PIP REVIEW FEAR

[Neverheather]

I'm full time carer for dh who has severe mental health issues. We've just had the dreaded brown envelope through the door and I've got to complete a PIP review for him. I'm actually sick with fear, everything depends on us getting PIP continued, it affects my carers allowance, council tax award etc I'm trying to look at it logically, since his last review, he's left psychosis team (after maximum 3 years) and is now under CMHT, he's had memory tests and failed them and I'm now his official appointee with the DWP (they assessed him at home as not being able to manage his dwp benefits). He's also had a thorough social care assessment at home and been awarded help, which we are still waiting for, but I do have a copy of the assessment and he's also been given a temporary support worker by a local charity, who visits once a week. I know it sounds like I'm picking on all the things he can't do but I suppose that's what PIP is all about, stressing the things you can't do. Has anyone any advice about completing the review, do you think he'll get awarded it again? I've had a lot of health problems myself recently and my anxiety is spinning out of control at the thoughts of him not getting PIP renewed. He's only ever received the standard daily rate, even though he can't leave the house unaccompanied (hence the support worker visiting to give me a break and provide social support for him). If I had to get a full time job he'd have to go into a care home. My mind is running away with me at the moment and I suppose I'm just looking for any words of advice. Thanks.

Thanks so much for the kind words, support and advice. I agree it's a very humiliating process, I feel terrible highlighting all the negative things about my dh, all his failings, the things he can't do etc but I realise this is the whole point of PIP. I'm trying to put it out of my mind, but that's a really good idea from the poster who suggested allowing yourself a few minutes a day to think about it, keeping it under some kind of control I suppose! It's so worrying for everyone reliant upon benefits, particularly disability benefits, at the moment, wondering what tricks will be up the government's sleeve in the next budget. It's the constant uncertainty around PIP isn't it and the dramatic effect the award or non award (God forbid) can have on your life. Good luck to everyone in the same boat, especially those who have been waiting a long time for a review decision.

Even more stress with PIP today! Dh had a letter saying he hadn't returned his review form yet, so I phoned them just to confirm they'd received it, as I'd had notification from royal mail to say it had been delivered on Tuesday. They confirmed receipt then shocked me by saying they had to put me through to the case manager (?), this person greeted me by telling me I'd been put through as dh's PIP was currently suspended! I started to explain that he was wrong, I'd only phoned to check they'd received his review form, when he told me that, because I'd recently been made dh's Appointee with the DWP (this was done at the suggestion of UC during a review with them and we had a home visit arranged by UC in July from someone at the DWP to authorise this, giving me authorisation to speak to anyone from the DWP on dh's behalf) it was normal practice to suspend the PIP account to verify dh hadn't been overpaid?? No one had told me that me becoming Appointee for dh would cause his PIP to be suspended and he's been receiving payments as usual. I then had to hold on for ages whilst this person "unsuspended" dh's PIP account. I was also notified that it's taking 55 weeks to look at reviews in the Preston area. The whole thing is so stressful I feel like telling them to forget it, although that's probably what they want people to do!

I've been on it for about 7 years, my latest forms have been stuck in their system since April 2023. They sent me a letter saying it's not been looked at and might not be till at least December this year. So there's a huge backlog. So my forms will be years before my interview if they actually do one?

@BobbyBiscuits I was just thinking, all the information I have enclosed, copies of letters of support etc are all going to be outdated by the time they get round to looking at the review form!

@Neverheather that could well be the case, weird isn't it. But make sure you don't say things have changed too much, once you do the interview. Else they'll probably try and catch you out for not disclosing change of circumstances. Gawd.
I hate doing the process so I'm just happy they've left me alone for as long as possible. I'd rather they never contacted me again!

@BobbyBiscuits I feel exactly the same, I wish they'd leave us alone but still keep paying it ha ha, it's so stressful!

