Anyone have a PIP phone offer

[Ladyuponthelake]

Hi everyone I hope your well today!

I have been declined by PIP and have made an appeal. I spent quite a bit of time on research while writing my appeal. I've added up the points and should realistically should get the higher rate of both Daily Living Allowance and Mobility.

I've recently had someone phone from SEP and offer 10 points for each for standard ratr, just 2 points shy of the 12 required for higher rate which would be a great help. Everyday lately is a struggle to get out of bed, working an impossibility. I've given up my business of 17 yrs because I was too I'll to continue.

I explained that I'm seeing a Rheumatologist who's familiar with EDS shortly and will have more information to back up my appeal and illnesses I haven't discussed. The DWP offer advised me to take the offer and make a change in circumstance after seeing Rheumatologist. CAB has suggested to go to appeal for more. She also advised that I can't add new illnesses. But if the illness is because of EDS, is it new?

So my question is has anyone else had a phone offer from DWP??? If so did it work out for you?

Also I should mention is that it's a phone offer NOTHING IN WRITING

Thank You so much for your thoughts and time! 🌻🌼🌞

[JanWellcome]

Morning, so 1sr step is a mandatory reconsideration, everything should be in writing from DWP, if you are not then happy with their decision you can go to appeal, it has to be in writing. But I’m sure CAB have told you this.

I have lower rate on both but expected higher rate living, I had a reconsideration as felt they where wrong but have not gone to appeal as I was having issues at work and could not deal with both.

With mobility to get higher rate under PIP you usually need to be seriously immobile to get it, are you in a wheelchair?

I hope you get things sorted, it’s all very stressful, are you claiming ESA or other benefits if your not working.

Good luck the system does suck but don’t accept their word over the phone wait for the letter, there is good information on the .gov website to help with the process Jx

[JanWellcome]

Ps. To do a change in circumstances you have to wait 3 months after new diagnosis, then go through the whole process again, if there will no change in diagnosis or your condition, you can continue with an appeal, do you have someone who can be with you through the process. Jx

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to JanWellcome]

Just my children and CAB and sadly I don't have a lot of confidence in just recently. Very under staffed.

[JanWellcome]

You can get help through the EDS support. ehlers-danlos.org/

Jx

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to JanWellcome]

Hi Jan,

Thank you for your information and time. I've made a Mandatory Reconsideration and have made a detailed written appeal that the CAB approved and am waiting for Tribunal date. I received the phone call offer before a Tribunal date has been set. They made the offer and I requested something in writing but was refused. It's a one time offer, very much like a plea bargain. 😯

I've been declining in health for about 5 yrs now and am pretty much house bound now. Walking is a luxury and painful experience.

I'll have a look at the link you sent me. Thank You so much for your help!

🌻🌼🌞

[sing123sleep]

I've used this site for DWP challenges. It might be of use. Thenguides are very thorough and tightly knit to dwp criteria so you don't miss a thing.

think I would get legal advice on this. Certainly report it to the tribunal service. And I would write to my MP. Benefits cock ups are well known now so your mp may see some mileage in making enquiries.

All in all sounds a very suspect practice considering the vulnerable cohort involved.

If they've assessed you as meeting needs criteria at those higher points how can they then threaten to retract it with a "one time offer". On that basis perhaps you have nothing to lose by pursuing your appeal other than income now or later.

benefitsandwork.co.uk

Take care xx

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to sing123sleep]

Thank so much, that's my feelings exactly. Very suspicious! 🌻🌼🌞

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to sing123sleep]

I haven't said but I have EDS and many of the illness that come under this umbrella. This site has been really helpful!

🌻🌻🌻

[cyberbarn]

It has recently been brought to the attention of the press that a huge number of PIP applications that are turned down both initially and at Mandatory Reconsideration are then awarded at tribunal. A Judge recently tore strips of them for forcing people who clearly should have been getting PIP to go all the way to tribunal.

I wondering if they are trying to sneakily reverse this by offering to award at a lower level to try to put people off going to tribunal? If the CAB think you have a good case for tribunal, I would do that.

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to cyberbarn]

Thank You Cyberbarn for your help. I've researched this so much and can't find anyone else in a similar situation, other than something from 2016. You know when you feel like you're the only one? Surely other people have had been in a similar situation. Also DWP don't give you a written statement with break down of points. Also it's a one time offer only. 🌻🌼🌞

[FlissFloss in reply to Ladyuponthelake]

I got a break down of my points with my confirmation of award for PIP and when I was refused for DLA. This one time offer sounds very dodgy! Why don’t you give the DWP a ring?

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to FlissFloss]

Hi Floss,

I got a breakdown of points when declined. This is while I'm waiting for Tribunal date. Sorry I may not have written that. I think I should call legal council.

I wrote the post in hopes of having someone else with the same experience.

What's even weirder is I've just recently received a text and a letter advising me they will have an answer for my application for PIP as if I've just applied. When I'm at the end of that process. Applied, Denied, Appeal and waiting for Tribunal Date.

Have had some good advice. Thank you!

🌻🌻🌻

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to FlissFloss]

The offer is a telephone offer with No Paperwork

🌻🌻🌻

[cyberbarn]

One thing that is worth remembering is that they have a dodgy mail system at the DWP. Most mail is handled by a third party and it takes at between a week and 15 days for letters to get out to people. It also takes a week for any forms we send in to actually get to the DWP because the third party takes a week to sort and redirect the mail.

This meant that I received a letter saying that as I hadn't sent in the form they had declined my son's PIP and immediately stopped his DLA despite it having another four months to run.

But by the time I had received this letter 10 days later they had received the form I had sent in. In fact they had received it the day after the letter had been written, but a week before the letter had been sent. When I rang them up they realised it was their fault and they were ever so cooperative in sorting it out!

I have had several situations now where letters have crossed, taken longer to get to me than letters sent later and so on. So it doesn't surprise me that on the phone they have said your application has been decided and then it takes several weeks for the post to catch up with that.

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to cyberbarn]

I think 4 months is sufficient👍 but I know what you mean. Not sure what the duplicate letter is?

HAPPY EASTER!

[FlissFloss in reply to Ladyuponthelake]

Happy Easter! It took a year for my PIP to be sorted!!