Hi, I am new to this forum. This year I have had a new diagnosis from TM to MS. I informed the DWP and recently received a letter stating I have been marked down from a 12 to a 4 in mobility. I am just going through being re assesed however I am terrified I will loose my vehicle which I rely on. I have sent a letter from my MS nurse which states that 5/7 days I have reduced mobility + I can manage aprx 20 m before intense neuropathic discomfort which renders me more prone to stumbles. It also mentions that I use a mobility scooter outside the home most of the time. I have also sent documents from my Neurologist including MRI result from the summer as well as a report from my works OH. For good measure I have included copies of GP certs declairing me unfit for work during relapses. I am so nervous as I know that the case handler has the details back and will be doing my decision today. (I made a pain in the bottom of myself and managed to talk to the team manager of the team handling my new decision. If this doesnât work I will have to return my car on the 28th 
It sounds like you have done everything right. Fingers crossed the assessor gets the decision right.
Sue
Hmm⌠on Mobility 24 points are needed.
You will need 24 points to keep your car:
Q13 Going out - Planning and following journeys.
11 f. For reasons other than psychological distress, cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid. 12 points
Most MSers argue a poor short-term memory which means they cannot follow or plan a journey unaided.
Or the need for a SatNav
AND
Q14 Moving around
12 e. Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. 12 points
âA history of falls etc.,.
If you lose your car you could apply for Access to Work
Good luck!
Itâs not 24 points Fay, itâs 12. So you need to score 12 points for either Q13 or Q14.
Sue
Sent application February Date to see ATOS Assessor 6 July (GOT CANCELLED BY THEM AS ASSESSOR HAD RUNG IN SICK!) New date to see ATOS Assessor 30 July Claim turned down. Notification of disagreement with decision sent to DWP (1 from myself and 1 from my husband who had attended assessment with me) Mandatory Reconsideration Notice dated 30 August received - claim still refused. Made appointment with local Disability Action Group for advice - earliest date they could give me was 28 September - the lady I saw was lovely, she seemed to know what she was doing, said she would sent letter from DAG on my behalf. She did that but not to the court address and not using the form I now find should have been used!
Mandatory Reconsideration Notice dated 19 October received - upholding original decision. I have since found out that Form SSCS1 should have been completed. Having sourced the form myself I am now attempting to complete it in response to the second Mandatory Reconsideration Notice. The only saving grace in all this is that all DWP correspondence still refers to date of original application made in February!
I found information on line in which a woman takes you through what is needed for the form. It would appear that at this stage I only need to give reasons for disagreeing with decisions; evidence to back this up can be sorted in time for Court date once given.
If I had any wits left I would say I am at the end of them !!
To use word found on another post I am quanked.
Really!!
Yes. You are right Sue. Top marks!
Oh bloody hell. This sounds like you are going through all the circles of hell. Have you joined https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ ? Their members only guides are really very good. Itâs still an absolutely quanking process going through it. But donât give up. If you can just hold out until the very bitter end it will hopefully be worth it.
Sue
Thank you for the feedback. I feel a little better knowing I am sending what I need to. I phoned them this afternoon, all I know is it has been done but the lady (who was lovely) didnât have visibility. She has said to try again tomorrow.
Barbie Sue, I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a horrible time. I had similar with my appointment. My husband was supposed to come with me but he could only get the afternoon off work. The afternoon before my appointment I got a call from them saying they had people off sick and I was being moved to the morning. I thought I would be ok, how wrong could I be. The gentleman who carried out the meeting had no real understanding of what I was trying to explain. I walked away with a very bad feeling which I had every reason to be right.
I have explained to both the DWP and my local MP that these people are a very important link between an claimant and the DWP. However in my experience they seem to lack any empathy and work off a tick sheet. I laughed last week when I was told they were the the experts, I did chuckle and said they have as much knowledge on MS as I do in nuclear science. (I am ever so slightly frustrated)
Just to update everyone⌠I still only got four points! I have sent the following e mail to David Gauke; Unfortunately I have been diagnosed with MS after having a condition called Transverse myelitis. This all started after I had damage to my spinal nerve during three failed epidurals. I still work full time even though MS makes it very hard. I also have my hands full with a four year old and a husband who was in the Grenadier guards for over 22 years. Because of my disability I was entitled to PIP and had a mobility vehicle. When my condition deteriorated and I had the formal diagnosis of MS I contacted the DWP to inform them as you are required to. I was told I needed to re apply so I did this and I was marked down from a 12 in mobility to a 4. This means I will loose my car and benefit. I asked for a re consideration and sent a lot of hospital, specialist documentation. This included a letter from my MS specialist nurse which stated I struggled with a mobility of 20 metres 5 out of 7 days. This falls in the guidelines to receive the mobility enhanced rate. The guidelines for a condition such as MS are 50% of the time which again 5/7 days is above that threshold. Unfortunately I have still been marked as a 4 When I spoke to the call handler she stated that this was disgusting and sounded really shocked. Because of this decision I now will loose my mobility vehicle on the 28/11/17. I have also lost the extra money I need in order to do things that make my life easier. In turn this will leave me in a position that I may have to stop working. I have been against this as I do no want to show my son how you should work for things in life.
