PIP

[newaccountwhodis]

Hi. New to the forum and PIP and am hoping some of the forum members can help me understand the claim process a little better, I applied for PIP in early December 2022. DWP told me that Capita had received my forms on December 9th. But i have not had a phone assessment scheduled yet. So i called Capita just to make sure everything was fine with my claim. They told me this morning that my claim "is in initial review" and that they "are requesting info from my medical contacts so they can do a Paper assessment". Is this a good/bad sign that my claim will be successful?

@MyOtherNameToday
Wow that was really quick. Was yours a review or new claim

New claim but the point is it still took weeks for me to hear the outcome even though it was decided fast.

@MyOtherNameToday ah okay but how did you know it had been awarded within 24 hours. I'm going to give them a call tomorrow and ask for my report

I rang them because money landed in my account without me having received any text / letter. They said Yes PIP was awarded on X date - which was the day after I did the phone assessment. This was 3 weeks later.

@MyOtherNameToday

Wow I bet you wondered what it was for. I'll give them a ring tomorrow and hopefully they will be able to tell me

@forallthelove just don't be disappointed if they won't tell you is all. They may just say you'll be notified in due course. I was probably supposed to have received the letter or text but received the money first!

I also found out I was awarded by getting money in my bank account - some days before I got the letter to tell me. I was trying to work out what I was awarded based on the money!

@mrsfeatherbottom how long did you wait after your assessment

I think I applied in November, returned the forms in December, had assessment near the end of February and was awarded at the beginning of April.

I had my telephone assessment last Friday. I have had a text message to say the DWP have the assessor's report. They said it could be up to 8 weeks before I hear anything and not to contact them unless I have additional evidence.

OK, I have some good news on my Pip and wanted to share - background is Medical (MS and a few complications)
Applied 3rd July
Returned form 24th July
Video Assessment (Capita) 7th Sept
DWP Received Assessment 8th September
Phone call to me 10th Sept clarifying a small point
Text today saying have been awarded and letter out in 2 weeks (which having asked on Friday why so long it’s the Royal Mail being so slow - they send the letter at the moment the decision is made)

so from submission of form to award 7 weeks!

hope everybody else gets the same result! X

I'm new here and just wanting to share my experience to see if anybody is in the same boat. I get standard daily living at the moment.
I sent my review forms back end of May 2022 (had quite significant health changes - went from being fully mobile to in a wheelchair and needing help with everything personal care etc.) and had a text to say they'd been received in July. Was finally sent a date for assessment on 8th Aug which I don't feel the assessor really cared nor listened to the responses for example she asked about incontinence and said so what happens? I thought that term was quite easy to understand what happens but hey that's just me! The assessment lasted 1.5 hours. I then received a text the day after to say they had received the report and would make a decision. 4 weeks on and still nothing- now I know in the grand scheme of things 4 weeks is nothing but I'm starting to think that I haven't got it. I've called up a couple of times and the attitude from the staff is basically like well you're still getting paid so just wait your turn.
Sorry for the rant but I'm getting so worked up and anxious over it. I can't seem to think of anything else at the moment :(**

It's the renewals that are taking an unreasonably long time.

I submitted my forms in summer 2022. Decision in summer 2023, nearly 12 months later. Renewals have been put on the back-burner to allow the DWP's meagre resources to be focused on new applications, it would appear.

To add, called this am - go through the automated options until it’s says enter DOB and phone number. Then asks how much last PiP payment was - put in zero and it gives you how much for next 4 weeks and when it will be paid so divide the number by 4 and you can work out the amount awarded.
I don’t think the “payment back to start of claim” amount is available unless you either have the letter or see it in your bank account, and not sure if start of claim is the day you first call or the day you submit the claim form - am not going to call and hold for an hour to ask that question!! X

As Autumn says, definitely prioritising new claims over review/renewals - nothing to worry about re the timing as unfortunately looks like they are taking an age X

@MelWPip
thats really fast, pleased you got awarded.
did you receive any texts to let you know

I can understand why they are prioritising new claims over reviews because I guess I do have the very little money coming in for what it's worth but would just be nice to know where I stand. Can I ask for the report before I get a decision? I've read the whole thread and seen mixed responses on this question. Didn't know whether to ask for it so I could potentially prepare for a MR if needed x

Yes, a text at each stage - start of claim, receipt of my form, then 24th Aug “A Health professional is looking at your claim” - that was a few days before I got a letter from Capita and set up the video call. Then assessment received, then the award text today

I believe that the Assessors report is available as soon DWP have received it - but that’s only from reading other threads and in this one.

hi can anybody help i put i9n for a change or circumstances i already recieve standard rate care and just got this txt

about your pip claim the health proffessional has sent the report,we will make a decision on your pip but it may take 6 weeks before you hear from us,you will still continue to get pip while your award is being reviewed

no face to face it seems or telephone assesment i]k,8t seems

does anybody know if this could be good or bad news

many thanks

Thanks @MelWPip that's really helpful. I had my assessment same time as you, called today for report but no decision made yet. Hopefully won't be too long.

I don’t think it’s good or bad news - just the standard text that gets sent out so I wouldn’t read anything into it - unfortunately you just have to wait and hopefully you will get a positive outcome in a few weeks! X

That's exactly what they've done, they told the big welfare rights organisations that they were doing it.

I think it's reasonable really, existing applicants are at least getting some PIP while they wait for the reviews/renewals to be processed.

I think the rise in applications must have created a backlog for appeals, too. I've got clients that have been waiting over a year for a tribunal date.

Do they continue to pay at the current rate while people are waiting for review? I'm on the highest rate in both mobility and daily living so it won't go up only ever stay the same or decrease.

Yes, they keep paying. You need to ask them for an 'extension of award' letter though if you need to renew your blue badge or disabled bus pass. They didn't automatically send me this letter - I had to ring and ask, and meanwhile my badge lapsed for a few weeks which was an absolute ball-ache.