Time between PIP assessment, report and decision headache

headachey

Hello all.

I've recently been granted LCWRA and am awaiting PIP decision. When I got the LCWRA it gave me the confidence to ring up PIP and ask what was happening as assesser had told me two weeks. PIP told me they hadn't received the report from assessment yet and gave me phone number for assessment to chase it up their end. I've not had the mental energy to chase them up yet, then Xmas happened, so I'll try to ring them next week but I'm wondering is it normal for report to take so long?

So I first applied to pip in early July, had assessment via phone on 28th Nov (it took 2 hours!) And the assesser rang me on 30th with more questions (another hour), it was intense and emotionally hard but I did it. The assesser said I should have a decision in 2 weeks. So when I got the LWCRA on 21st Dec, I rang PIP who told me it's meant to be two weeks til they get report then 4-6weeks til they make decision, however, they told me they'd not yet received the report and I should get a text when they do. I was hoping I'd get said text over Xmas but I hadn't, so I'll have to ring the assessers this week but I'm dreading it (hate phone calls at the best of time let alone when already stressed).

Just wondering if anyone else has faced similar, is it a bad sign it's taking so long? Why would report take so long anyway?

poppy123456

The 2 weeks you were told is more like up to 12 weeks once the report is returned to DWP. Sometimes reports are choosen for audit, which can delay the report being returned to DWP. If this has happened, it's nothing to worry about, it just means they are checking the assessor did their job correctly. Once the audit is completed it will be returned. Then the 12 week timescale starts.

headachey

To update, I finally had the guts to ring assessments today and they told me my claim is being audited and the audit was delayed due to Christmas, they don't know how long it'll take. Hope it won't take long, I need to access support services that I can't afford without pip.

Hannah_Alumni

Will keep everything crossed it won't take long! 

If you need help with anything else and aren't too confident with sharing here, feel free to email community@scope.org.uk and we will help as best we can  

headachey

Got the text this morning saying DWP has the report and upto 8 weeks for decision letter. Hopefully won't take that long, will try to find the guts to ring up today and ask for copy of the report.

poppy123456

headachey said:

Got the text this morning saying DWP has the report and upto 8 weeks for decision letter. Hopefully won't take that long, will try to find the guts to ring up today and ask for copy of the report.

That 8 weeks can be anything up to 12 weeks.

SueHeath

Morning @headachey welcome to our great group, it's good to see you have Poppy advising you, she's the best.
The waiting game is very stressful but hopefully you wont have much longer to wait, try and distract yourself, if you can it may help the time go quicker. Do you think it will help with your stress levels if you request a copy of the report, sometimes people find seeing the report just adds to the stress. 

headachey

Thank you Poppy and Sue, honestly I've got so much going on in life right now pip is just one thing I can obsessively worry about that I know will eventually get an answer about. I find it hard to believe they'd deny me pip when my children are being taken into care because of how my condition affects my ability to care for self and kids and I've been told I'll be moved into supported living while seeking treatment, hopefully with the plan to get kids back in a few years. This last year or figuring out what's wrong with me, trying to protect and care for kids while struggling with condition and then having everything I care about ripped away from me for something I had no choice or control over while working so hard to do the best I can always for my kids. It's hell. Pip is just one thing I can stress over that will eventually have a positive outcome, how can it not. And it's crazy how so many support services you need pip to access cos of costs, like mind at £5 a session, that's alot of money. Sorry for the rant

SueHeath

Bless you @headachey no need to be sorry about the rant, you rant away, by the sounds of it, you have got a hell of a lot going on in your life. Hopefully once your treatment starts, things will all come into place. I have no experience of what your going through but i can feel your pain and the trauma it is causing you.

Hannah_Alumni

@headachey You rant away! it is what we are here for and to help in any way we can. 

With everything going on and whilst waiting for your treatment, can I ask, has your GP offered any help in terms of counselling? 

headachey

In answer, I'm under community mental health services and have had referals made to adult social services also for support around housing and access to groups and such, depends if they'll help or not mind.

Rose29

@headachey bless ya hun ,hope it’ll be a positive outcome I have went through same with the assessment & then yet another call for more questions it wasn’t easy as a night before the the second assessors call I was under Rotherham access watch bcz I experienced multiple ptsd attacks ,it’s been difficult but let’s hope & pray we get through this ,I’m still waiting for my LCWRA assessment as well was told they’ll give me date for assessment but no correspondence from them at all 

Candyheart

@headachey hi there I applied beginning August assessment 23rd November a week later I had message to say they received report only today was I awarded if this helps

headachey

Wow requested report yesterday and received it today (never had a letter come so fast, let alone a 2nd class one). Looking through it its looks like the assessor recommends 13 points for daily and 10 for mobility with two year review period. I hope the decision matches that but keep being told my support staff that I'll likely be refused cos mental health isn't well recognised. Hope it's not a long wait to find out.

SueHeath

Fingers crossed for you @headachey x

poppy123456

There’s lots of people that claim PIP successfully for mental health reasons. They mostly go with the report but it has been known for them to go against it. 

headachey

I'll try to keep myself busy so as to not think or worry about it, but I know I'll struggle too lol. Hope doesn't take long.

SueHeath

Yep your on the last leg now - hopefully wont be long now x

Hannah_Alumni

That's good @headachey I'm so glad you've had the referrals for support sorted too  

It is easier said than done to not worry, what have you been up to, to keep your mind off it?

headachey

I'm trying to focus on my children, enjoy the weekend with them, do what I can each day to keep distracted.

SueHeath

Morning @headachey glad your trying to keep distracted, is your weather as bad as ours, it's rubbish at the moment for getting out for a bit of fresh air.