support group!
Thank you again
Vicki
ESA support group and PIP
I am just writing to say thank you for the wonderful service that you offer through Benefits and Work. I have been a subscriber for a few years now, firstly as an organisation and then as my health declined as an individual. Your fantastic guides have helped me in getting ESA support group with no medical and PIP enhanced daily living. In the past I have been quite good at navigating the benefits system but the changes in recent years made it quite a daunting prospect for me. So, thanks again, I'm not sure I'd have done it without your help! To anyone thinking of subscribing I'd highly recommend it, great value for the money.
Ben
DLA and ESA success
Quick thanks to everyone at B&W. I have been a member off and on for a few years and totally believe my success in getting both DLA & ESA Support without the need for a medical is due to your wonderful guides. I would have fallen into many of the areas were giving an answer one way gets no points but rephrasing it helps decision makers more aware of our difficulties.
I continually suggest to others that they become members when faced with form filling and am pleased to report that they too have been successful! Again many thanks.
Cath
ESA support group
Just to say my self assessment for ESA has been accepted. I have been put in the support group. This decision was taken on the basis of what I said on the form - I was not required to attend an appointment.
Bev
Support group without medical
The advice given by benefits and work enabled me to complete the form honestly but robustly and comprehensively. Without it, I am sure that I would not have achieved this outcome.
Many thanks!
Glenn
PIP success
I am writing to tell you that due to your site I have been awarded Enhanced mobility and standard care for my problems. I had only hope to get the lower rate of mobility so what a result. I feel like it's worth living again to have somewhere to turn to to get such valuable advise and assistance. I will be keeping up my membership as I have now been able to get back on track and without you, this would not have been possible.
Many, many thanks for all your hard work Regards,
Gilly
BOOST YOUR ESA, PIP OR DLA CHANCES - 20% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP – OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT FRIDAY
Give yourself the best possible chance of getting the right ESA, PIP or DLA decision, whether you’re making a claim, renewing an existing award or asking for a reconsideration or appeal.
Subscribe now and get instant access to all our guides.
If you’re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community before midnight on Friday and you can get 20% off the cost of your annual subscription.
Just type the following code into the coupon box when you pay: 6494
Claimants and carers get an annual subscription for £15.96, down from £19.95. Professionals get an annual subscription for £77.60, down from £97.00.
Offer ends midnight Friday
Good luck,
The Office Team
Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd
Company registration No. 5962666
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