Anyone had a pip "review" lately??

[Mammaaof]

Hi so I had a pip "review" through the post, I completed it and sent it back. Has anyone else had one recently and can say how long roughly it took them?? Will they just make a decision or will I have to go through the whole face to face interview again?

I got invited to a phonecall assessment; I got exempted from that after my gp and support workers intervened; I think it took a month or two to be reassessed based on paper evidence.

I'd asked gp to write a letter about my problems with attending phone or f2f assessments to go with my form (and dozens of pages of supporting evidence) when I initially sent it in; she cheerily said it wasn't needed as the DWP would contact her.

They didn't. 🤦‍♀️

Good luck with the review, 8 hope you get the support you need.

I know someone who sent the form back and just said "no change" on every question and they give it to her for another 3 years without even another f2f or telephone assessment 🙈 I'm assuming that's rare

I think it would depend on what their condition was, and "luck of the draw" with whoever reviewed the forms...
That said, my review prior to the last one went through completely based on the forms, no further assessment requested.

@SpittinKitten theirs was mental health ( they absolutely need the PIP, but from my experience a lot harder to get for mental health) and mine is more of a physical condition as well as anxiety caused by the condition but I am undergoing tests for another condition due to some tests pointing in that direction so I'm anxious now that by telling them I have possibly another condition that they will want to do another assessment ( I get full care and full mobility at the moment) it's all so stressful

Tbh, the waiting time for a f2f is now so ridiculously long-at least 6 months, if not more, thanks to covid-that lots of claims are being done on paper. If it’s a renewal and there’s either a lot of evidence or a non-changing condition there’s a good chance it’ll be assessed without an f2f being needed.

It all depends on the backlog in your area, so impossible to answer. I had an assessment at the very end of October 2020 and got my decision letter on New Year's Eve 2020 (letter was dated 22nd December). My initial award was extended due to covid delays as I had filled in my review form in February 2020 just before the lockdowns. Had to have a telephone assessment which lasted just over an hour but had my Sister with me. The assessment was done by a nurse and I felt she was fair.

@JennieTheZebra oh that's good to know! I was a bit confused having the review through the post as I had a letter a few months ago stating my pip was due to end in Nov 2021 (which was correct) but due to covid would be extended until aug 2022 so I thought I would have another few months so not sure what the point of the extension letter was x

6 months for my son - paper based review due to the amount of evidence I sent.

I had to do a change of circumstances recently, they received it on the 2nd August. So far I have not heard anything. Thee is no change to the original condition for which I get PIP, this is a new condition so thought by now I would have heard I was getting some sort of assessment. The longer I get silence the more I presume it may have gone to the decision maker without one. That however is probably wishful thinking!

@dancingthroughthedark 2nd August is nothing, it might not even have been scanned into the system yet. If you have an award in payment then you might not hear till Christmas-don’t worry it’ll be backdated. I do benefits advice and the system is in shambles right now. They’re trying to prioritise people without an award and so no money but even there they’re struggling. The backlog really is staggering.

Because I had no change they removed my PIP. Apparently, being stubborn and trying not to go to the GP to up pain killers frequently means my pain isn't worthy.

@JennieTheZebra so will my award end in Nov even tho I had a letter saying I had an extension until aug 2022? If I don't hear anything from the review by then that is

Iirc the review letters are sent about 12 maths before your existing award ends (Inc any extension); I think that any changes to your award following your upcoming review would supercede any existing award and end date.

Maths? I mean months...

@LilRedWG I'm really sorry to hear that. Did you appeal/ask for a MR?

I'm happy to wait months as long as my payments aren't stopped in Nov just before Christmas 😭

@Mammaaof was your original award due to end November 21 or November 22? Pip renewals are started a year in advance so that there’s an extra year of award to pay out if, for whatever reason, the renewal takes time. If Nov 21 then they’ll have extended to August 22 in order to create some time for the renewal to happen, if that makes sense. In general, pip payments are made until a decision is made but that’s because an award is in place for that to happen; right now, there’s no way a decision would be finalised before November.

@JennieTheZebra no they extended it until August 2022 so next year. Oh that's good so even if it takes months, I will still receive payments until they decide? That's reassuring x

[quote SpittinKitten]@LilRedWG I'm really sorry to hear that. Did you appeal/ask for a MR?[/quote]
I asked for the reasons. I was going through a emotionally tough time when it happened and did not have the strength to pursue. :-(

I had my review in January 2020. I got the letter back with an award for a further 3 years and £1900 into my bank account.
It took them forever. But i think it took so long because covid hit bad in the area and there wasn’t anyone to do assessments. I had a phonecall about 4 weeks ago that lasted 25 minutes.

My mum had her PIP extended indefinitely due to Covid. She’s relieved, she finds it very stressful.

If you put ‘no change’ to each question is that more or less likely for you to get a review?

@YouTubeAddict my friend put no change to every single question and had a letter 4 weeks later saying they were awarded it for another 3 years, but like PP said I think it is luck of the draw on which decision maker you get and also evidence you submitted the first time you applied

[quote Mammaaof]@YouTubeAddict my friend put no change to every single question and had a letter 4 weeks later saying they were awarded it for another 3 years, but like PP said I think it is luck of the draw on which decision maker you get and also evidence you submitted the first time you applied[/quote]
Thanks. Not got my review until June 2023 but my condition is long term and there is literally no way anything can change, it’s just not possible 😢

Paper review and it took about a month. Had my mr care and hr mobility extended for another 4 years until July 2025. I wrote a lot of "no change" except where my condition had worsened. It hasn't got any better!

Meant I could reapply for the blue badge too, which is great.