Hello. My name is nuclearpigeon and I have a couple of questions about an upcoming PIP renewal

nuclearpigeon

Hi everyone.  I’m hoping someone can help me and my partner with her PIP review form.  She was successful at the first attempt two years ago, but even though a review was expected soon, it’s brought back all the negative emotions.  She’s at the “panic” stage right now.  Anyway, I found this place and decided I’d ask a few questions on her behalf, because nothing is going to get done in panic mode.

1.  The main point of confusion is over what evidence to send in as supporting information.  Her prescription list will be easy.  The main confusion is over this shortened form spending over eleven pages half-heartedly asking for “supporting information”.  In our area, with Covid, she hasn’t been able to see the doctor during the entire last award.  She has no “new” information.  Aside from the prescription list, what are we to do?  Send them the ten pieces of historic medical evidence that were used as the basis of the original claim?  On page six they do explain how they want “photocopies, as we can’t return original documents to you” – like on the original form, but then they also say “What NOT to send” – “Information you’ve sent us before”.

We’ve worked out that there’s little point ringing the customer helpline.  They’re call centre workers.  They don’t know.  Essentially, it looks like NO – only send us any new medical evidence you have, but if that’s wrong then it’s very wrong indeed.  It’s tempting to send the old evidence that worked last time again (but there’s a lot of it).  She’s also frightened they will have “lost” or “deleted” prior information.  Something else tells me if you don’t submit evidence now, you can’t add it on later if you have to appeal.  Am I right?  We’re both VERY concerned by what we’ve read. 

Everyone seems to say treat it as a new claim, including at Scope.  In that case, should she be sending in all the historic evidence she used last time and just ignoring the “don’t send us information you’ve sent before”?  Knowing what to do would really help.

2.  Of course, we’ve requested the 2 week extension.  She wants to know if there’s any chance of getting another one.  This happened last time too.  It didn’t come to that in the end.

3.  Kind of in the same vein as the second question, do we have to use their second class envelope, or can we send it back first class instead.  The form already took ages to get here, putting the time pressure on from the first day it arrived.  We don’t want to waste time on second class mail in the other direction if we don’t have to.

My apologies that this is so long and thank you all for your time.

bg844

1. Your partner will have a case file on PIPCS (the internal computer system), this will have everything previously sent before, I would be really shocked if anything was missing from just 2 years ago. Usually it's DLA to PIP claims where exceptionally old evidence goes missing. I would send the prescription list but if that really is all you have, please don't worry.

2. She can ask for another extension and it should be granted for the final time, if the call handler refuses then call back the next day and ask again. They may also refer it to a Decision Maker to decide but this again is extremely unlikely to happen.

3. You are wasting your money, everything gets sent to a mail handling centre which is basically Royal Mail. Even if you do send first class you probably won't see a difference in the time it takes to be scanned on to the system.

Cher_Alumni

Hi @nuclearpigeon and a warm welcome to our online community, how are you keeping?

Did bg844's advice help you with the review form? I hope you are out of panic mode, and things are a bit clearer, but if not - let us know and we'll do our best to support you.

Wishing you and your partner all the best. Take care and hopefully speak again soon.