PIP

[fizzypop100]

Does anyone know if paper based assessments are usually successful? I rang yesterday and was told it's with a decision maker, so could be in for a long wait. This is for 16 year old who is moving from DLA

I don't have any answer but I'm currently going through the DLA to PIP process with my own child. Following to see what advice you get and if you get any updates I'd be interested to know how it goes for you.

@sorryyourprincessisinanothercastle @ffizzypop100
Just found this ( short!) thread, just applied for pip as DD is just 16 so needs to transfer from DLA.
How did it go for both of you?
Did you need medical assessments , if so what were they like ? And how long did whole process take and were you successful? Hope it went well!

i returned my sons pip form 04 April and not heard a thing back, is this typical?
I called up to see if they’d received it but reluctant to call again as it’s an hour waiting on the phone. He was 16 in February.
I have lots of supporting evidence so I am hoping it is a smooth transition. My son would never manage an assessment.

@vickibee I feel exactly the same, DD wouldnt cope with a medical assessment either, im her appointee so presumably could do most of the talking but it would still be tough.
We are a month or so behind you, DD 16 early April, form returned end of May. Had acknowledgement text to say theyd received it but nothing since, no idea what wait times are for the assessment but google says average of 20 week process from start to finish .
Good luck. Let me know how process goes for you, im hoping for smooth transition too, have lots of medical evidence but you hear such horror stories Im not counting my chickens!

@Runnerduck34
i am also an appointee for DS, I am hopeful that we have enough supporting evidence (fills a lever arch folder ) that we can have a paper based assessment. In the meantime his dla is continuing
personally think it would be better if dla continued up to 18

@vickibee defintely agree DLA should continue until they are 18, transferring them to PIP before they are adults is unfair and doesnt make sense imo- although no doubt potentially money saving!

I don’t have any statistics on this, so may be completely wrong, but I’m not so sure it does save money. Some DC, particularly with diagnoses like ASD, will have the award increased, especially the mobility component.

In Scotland, existing DLA/CDP awards continue until 18, although DC/appointees can choose to swap to ADP from 16 if they wish.

I am on the same path . I have to return forms in the next couple of weeks struggling to pull it together.

@Starlightstarbright1 The forms are a bit daunting especially as they are all submitted by post. I filled it out over the course of a week or so, doing a question or two at a time.
I used the benefits and work website which has really good information about how best to fill them out and what to cover.
I did a word document with all my answers, as easier to type so you are able to amend and correct as you go. Then cut it out and glued typed answers to the form. Submitted evidence like copies of autism report, SALT and OT assessments and EHCP, photo copy of blue badge, just everything I could think of but it wouldnt all fit in their prepaid envelope so had to get my own envelope and pay postage, which i sent recorded delivery as couldnt face doing it all again if form was lost!
I think their are some charities that can help you fill them out too. Good luck.

Does anyone know how long it takes between DWP receiving the form and acknowledging they have received it!! I, like other posters sent it recorded delivery - it was delivered on 9th June. I have just phoned up and there is nothing on their system to say they have received it. Am I being too optimistic to think DWP would do it within a couple of weeks.

I had to wait an hour, but they have extended the deadline and I have to call them back middle of July and they’ll send me another form out, i a, not looking forward to doing the photocopying again!!

what a palarva.

@Ilovellamasandpenguins I got a text message from PIP-independent Assessment services about a week or two after sending the forms.
It said they are managing the PIP assessment for the DWP and will contact me with an appointment if they need to do a consultation, and that I do not need to contact them. No idea of time frame from then, got they text a month ago and have heard nothing further yet.
So I would have thought it should be on there system shortly, do Royal Mail say it is delivered? Maybe it depends which department/provider is managing your claim as it appears DWP subcontract out

@Runnerduck34 - thank you very much for your reply. Yes Royal Mail say they delivered it, I have a photo and a signature.

it would be better if you could submit it online

Defintely, be a lot easier to do it online- couldnt believe its a paper form by post. Not very accessible

Had a phone call fron PIP assessor today saying DD didnt need to go for full assessment due to evidence submitted but needed to ask me a few questions mainly about mobility component questions. She said you conversely gain more points from going out by yourself than by going out with another person!
Not sure if DD will get mobility component but hopeful about the rest. Should hear in 6 weeks.

She said you conversely gain more points from going out by yourself than by going out with another person!

That really isn’t true. You can see the points here.

Mmm, she sounded so nice now Im not sure i trust her!!
I did correct her about a question how many times does my daughter manages to successfully attend appointments and I said it flucuates but probably on average 50% of the time so she said so ill put 50-60% of the time so I said think its more like 50% , then at the end of conversation she summed up and said so she successfully attends appts 75% of the time, I said no I said 50% of the time! Probably be 100% of the time when she writes her report! Anyway trying to be positive!!!

Still not heard a thing, he turned 16 mid February and the form was sent back early April. That’s a long time? I would call but you are on hold forever, the system is not fit for purpose……

Yes thats a long time, hope you get an update soon. I havent tried to phone but imagine its diffiicult to get through, as long as you are still getting DLA I wouldnt chase unless you are desperate.

By coincidence I got a letter today saying they had enough information for a paper based assessment and I should hear soon, I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing? DS would never cope with a face to face so it’s good in that respect. It’s so tricky and takes forever….

@vickibee
Have you heard anything further? I got a similar letter last month but havent heard anything since, just wondering how much longer! Im hoping as DD didnt need an assessment it will be good news, but who knows!

@Runnerduck34
Not heard anything since my letter dated 06 July. It's really frustrating as it's six months now since ds turned 16

@vickibee
Thanks, I shant hold my breath then! Cant find my letter atm but it was probably a couple of weeks after your one.
They are slooow.

after a couple of calls to the PIP hotline (it’s anything but ‘hot’) they marks my original form as lost and said they’d send me another one. The next day they phoned me to say that my form had been put on one side as I hadn’t put my son’s NI number of every page of the supporting documents and they had lost some, so I had to send them all again!!! Anyway, it’s gone to an assessor (the lady I spoke to could give me no idea how long that would take) and I got a letter today to say they had got enough information to make an assessment.

I am not holding my breath.

Fingers crossed for you .

@Ilovellamasandpenguins thank goodness you didnt need to fill the form out again-Its like a small novel!
Fingers crossed for us all.