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Declined for disability benefits

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MrsPotter

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Hi, supporter here

Wife was diagnosed Complex PTSD in August from childhood trauma.

We applied for the UK's disability benefits, called P.I.P. a short time ago. The decision letter just came through this morning. DECLINED. They have scored her zero for everything. ZERO. It's completely insane. Her therapist gave a letter saying she was struggling, as did her GP, as did I. The health professional she had to visit as part of the assessment noticed it too. I was there.

WHY WHY would they score zeros? I don't understand. The only way she would be scored zeros is if the person making the decision read the evidence with their eyes closed. What the actual hell!

And now my wife is suicidal. From a decline letter. From a piece of paper full of lies.

Anyone have experience of this please? I'm going to appeal with her but want to get as much info as to the best ways first.

Thanks
 
Hi @mrs potter.... They are known to do this.... appeal.... You will get the money. There are organisations who can help you with your appeal, citizens advice.. Make an appointment. They will take you through the process..... Do the forms....

Go online to to see how to appeal and read other stories by people who have been in the same situation... It's terrible and very stressful when it happens.. But it will turn out Good... Take care
 
Its like this in the United States too. Took me over 2 years, 1) declined, 2) reviewed 3) ALJ (Judge)
I think the whole system is designed to hope a percentage of people die off or give up and don't bother appealing before they have to pay anything, too many need few resources to go around.

It's interesting, given the ruling I got from the ALJ, which paints me as a basket case with nothing but history, and a lot of DX's.

So clearly the initial declines have little to do with whether a person is actually disabled and deserving. In the US even if approved by an examiner, the managers can overturn it to a decline for reasons having nothing to do with the applicant.
 
It's quite common for PIP assessments to score zero, but for that to be uprated on Appeal. First you have to go through a Mandatory Reconsideration, which often simply rubber stamps the initial decision. It is best to assume that will be the outcome.
Once cases reach appeal, they are heard by independent judges, who have often been very critical of the idiocy of the initial assessments. It is important to remember this. The decision letter your wife has received is not necessarily a true reflection of her condition.

You can request a copy of the assessor's report, which will have more detail about what was recorded from the assessment and the reasons why descriptors were not awarded. That can be done over the phone, at the same time as you ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration. You should say that you will be submitting further evidence for the MR, but you should also be prepared for it to be done before you get that evidence in.

The most important thing is to get familiar with the descriptors, and write in detail about how each applies. Don't worry about repeating yourself from one question to another.
I found these useful for that.

https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/178164/personal-independence-payments.pdf

Personal independence payment (PIP) points scores

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) | Disability Rights UK

Help filling in your PIP claim form and Getting evidence to support your PIP claim

They worked for me - I got both living and mobility components. It was a horrible process. I hated having to focus on my weaknesses and failings in such detail.
 
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