UK: Disability benefits (UC, ESA and PIP) - news and updates 2024 and 2025

[yME]

We have just been through the reassesment and even the assessor agreed their script did not capture the reality of how cfs effects daily activity. They did not wish to discuss reliability repeatedly etc as it was off script. Saying ME was not an option it was called cfs . So I suggest you need to weave In to you answers ...I cannot do the question due to ME causing me to not be able to repeat x activity reliably or safely as occures and give an example. I felt the assessor was supportive but had no option to enter ME type replies on their form. But arthritis replies were readily accepted. We had a positive result but in no way did ME count for points in any category. I do to want to identify here but it's almost a case of Nelson I see no ships for ME. I despair of the work the charities say they do with the dwp it's clearly not reaching the script writers . I feel examples hammer home the reality and should be given during the assessment.

 

[bobbler]

We have just been through the reassesment and even the assessor agreed their script did not capture the reality of how cfs effects daily activity. They did not wish to discuss reliability repeatedly etc as it was off script. Saying ME was not an option it was called cfs . So I suggest you need to weave In to you answers ...I cannot do the question due to ME causing me to not be able to repeat x activity reliably or safely as occures and give an example. I felt the assessor was supportive but had no option to enter ME type replies on their form. But arthritis replies were readily accepted. We had a positive result but in no way did ME count for points in any category. I do to want to identify here but it's almost a case of Nelson I see no ships for ME. I despair of the work the charities say they do with the dwp it's clearly not reaching the script writers . I feel examples hammer home the reality and should be given during the assessment.

That’s worrying that it’s being allowed to go backwards in such a way that specifically excludes me/cfs -

and I’m assuming maybe other conditions but it would be good to check if that is even the case , would these changes affect other conditions and are these issues in any way inadvertent?

 

[Kitty]

So I suggest you need to weave In to you answers ...I cannot do the question due to ME causing me to not be able to repeat x activity reliably or safely as occures and give an example.

Absolutely, that's been the general advice since I applied first for DLA years ago.

Every response detailed that I couldn't do X for Y reasons, and the reasons I gave included the wording of the descriptors and were informed by the way DWP guidelines say they should be interpreted.

I also gave details of how long it had taken me to complete the application (I've never finished one in less than six months), what welfare advice I'd taken, and what help I'd received in gathering evidence, scanning and photocopying all documents and sending a copy Special Delivery to DWP. Anyone reading it could see it was the work of someone with enough cognitive function to research guidelines and caselaw and draft 6,000 words of cogent English, so I needed to underline that I couldn't do it in a few weeks.

 

[bobbler]

Absolutely, that's been the general advice since I applied first for DLA years ago.

Every response detailed that I couldn't do X for Y reasons, and the reasons I gave included the wording of the descriptors and were informed by the way DWP guidelines say they should be interpreted.

I also gave details of how long it had taken me to complete the application (I've never finished one in less than six months), what welfare advice I'd taken, and what help I'd received in gathering evidence, scanning and photocopying all documents and sending a copy Special Delivery to DWP. Anyone reading it could see it was the work of someone with enough cognitive function to research guidelines and caselaw and draft 6,000 words of cogent English, so I needed to underline that I couldn't do it in a few weeks.

But the next line after that from @yME where it says the assessor wasn’t then being allowed to enter those types of replies onto their form

Well that’s very significant

 

[Kitty]

But the next line after that from @yME

Yeah, I wonder if it might partly depend on how you present, say, the reason you can't shower without an adaptation? For me it was muscle weakness, dizziness, and a documented tendency to faceplant if I attempted it standing up, I'm not sure I mentioned ME/CFS. *

My most recent assessment was done on paper without any interaction, though, so I don't have insight into what they thought.

* ETA: obviously as well as 'Needs to use an aid' I also gave that reason for 'Needs assistance' to shower reliably, safely and in a timely fashion, which was allowed even though I don't actually get help.

