This week the DWP updated their guidance to health professionals carrying out PIP assessments.
It contains a positive change for claimants who have to live with chronic pain.
Up until now, health professionals have been free to make the lazy assumption that claimants who are not prescribed strong painkillers can’t be in much pain.
So, any claims that pain limits their ability to carry out activities can be ignored.
However, the new guidance tells them that “the level of analgesia used does not necessarily correlate with the level of pain.”
The guidance points out that GPs are encouraged not to prescribe strong painkillers for long-term pain because of the harm they can do the patient.
In addition, some patients may be intolerant to analgesics or they may be using other methods of controlling pain.
Health professionals are told that instead of relying solely on the amount of medication as evidence, they should expect the claimant to be able to describe:
the location,
type,
severity and
variability
of the pain they experience and the impact it has on their daily life.
So, as always, it’s vital that you give as much detailed evidence as possible about how your condition affects you.
But, provided you do so, the result should be a better chance of getting the correct award without having to go to an appeal tribunal.
Written by
Bananas5
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Sorry to hear this. It happened to me also, they sent a physiotherapist who did no tests. Only a snapshot of that day was taken. No questions about how are you after doing this or can you repeat it. I won my appeal before meeting the Judge as I did continue to send evidence. My tip: Try not to focus too much on what the assessor said. Unless it was recorded you can’t prove any of it, even if you have a ‘witness’ as I did. Thinking of you winning!
Got my appeal just before lockdown I was at my worst then so I got more than I thought I would, I’m a lot better now so someone upstairs was definitely looking after me plus I was able to leave work so just concentrating on getting better, you take care x
Hi there, I was sent a review form as I was coming to the end of my award , I was given 10 yrs I was shocked I didn't think they gave do long , like you say maybe they are taking people's problems and awarding longer terms.
Ten year PIP reviews for people with most severe health conditions
18 June 2018
New guidance coming into effect this summer means people who are awarded the highest level of support under PIP – and where their needs are expected to stay the same or increase – will receive an ongoing award of PIP with a light touch review every 10 years.
This is good news for a change I had to ho to a tribuneral and I was a wreck my anxiety went through the roof I had to fight to stop having a panic attack and my fibro flared up I must say the panel I saw were very good I have a review coming up next year so I hope it's better than last time
I thought it was only pensioners? Have I made a mistake 🤓 I hope so. My hubby has ten years but that’s due to brain injury, the muppets... sorry I mean professionals that do assessments couldn’t argue that he’ll get better.
Hi hun how are u and David hope u are both well that’s good news because I have some one coming to see me tomorrow. I am sorry that I have not been in touch before
Omg I’m so happy to hear about the possibility of 10 year awards! I was previously awarded DLA at the highest rate for living & mobility for life but then had to have a home assessment nearly two years ago due to having to change over to PiP.
Despite the assessor being concerned at how ill I was & even stopped the physical assessment as she could see how much pain I was in, I initially lost half my award. The report said I ‘looked well’ & was able to cook a full meal by myself. A week after my assessment I had a major heart attack & then found out that I had been suffering from heart failure for up to two years running up to it, which explained why I looked & felt so ill, on top of my other problems.
I got the mobility part of my award put back up to high from calling them & being put through for a reconsideration, but was too ill with ongoing heart problems & being in & out of hospital to go to appeal to try & get the living part back up to high unfortunately, I just couldn’t handle any stress at all at the time. Such a shame as I had even recorded the assessment so could have proven that the report was blatantly wrong on several points, so I’ve lost £100 per month ever since.
Hoping that my next review which will probably be due soon will last longer than two years, as well as putting my award back up, the stress from the whole process makes me feel so ill & stress now gives me angina attacks so I’m dreading it all. xx
Never give in and fight your corner , my pip was up next year and they sent form out I was a bit worried , I even rang up to make sure they received it , and I couldn't believe it when they did reply that they awarded me a ten years award so maybe things are starting to change.
Originally the 10 year awards were for 'older' people and started a while ago. Now they have brought them in for those whose conditions will never improve.
For me it is sight loss...my medical evidence goes back over 30 years so they can't really argue!!
They were going to publish a list of conditions which would get the 10 year award but that proved too contravertial.. So they didn't..
There will be a 'light touch' assessment after 10 yrs but your guess is as good as mine what that means.
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