PIP success
“I'm so happy. On Wednesday I received brown envelope… My PIP decision, I'm entitled to the daily living comp. enhanced rate and mobility comp. Standard rate. I was so poorly yesterday, but this letter made me happy. And I couldn’t do it without your help, took me 6 weeks to fill the form. I asked them for 2 extra weeks. It was so stressful, but I used everything from Benefits and work, and that’s why I think my pip is successful…”
ESA Medicals Now Decide PIP And Vice Versa Plus Support Group Without Medical
Dear Reader,
Employment and support allowance (ESA) medicals – work capability assessments (WCAs) – are being used to make decisions about eligibility for personal independence payment (PIP), a government minister has confirmed.{jcomments on}
Benefits and Work also has evidence that the reverse is true: existing ESA awards are being looked at again and changed on the basis of a PIP medical report.
What’s more, in an effort to reduce the PIP backlog, many thousands of decisions are being made by temporarily promoted DWP staff who aren’t really decision makers at all.
So, it’s probably never been more important to ensure that you give the most detailed and accurate information you can, backed up with supporting evidence if possible, when you are applying for either ESA or PIP.
Indeed, what you include on your claim forms can not only influence whether you get an award, it can also decide whether you have to endure a face-to-face medical assessment.
Mark Harper, minister for disabled people, told MPs
“. . . we take the ESA85—the report from the work capability assessment—and put it with their PIP form and any other evidence they have provided. That is enabling us to make more decisions based on the paperwork without needing to call people in for assessments.”
And it’s not just for PIP that detailed evidence can help avoid a medical assessment.
The recent independent review of the WCA has confirmed not only that regulation 35 (2) (b)is now the most common reason for claimants getting into the support group, but also that two thirds do so without having a face-to-face medical. Regulation 35 (2 ) (b) is a ‘safety net’ regulation. It allows entry to the support group for people who aren’t covered by the relevant descriptors, but where there would be a substantial risk to their health or someone else’s if they were not put in the support group.
There are no questions on this regulation in the ESA50 claim form, but there’s more information about it, and how to give evidence, in our guides
Still with the WCA, you won’t see it trumpeted in the pages of the tabloids, but recent figures show that in 2013 only 7% of incapacity benefit (IB) to employment and support allowance claimants were found capable of work. A staggering 59% were placed in the support group. The figures raise a huge question mark over what the transfer process has achieved, other than causing enormous hardship, distress and, in some cases, the death of claimants.
Actually, one thing the IB to ESA transfer process did achieve was to cause a massive backlog in the whole ESA assessment process. A minister has confirmed that there are now more than half a million ESA claimants trapped in the assessment phase, many of whom should be in the support group.
And whilst the DWP are now placing their hopes of getting back on top of assessments with Maximus, the American company due to take over from Atos next year, there is no prospect whatsoever of improvements being made to the WCA itself. The fifth and final review of the WCA has cast doubts on its suitability, but recommended that it should have a period of stability before being completely replaced sometime around 2020.
And finally, there’s the grim news that, according to the very reputable and entirely non-radical charity Contact A Family, more and more families with a disabled child are being forced to choose between heating and eating because of cuts in their benefits.
So, although David Cameron recently told Ed Miliband in an exchange in the Commons:
"I don't need lectures from anyone about looking after disabled people. I don't want to hear any more of that."
the truth is that, regardless of his own personal tragedy, Cameron needs to hear an awful lot ‘more of that’ from as many people as possible.
Good luck,
Steve Donnison
BOOST YOUR ESA, PIP OR DLA CHANCES - 20% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Give yourself the best possible chance of getting the right 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.
Good news – ESA Support Group success
“I received the dreaded brown envelope yesterday...but good news thanks to your brilliant advice ...i have been put in the support group on contributory esa...many thanks”
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: 2385
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
BENEFITS NEWS
Autumn statement
We'll be publishing details of any further cuts to benefits announced in today's autumn statement as soon as they are available. Please check the Latest News section for updates.
