PIP renewal

MW123

Hello, although I have been reading all your very informative posts for many months I have only just joined the community.  I have been receiving the lower daily living rate of pip since 2018 and have had one previous review in 2020 my award stayed the same.  My current award expires February 2023.  I returned the review forms that were sent to me in March 2022 and today phoned them.  Apart from every few months receiving a text message from them, stating they are still processing the review and will be in contact, and they also added in the text I may still require an assessment.  I was worried as my award ends in February 2023 that my payment would stop.  The advisor told me today, my claim has not even been looked at yet and my award has been extended until November 2023. I asked if I would receive a confirmation letter stating the extension he said no. My question is my cancer is chronic and not curable, my heart failure has got worse since my last review it now functions at 25%.  I have spinal stenosis with a large cyst  along with a blocked artery at the top of the leg (this could be operated on (but they refuse to do it as with my other conditions they consider it to high risk) and my mobility has deteriorated since the 2020 review.   All four of my consultants latest letters I have sent to them along with scan imaging for the new review.  I am now wondering if I should now report a change of circumstances as my mobility is a lot worse than when I filled in the latest review form sent in March 2022 or will I be better off waiting for the review I am sure they will take note of the reported changes to my health.  I have cut my working hours to part time as I cannot cope with a full days work any longer.  I am so fatigued, exhausted and in constant pain. I know others here are a lot worse of than me but I feel better for just writing it all down, and I know you can all understand how difficult it is.  I just wish the government would understand how stressful this process is for all of us. 

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

I did receive a letter stating my own award extension a couple of weeks ago, so you may still get one.  (Can't trust the phone operators 100%).  I note yours is also only 9 months.  They were meant to be 12 month extensions starting this year so I'm not sure what's happened there.

As for change of circumstances, if you believe you should now be awarded something on the Mobility side, and that wasn't noted in your forms, you can send in additional evidence for them to consider when making the decision.

poppy123456

You don't need to report a change of circumstances because you've already sent the review form back to them. If there's been any changes since you returned that form then you can send them more information at anytime. If you do send more information i'd advise you to send it to the health assessment providers.

Backlogs are very long in a lot of areas for reviews and change of circumstances. This is because they've been concentrating on new claims for a couple of years.

You're not alone in waiting this long and we have several members at least that have also been waiting a considerable time. The longest wait that i know of here is 18 months and still counting.

Once an appointment becomes available for the assessment you will be contacted.

calcotti

MW123 said:

..my cancer is chronic and not curable, my heart failure has got worse since my last review it now functions at 25%.  ..

At the risk of being insensitive just thought I'd flag up that if your consultant has said you might die within six months they can complete a form called a DS1500 which you can send to PIP. The PIP would then be reviewed within a few weeks and would be changed to enhanced arte Daily Living and likely enhanced rate Mobility.

The six month period is going to be changed to 12 months  and that is expected to change by April but hasn't been confirmed. (The relevant form will become SR1.)

I hope none of the above applies to you but just wanted to let you know in case it does.

MW123

Thank you all for your replies.  Calcotti, the DS1500 I am aware of this form.  Your reply was logical and not insensitive at all.   I have the problem, that form has profound psychological implications for me.  However, your reply might help someone else who is reading this forum but is not a member.  I have been reading all the posts for over four years and the advice has been invaluable.  It helped me fill out my last review.  I hope to see you all in the coffee lounge.

Alex_Alumni

That's lovely to hear @MW123 I'm glad you've found the community and it's members so helpful over the years. I also look forward to seeing you over in the Coffee Lounge