HOW TO TICK PIP BOXES
PIP is about assessing social care needs - so travelling unaided and âwalking awayâ indicates low social care and mobility needs.
You can get from A to B without help of another person. Thatâs what they are seeing and assessing with their tick sheet.
What was your NHS paper trail like?
For example:
- How much social care evidence did you supply?
- Are your carers registered with your GP?
- Have you had help from Adult Social Care?
- Do you have a Care Plan via your MS Nurse or GP?
- Did your informal or paid carers supply signed statements on how they help you with washing dressing, shopping, cooking driving, pushing you in a wheelchair etc.,?
- Did your GP supply a letter of support for PIP? [mine cost ÂŁ13]
- Any letters/reports from your OT, physio or NHS Wheelchair Services??
- Do you have a history of falls documented?
- Do you have rails, ramps, and a bath lift at home?
- Incontinence Advisors assessment reports?
- Do you have pads delivered?
This is what the PIP assessor wants to see to tick those PIP boxes for your social care needs analysis.
I have sent them what feels like everything. They have the care plan put in place by the MS nurse, this includes that I need to be reliant on my mobility scooter and also referring me for specialised physio. She also did a separate statement with regards to mobility and went into quite a bit of detail on my needs. I have sent them a full three page statement on how my life is effected including modifications at home and ones we have been advised to get. (This was on the advise of Central Bedfordshire OT team.) They have all the Medical paper work from my neurologist including MRI scans, sick letters from relapses from my GP and even the payments I make for my Mobility scooter. (Bank statement with payments showing to a certain mobility company) The letter from my OH even states that they would like me to be able to have audio control on my work keyboard and that the company have a full evacuation plan for me if there is an emergency. Everyone was fairly positive because we have all tried to keep things in house and family have helped me all the way.
I will talk to my GP about a letter as I did not think that would be needed on the back of what was sent to them.
Download ATOS Health Care Professionals Training Manual For WCA.
So Debs you are still working. Have they asked you to apply for âAccess to workâ instead of PIP?
Just guessing. Access to Work: factsheet for customers - GOV.UK
Hope all goes well.
Hereâs a few more links for your collection:
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the Atos PIP guidance https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/
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the DWP PIP handbook https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658472/personal-independence-payment-handbook.pdf
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the PIP activities and points table https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf
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A mandatory reconsideration request tool PIP Mandatory Reconsideration Request Letter Tool | Advicenow
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donât forget PIP claim help, plus ESA, DLA & Universal Credit The members only guides section includes not only the benefits and work guides, but a whole load of DWP guidance manuals.
Sue
Aw. Thatâs terrible. You should appeal against the decision. See if you can get CAB help to appeal or another welfare rights organisation, depending on what is available in your area. Failing that, join https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ there are a lot of useful guides available to members. It just doesnât sound right that you had 12 points when diagnosed with TM but only 4 with MS.
Sue
I have started to look at the form for appealing. I have to wait for the letter before I can finalise and send it off. I also have all my original paperwork from when I had my TM claim. That was a little complicated as it also included the nerve damage from the epidurals, including dropped arches and various knee and hip issues from my gait not being right at all. Obviously I still have all of that but I suspect it has not been included. Iâll be honest I am scared at the idea of taking on the dwp but I know I have a strong paper trail to back up my case. I am also seeing my ms nurse on Monday so will also see if I can get an updated plan.
Unfortunately my employer couldnât go down the access to work scheme. We looked into this when I was originally awarded pip. Because as soon as they knew my problems them purchased what was needed and it fell under a certain amount they couldnât claim. (I have been lucky that they have really helped at work)
I have had a look at the benefits and work website and I will spend a bit of time tonight reading over things. I have also been advised that I can approach the dwp and request that the vehicle removal is delayed until after the appeal. I have not heard of this so Iâm not sure if anyone has come across this? Sorry I ramble when I get tired.
Just another thought Deb, have you been to NHS Wheelchair Services about a powerchair?
If you have a mobility scooter at risk of being taken away - you need a back up to be safe.
I would get an appointment - it will also generate useful reports re PIP.
I just wanted to update everyone and also maybe give a little hope. I was preparing to have to hand back my car and prepare for a long wait for a court date. In the mean time I wrote to my MP and also wrote two 3 & 4 page replies to the ATOS report. I also requested a GP letter and a letter from my MS nurse stating my decline and also what my future will hold. I sent these to ATOS and the DWP as well as a copy of all of my appeal paperwork. I got a phone call this afternoon from the DWP and I have had all of my PIP reinstated! I will also have a back payment from when my PIP was taken away.
Thatâs brilliant news. Well done for taking on Goliath and winning.
Sue
Thank you 
I am really shocked as I was getting ready for a long battle. I also had found it really hard when I wrote my response to the ATOS report. It left me very upset and almost doubting my own condition.