PIP Renewal, little evidence

[Orangesandlemons77]

I have a 5 year PIP renewal coming up and already starting to stress about it.
Background-have been on enhanced rates since 2014 so ten years, but within this time have had 3 renewals and had to appeal twice.

On the second appeal DWP 'changed their mind' before the appeal and rang me and re-instated it. At that point they seemed to acknowledge the long term nature of my health conditions as they gave me a 5 yr award. (actually 6 but they assess the year before)

However as time has gone on I'm finding I don't have so much 'evidence' in terms of consultant's letters etc. I'm a bit worried this could be a problem with the review.

PIP assessors like 'evidence' and use it as proof in their assessments, so I think that from experience it can make quite a difference to their assessments.

Thing is with long term conditions you can have to sort of just get on with it after a while when there is no cure etc. Just tablets really. I do have some family support etc.

My GP said the surgery can print off a list of main conditions, meds and last consultations so that could be useful I suppose.

What I am worried about that they will use the previous assessors reports (which I had to appeal) as 'evidence' in their report and I will have to go through it all again. Even though some of that was factually 'wrong' so easy to argue against.

You should be sent a form to complete for the renewal. That will look at how you are then in terms of either looking afresh or asking about changes.

Best advice (I know, I know) is don't worry now and seek advice when you get the renewal pack.

I'm not sure but someone close to me is in the same situation. Condition diagnosed in childhood. Their parents got dla throughout childhood at the highest rate. They applied for pip a few years a go with very little recent evidence and only got accepted after mandatory reconsideration and were only awarded standard rate of the care component.

They are now waiting for renewal but still have very little evidence. Their condition is life long and has a major impact but there are no reports or anything for evidence. Like you they simply have a print out from the doctors when they were a child with a diagnosis and that's it.

There are really long backlogs at the moment I have heard, more than 6 months at least.