Regulation 35 (2) (b) is now the main route into ESA support group
Although there are no questions about it in the ESA50 questionnaire, a recent report has revealed that regulation 35 (2) (b) is now the most common reason for claimants getting into the support group of employment and support allowance (ESA).
Untrained staff being drafted in for PIP decision making
The quality of decision making for personal independence payment (PIP), is being called into question following the revelation that hundreds of staff without the proper experience and training are being temporarily promoted to the rank of PIP decision maker.
ESA Medicals Now Decide PIP And Vice Versa
Employment and support allowance (ESA) medicals – work capability assessments (WCAs) – are being used to make decisions about eligibility for personal independence payment (PIP), a government minister has confirmed.
WCA review author condemns claimants to 5 more years of misery
The fifth and final review of the work capability assessment (WCA) published yesterday, appears to conclude that the WCA is perceived as being so unfair that it cannot survive into the next decade.
Only 7% of IB to ESA transfers found fit for work
Statistics released today by the DWP show that only 7% of incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants were found capable of work in 2013, with almost 60% being placed in the support group.
Over half a million trapped in assessment phase of ESA
Over half a million people are trapped in the assessment phase of employment and support allowance (ESA) whilst waiting for a work capability assessment (WCA) and hundreds of thousands more are dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing when their next assessment will be, a government minister has confirmed.
Benefit changes are killing the vulnerable, say campaigners
The sister of a mentally ill man who starved to death in David Cameron's constituency after his benefits were wrongly cut has accused the Government of "killing the very vulnerable", as official figures emerged suggesting dozens of people could have died in similar circumstances.
Heat or eat choice for families with disabled children
Soaring numbers of families with disabled children are being forced to go without food or heating because they can no longer afford the basics, a major study shows.
FEEDBACK FROM THE FORUM
Please keep the feedback coming.
As one member told us when we asked if they would mind us publishing their email feedback:
“No objection at all, I found those comments very encouraging during the dark days!”
PIP appeal success
“Hi had to let you know I won my PIP appeal today with B & W information in the members area…Many thanks again to you all at benefits and work couldn't have gone through with appeal without your help and information”
DLA Appeal win after 2 & half years
I would just like to thank you for all the help from your guides…2 and half years ago, lost my first tribunal. But took it all the way to upper tribunal and had to go through another one. Glad to report i won this tribunal middle rate care lower rate mobility till june next year thank you so much”
PIP success
“I found out I have been awarded the Care component of PIP so thank you to this Website for all the wonderful advice!”
DLA renewal success
“Would just like to say a huge thank you to you for the help given with my DLA renewal. I used the guides and read lots of older threads on this and also got my MP involved…Yesterday I got a call from DWP informing me my renewal had been processed and I have been awarded HRM and MRC... My award is for a full 3 years…Thank you so much for guiding me through the process, this forum helped ease a lot of the stress that goes with these situations.”
PIP award success
“Hi, i called capita last week Monday they done a paper based assessment and forwarded my file to the DWP on the Monday last week. The DM made a decision on monday giving me the enhanced rate PIP til 2018 (all with the help of this website i really do appreciate it a lot! Couldnt of done it with out it)…”
Thank you
“I cannot explain how much this site has helped me as after 35 years in full-time employment I found myself due to ill-health adrift in the 'parallel universe' called our benefits system.
Due to the help and advice available here I realised I was not alone and enabled me to regain my self esteem after an horrendous medical, challenge the result and today received a letter overturning the decision and awarding the higher rate…What can I say except a big Thank you”
20% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP - ENDS MIDNIGHT FRIDAY
If you’re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community before midnight on Saturday and you can get 20% off the cost of your annual subscription.
Just type the following code into the coupon box when you pay: 2385
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.
Good luck,
The Office Team
Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd
Company registration No. 5962666