@Neverheather totally. Please don't worry. It's just part of life unfortunately x

It's so stressful isn't it this in limbo thing, I've been on it ten years now and review was April this year but might not be looked at for a year (runs out next April) it feels like you never know what is going to happen next. I have had to appeal twice and don't want to go through that again.

It might be a bit of a dim question, but why do they send out review forms for people to fill in, when they know that they are taking around a year to look at them? Just extend people's awards instead, until they have sorted out their backlog. It is stressful, and as @Neverheather has mentioned, the evidence sent is then so many months old.

I was just thinking exactly the same thing, why send out reviews when they have such a large backlog already? Why not just extend everyone's award for a year to give them chance to catch up?

Exactly! I really hope that the system will be looked at, by this new Government. It is in dire need of change.

What happens if the review hasn’t been looked at/happened by the time the pip award runs out?

The amount of time it takes to get to speak to someone is outrageous. Then the person I spoke to today was quite off hand with me, I could hardly hear him or tell what he was saying, it sounded like he was working from home. I dread having to phone them as its such a stressful process. The whole PIP process needs sorting out.

I would have thought that they would just extend it again. That is what should happen, whether it does, is another thing. Hopefully someone will know the answer.

Yes it is stressful having to call them up. Just getting through the options, and waiting for them to answer could test anyone's endurance levels.

Is filling out the review form like applying for it again? Do they then award it for a few years again if review is successful? This is the first time we have had to fill out a review form (sent back at beginning of Sept for my daughter after being awarded it for 5 years after going to tribunal after transferring from a lifetime DLA award). My other daughter got 10 years and then review which is also 10 years ago in November so will have to fill out another one for her (again presuming a review form will come without us having to apply for it).

The Review is just that- to check that a recipient of PIP still meets the criteria. It can in some cases lead to more money especially if conditions have worsened so that the mobility element comes into play.

Benefits and Work website is really helpful.

I’m about to go through this process with my brother.

After reading these comments I’m curious to know what changes people would make to the PIP process?

Looking at the benefits and work website does seem to imply that being sent review form (AR1) a year before your pip runs out like my daughter has just had to do is being invited to renew the pip rather than just a random review. I just checked my second daughter’s award and it’s an ongoing award with a review after 10 years (which is now in November).

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/glossary/how-long-will-personal-independence-payment-pip-awards-last#

Mine wasn't just a random review, we had an idea it was due as last time it was reviewed about a year before the date it was awarded to (it was awarded for 3 years so we guessed it would be reviewed after 2). I asked today what would happen if they haven't reviewed it by the end of the award date which is next April and I was told they would extend the award by 5 months and keep paying it during that time. Goodness knows what will happen after the 5 months if they still haven't reviewed it by then, I dread to think!

I had the dreaded brown envelope back in January. I sent it in, alongside 499 pieces of supporting medical evidence but I’ve heard nothing since. I just get a text every 12 weeks saying they still have the form and will do it as soon as possible. I still might need an assessment with a health professional (hope not) but they will keep paying the PIP until the review is complete.

The system is broken. It’s a horrible wait. My text always comes early on a Monday morning and it makes my stomach flip.

Well for a start they should stop sending out forms for reviews, which then take them up to a year to do anything with. They should sort out their unacceptable backlog, and stop giving short term adwards to some people with life long conditions, which are certainly not going to improve with time. The assessment process is problematic, in the sense that you could have a paramedic assessing someone with mh problems, and they could have no understanding of any issues that they have to cope with in daily life.

70% of appeals are successful which means they are not getting the awards correct first time, meaning vulnerable people are being let down by the system if they don't go on to appeal :-(

I suppose the backlog is because of the sheer number of new applications that they’re receiving. Continuing to pay those overdue for review to avoid making new applicants wait seems quite reasonable to me. Most people that apply probably have a complex combination of both mental and physical health problems (like my brother) so I’m not sure how a professional would be allocated to assess each condition individually. I’m sure the process does leave a lot to be desired though