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Evidencing a Special Rules decision - PIP
Hello all,
I’m being asked for proof a former client’s PIP was awarded on the basis of Special Rules. The reason for this is for a potential discretionary increase in priority for medical needs re-housing.
My actual evidence for this comes from a case note when I phoned the PIP service centre using implicit consent, asking if a mystery payment was from them - they confirmed that it was and was under special rules. The client is bad with paperwork and requires interpretation - they were never able to provide paperwork, hence the call at the time.
The client has never disclosed terminal illness and I am not sure that they are aware of that fact which makes this awkward.
If the re-housing department insist on written proof beyond my filenote, and we e.g. re-ordered a copy of the award letter, does this state that the award is under Special Rules? I must admit that I have never seen an award letter following this type of application, which is usually handled by Macmillan or similar in my experience. I’m personally doubtful it would.
If ..we e.g. re-ordered a copy of the award letter, does this state that the award is under Special Rules?
No it doesn’t. What does distinguish it from the usual award letter is that it doesn’t contain the usual narrative about how the decision was reached.
The best evidence of any of this would surely be the DS1500 which would have been completed by probably the GP, oncologist or nurse and submitted as evidence of a special rules claim. Perhaps they could be asked. As you identify, if the client is special rules, he might not know that and it would be horrendous if this process were to result in him finding out by accident. His PIP claim could have been made by somebody else on his behalf (e.g. a relative or Macmillan adviser).
The best evidence of any of this would surely be the DS1500 which would have been completed by probably the GP, oncologist or nurse and submitted as evidence of a special rules claim. Perhaps they could be asked. As you identify, if the client is special rules, he might not know that and it would be horrendous if this process were to result in him finding out by accident. His PIP claim could have been made by somebody else on his behalf (e.g. a relative or Macmillan adviser).
Although not all special rules claimants have DS1500s…
However, the pertinent fact here is less what a PIP decision maker decided and more the gravity of your client’s circumstances.
I’d request a DS1500 from a specialist nurse/consultant/GP to confirm this, even if you don’t think you’ll go on to use it for DWP purposes. These are useful for blue badge applications too, for example.
When it’s not clear if my client wants to know/knows about their diagnosis, I get their express consent to to speak with their clinicians for ‘a report’ confirming their condition.