 

[MrMagoo]

I see that successful PIP claims and appeals are dramatically down, according to benefits and work. I maintain my suspicions of “secret” rules behind the scenes.
Whilst I have not been assessed, at my tribunals it’s very clearly an exercise in “how to disregard” certain evidences. All of my submission was about unable to do repeatedly, reliably, to an acceptable standard etc. They just disregard it.
I can chop veg if I can brush my teeth even though 1) I use electrical toothbrush 2) I don’t brush them every day due to tiredness. When I tried to explain needling to lie down to wash hair due to weak arms, hence cant chop, I was stopped as we weren’t discussing washing, we were discussing cooking…

 

[Simbindi]

We have just been through the reassesment and even the assessor agreed their script did not capture the reality of how cfs effects daily activity. They did not wish to discuss reliability repeatedly etc as it was off script. Saying ME was not an option it was called cfs . So I suggest you need to weave In to you answers ...I cannot do the question due to ME causing me to not be able to repeat x activity reliably or safely as occures and give an example. I felt the assessor was supportive but had no option to enter ME type replies on their form. But arthritis replies were readily accepted. We had a positive result but in no way did ME count for points in any category. I do to want to identify here but it's almost a case of Nelson I see no ships for ME. I despair of the work the charities say they do with the dwp it's clearly not reaching the script writers . I feel examples hammer home the reality and should be given during the assessment.

The assessor was lying, they are able to add 'free text' to any of the basic script statements if they don't capture the claimant's issues.

See the PIPAT guidance here - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/red_pipat_guidance_for_pip_asses#incoming-640064

I think ME/CFS is now considered under 'neurological conditions' by the DWP, although I may be wrong (but Google AI concurs...)

Claim PIP for ME and CFS

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www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

 

[Simbindi]

We have just been through the reassesment and even the assessor agreed their script did not capture the reality of how cfs effects daily activity. They did not wish to discuss reliability repeatedly etc as it was off script. Saying ME was not an option it was called cfs . So I suggest you need to weave In to you answers ...I cannot do the question due to ME causing me to not be able to repeat x activity reliably or safely as occures and give an example. I felt the assessor was supportive but had no option to enter ME type replies on their form. But arthritis replies were readily accepted. We had a positive result but in no way did ME count for points in any category. I do to want to identify here but it's almost a case of Nelson I see no ships for ME. I despair of the work the charities say they do with the dwp it's clearly not reaching the script writers . I feel examples hammer home the reality and should be given during the assessment.

This is why it is so important to write your original PIP form with detailed answers. Write them as if you are going to have to go to tribunal. The tribunal will get a copy of them, so they will be able to see if the assessor gave your answers full consideration. When I was asked questions I just insisted my assessor read my written answers and use them on their report.

 

[Simbindi]

Yeah, I wonder if it might partly depend on how you present, say, the reason you can't shower without an adaptation? For me it was muscle weakness, dizziness, and a documented tendency to faceplant if I attempted it standing up, I'm not sure I mentioned ME/CFS. *

My most recent assessment was done on paper without any interaction, though, so I don't have insight into what they thought.

* ETA: obviously as well as 'Needs to use an aid' I also gave that reason for 'Needs assistance' to shower reliably, safely and in a timely fashion, which was allowed even though I don't actually get help.

Yes. On my form (where applicable) I do write, 'the combination of my conditions/individually listed symptoms/PEM etc., cause x,y,z etc.)

 

[Kitty]

Write them as if you are going to have to go to tribunal.

This.

Not least because if you do have to go to tribunal, what's in that application is a substantial part of what they're considering. Nothing that's happened or emerged or been clarified since is looked at, because they're reviewing the original evidence and the decision made about it.

If you make a really strong argument in the application, tribunals sometimes throw out the case anyway because the decision was clearly perverse. Not that it helps much, people still have to go through all the stress and waiting, but at least there's an award. And if it's taken away in future, the onus is on DWP to show why they were eligible then but aren't now.