Hi, my name is Bugz! I rung PIP this morning and was directed to an automated line

Bugz

Hi guys, I've just joined the forum.

Can someone please advise for the following.

I had a video assessment on the 28th of February as part of a review. I received a text from the DWP 3 days later to say they've received the assessment report and to wait 6 weeks for a decision. I rung PIP this morning and was directed to an automated line where I was told how much my next payment will be, it's the same amount as my current award. Am I too assume that a decision has not been made yet?

Also, can someone please advise, is it likely to receive a decision letter before a payment has been made or is it the other way around.

Thanks in advance

JBS2022

You may receive payment before the decision letter, the Automated PIP line is not reliable and therefore I wouldn't rely on it for payments.

poppy123456

As this is a review and the automated payment line is telling you your next payment is the same as your current award then there's no way of knowing if a decision has been made on your review yet.

Once the report was returned to DWP a decision can take up to 12 weeks, rather than the 6 weeks you were told. Nothing more you can do but wait. Once the decision is made you will be contacted.

Bugz

Does anybody know how long it takes for the assessment report to arrive, once the DWP have sent it out to me in the post?

poppy123456

You should receive within a couple of weeks.

Cher_Alumni

@Bugz Hello there! How are you doing?

Just to say a little welcome to our online community. It's great you found us and if we can help with anything else, just give us a shout.

We wish you lots of luck for a deserved outcome to your PIP claim. Please keep us posted with how you get on.

elise84

Hiya @Bugz, i requested my report on tuesday and it landed on my doorstep today 

Bugz

Hopefully the report will arrive early next week for me then! 

elise84

Hopefully

Bugz

Elise84 hope you got a positive outcome

elise84

i will read my report after work tonight and see what the assessor has said

Bugz

Elise84 best of luck with the report. Hope you get a nice and positive outcome!

Bugz

Update

PIP review that I sent back in February 2022, had an assessment via video call on the 28th of February, 2023,  waited a whole year absolute madness!

I received my PIP report yesterday. I scored 17 points for daily and 12 points for mobility. Will the DWP follow this report as well as the points that I've been awarded? Also will there be a backdate of payment also? Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

JBS2022

They usually go with the report although that's up to the DM, if your PIP is a review and wasn't a change of circumstances you will not usually be backdated, although due to delays they sometimes do backdate payments, but not always. If it's a new claim they backdate from start of claim.

Bugz

JBS2022 I've currently been getting standard daily living. Now after a review I got 17 points for daily and 12 points for mobility which work out both to be enhanced rates.

With the review i did report a change in circumstances hence the new scoring points that I've been awarded 

JBS2022

Then you should receive a backdated payment from when you reported the change of circumstances.

poppy123456

Bugz said:

With the review i did report a change in circumstances hence the new scoring points that I've been awarded 

Although you reported the changes on the form you filled in, that doesn't count. Usually, you would have needed to ring PIP to report a changes of health condition and then this would prompt them to send another form for you to fill in and return.

If this was a normal review and you were automatically sent the forms by DWP then under normal times you wouldn't be owed any extra money. For reviews, some have received some money owed if their new award is higher and some haven't.

Bugz

Two very different comments here. I think I'll just have to wait for the decision letter and see if any money will be paid

poppy123456

Bugz said:

Two very different comments here. I think I'll just have to wait for the decision letter and see if any money will be paid

Reporting a change on the form, is not the same as ringing to report a change. However, as advised some people have been receiving some money owed if their new award is higher but not everyone. 

Bugz

In December, 2022, I contacted my MP regarding my PIP review as it had been 10 months since I returned the form back to the DWP.

 Today, I've had a response back from the DWP via email, saying that they will look at any changes in my condition from October, 2022, and consider any backdated payments.

 I had a review on the 28th of February, 2023, via video. I then received my PIP assessment report on Saturday and I've been scored 17 for daily and 12 for mobility.

 Before the review I was only getting standard daily living.


1) Do the decision makers at the DWP go with the assessor's report?

 2) Will the DWP award me the points the assessor has scored me? 

3) Will any backdated payments be made like the DWP have said contained in the email?

I still have to wait for the decision letter which I've been advised can take 6 weeks.

poppy123456

1/ It's rare but it can happen. Mostly they do go with it.

2/ The assessor hasn't scored you any points, they've made a recommendation. Only a decision maker can score you and award you points.

3/ Under normal times if it's a review started by DWP then they don't usually pay the difference between your current award and your new award, if it's a higher award. Because of the delays with review decisions they have been paying some people the difference between the 2 but not everyone has received it.

4/ Once the report was returned to DWP a decision can take up to 12 weeks.