Points awarded for wet rooms and breathing for ESA & PIP

The request was refused by Department for Work and Pensions.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
I wish you to supply some information please, on guidance or instructions given to decision makers for ESA and PIP on wet room equipment, and how they are to be viewed and scored. I am also seeking information on how the same decision makers are guided to score breathing difficulties whilst walking. I am requesting this information as there seems to be inconsistencies with points awarded after assessments and if there is no firm guidance in place, which I am sure there is then that would indicate a possible breach of the “Equalities Act 2010”.
So with the above in mind please can you provide the following?
What are seen as either an “Aid” or “Assistance” and what points should be awarded for PIP
Wet Room Equipment / Points Awarded / Seen As "Aid/Assistance"
Wet Room Shower
Washing & Drying Toilet
Wash Basin Taps with Lever Controls
Support Frames for Toilets
Support Handles Wall Mounted
Emergency Call Pulls
Carry Slings or Lifts
Shower Chairs
Walk In Baths
Bath Seats

What are seen as either an “Aid” or “Assistance” and what points should be awarded for ESA
Wet Room Equipment / Points Awarded / Seen As "Aid/Assistance"
Wet Room Shower
Washing & Drying Toilet
Wash Basin Taps with Lever Controls
Support Frames for Toilets
Support Handles Wall Mounted
Emergency Call Pulls
Carry Slings or Lifts
Shower Chairs
Walk In Baths
Bath Seats

Further to those please clarify the points awarded for the following Mobility element of PIP
Points Awarded
Walking with Severe Pain on-setting after short distance (please give distances)
Walking with Severe Pain from the start **
Walking with Severe Pain and Breathing Difficulty on-setting after short distance (please give distances)
Walking with Severe Breathing Difficulty on-setting after short distance (please give distances)
Walking with Severe Breathing Difficulty from the start

** please remember the resent Upper Tribunal ruling on this when commenting on this.

If you cannot supply this information please supply a statement on why you cannot to include a valid reason based on medical evidence that can be verified by an Independent source. Also please include a copy of the guidance notes that assessors are given on the awarding of points for use in both ESA and PIP awards after either assessment or paper based reviews.

Yours faithfully,
Mr Mark Bennett

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.

FoI Reference: 1883

You can expect a reply by 30th May 2017 unless we need to come back to you to clarify your request or the balance of the public interest test needs to be considered.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact us quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

DWP Strategy FoI Team
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If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

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www.ico.org.uk/Global/contact_us or telephone 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

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Please see the attached reply to your Freedom of Information request
 
Yours sincerely
 
DWP Strategy Freedom of Information Team

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Dear DWP Strategy Freedom of Information,

Please re read my requests as you have not answered the questions set, you have just directed me to the manuals used. Please supply the information as requested and not use a generic reply like you have done.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Bennett

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

Dear Mark Bennett

Thank you for your email below.

To enable us to continue with your request can you please provide us with the FoI reference number of the request that you wish us to review.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information Team

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Dear DWP Strategy Freedom of Information,

FoI Reference: 1883 is the reference number you require.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Bennett

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Internal Review (IR) request.

You can expect a reply by 26 June 2017 (our internal target) unless I need to come back to you to clarify your request or the balance of the public interest test needs to be considered.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

DWP Strategy FoI Team

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team,
Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
www.ico.org.uk/Global/contact_us or telephone 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Please see the attached reply to your Freedom of Information internal review request
 
Yours sincerely
 
DWP Strategy Freedom of Information Team

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Mark Bennett left an annotation ()

Can everyone please note the DWP reply to this request and share it. There is no legal reason not to provide this information as it is both held and used in the ESA and PIP assessment process when deciding an award. The reluctance by the DWP yet again shows they do not want the truth getting out and do not want to follow the laws of the land.