PIP REVIEW, STILL WAITING!

[Queenanne20]

Dh's PIP award is due to end in April this year. We received a review form which I completed and returned by due date of 20th September 2024. I sent it tracked so know they received it, it was a large package as I included lots of evidence. We still haven't heard anything, payments are still going in to the bank account but I'm worried as what will happen when we get to the end of the award date in April. It was granted for three years and the three years will be up in April. We are Preston, Lancashire area. Does anyone have any advice?

*if

Thought I'd update - after my previous comment had my review on 2/2 (form submitted in January 2023) and I've just had a call yesterday to confirm that they are increasing my award - and backdating it to December 2023 when they sent the letter !! So it's took around 15 months for the review process.

@MamaBanana12 That's wonderful news, it must be such a relief to you. We still haven't heard anything yet!

Not unusual to see renewal forms that have been completed in August/September 2023. Very far behind in these.

@Queenanne20 what ares are you in please? Just wondering if we will hAve a similar wait time

@bagheera92 I'm in Preston, Lancashire.

Hey OP, I’m a PIP assessor. I’m so sorry you’re having to wait like this. Day in day out I’m assessing people who should have had their reviews a year to18 months ago. There are so many new claims being made that it’s unprecedented. New claims are being prioritised because at least claimants waiting their reviews can continue being paid what they were awarded until their new assessment can be booked in, whereas new claimants might otherwise be missing out on money they’re in need of. So many new claims are being made because of the cost of living crisis. A health professional has to assess every claimant, claims are getting more complex and there just simply aren’t enough of us to go round. I’m sorry if the process is causing you anxiety. The whole system feels close to collapse

@Radrules that's good information! Is it correct that waiting times vary by area ?

Reviews are taking way too long, and the whole system is a mess. I really hope that any changes, are to the benefit of claimants.

I would imagine so, just depending on the number of claims being made vs the number of assessors available in any given area. I don’t know more specifically than that though I’m sorry

I’m not referring to you here but I think a lot of people fail to recognise that claimants have to be assessed by a health professional and not just by a lay person working for the DWP. Unless we can magic up however many hundred more we would need to get the system moving there isn’t much scope for change or improvement at the moment

That is of course correct. But it does beg the question of why they send out the review papers nearly a year in advance, when they clearly are not in a position to deal with the backlog that they have. It is just getting longer as time goes on.

Ours was due to end/be reviewed December 24 - not had any review papers at all. Updated on the phone and they made notes and we are waiting to get the forms.

@Radrules do you happen to know the approx wait time for new claims??

my claim has nothing to do with the cost of living or a sudden decision to apply for PIP

I had a double stroke in January. When I left hospital in mid January I was told I should apply so I phoned up and got the papers which took a long time to arrive. I send them back very quickly as I have a friend who was able to fill it in with me as one of the things I cannot do right now is write.

I expect I will have to appeal as I think we were very optimistic when we filled the form out 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️ anyway that's by the by really, I've had a text to say they have received it and I've had a letter off another company who say they do the PIP claims on behalf of DWP.

So now I'm just waiting to hear back. Do you have any idea how long the waiting times are for new claims?

TIA

It would be good to be able to apply online, or update details etc.

As another PIP assessor, I really wish they wouldn’t send the forms out so far in advance. The person fills their form in, 12-18 months later they speak to us and there are almost always changes. It skews the entire consultation and just increases my workload.

I do not claim PIP, but help people with the initial forms and reviews as part of my work. I recently completed a review for someone and read that the review time is currently at 290 days. They continue to receive their payments as normal.

Because then they can be reviewed and prioritised

I’m really sorry to hear of your experience and hope things improve for you soon.

Across the area I cover we’re currently working through claims made in mid-late December.

Yes I totally agree if you could submit a change etc or renewal .
i do worry a bit about the bands and what if I have to back pay, but I’ve never heard of that happening in real life. It’s difficult when you don’t know what a material change is, so I ring and tell them stuff.

🤔

@Radrules Do they actually look at reviews then and prioritise them? So, is it good or bad if yours gets put to one side and prioritised to be done at a later? I understand that new applicants are, rightly so, being dealt with first as people awaiting reviews continue to receive payments but do you mean they look at reviews when they comes in and then put them aside to deal with later?

If you submitted the review in Jan 23, shouldn't it be backdated to at least Jan 23, not Dec 23?

I'll try and remember to look that up tomorrow when I'm at work.

Ours ran out at the end of the year but they are still paying it and have said to wait for the forms. I have rung and updated in the interim if I thought there was a change. But worried people have been sent renewal forms in advance.

@lakielady - sorry it was my typo, I got the forms late Dec 2023, I sent back back Jan 2024 by the due date