Pip change of circumstances

jamieleehill92

Hi so this is going to be lengthy so I apologise. My names Jamie-lee and I suffer with mental health and back problems and mainly foot problems to. I have problems balancing on my right foot and recently had a stair lift and hand rail over the bath and shower seat put in due to being unable to many things myself. I reported the change back in April 2023 mainly because of the AIDS for the house. I had my assessment on 18th may 2023 and I’ve had a letter on the 1st June 2023 saying we now have all the information we need to decide if we can award you pip. So I’ve called the customer service for pip and someone told me that by the looks of my AP report I’ve scored 10 on daily living and 0 on notability. He said but my award can still go up or down depending on the decision makers decision. Also I’ve been told a view times I’ll get a text and then a letter so if I was to have my pip took of me then I wouldn’t relieve a text right? So it’s been a week since I’ve had the information letter and still no decision on my claim also I called on Friday and they told my it’s being looked at by a case manager. What’s the difference between a case manager and a decision maker?. I’m also wondering why it’s taking so long if it’s with a case manager. My pip I have now i scored 6 points on assessors report last time and 0 on motability and they went against the assessors report and scored me the 8 points for daily and 4 points for motability so I’m wondering if they will keep my award the same this time or award me more points but it is also possible they can take them points of me right?

poppy123456

I don't know how the person you spoke to at the call centre knew how many points are recommended in the report because no points are added up. Only a decison maker can award points.

As you already have a PIP award in payment then you will not receive a text if awarded again. You may receive a text telling you that your review is completed and you'll receive the decision letter in the post but not everyone receives this.

A decision can take up to 12 weeks once the report was returned. A decision maker and case manager are the same thing.

Once the decision is made it could either remain the same, be increased or you could be refused and then your award will end.

You need at least 8 points for standard and at least 12 for Enhanced.

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 okay thanks for that poppy 😊 hopefully it won’t be long then before I receive a decision I’m just so full of anxiety I’m constantly waking up early waiting for a text it’s so frustrating 

L_Volunteer

Has a decision been made yet @jamieleehill92? Please don't hesitate to update us with how things are for you at the moment and if there's anything else we can do to help 

jamieleehill92

@L_Volunteer hiya yeah they kept my decision the same, standard daily living so im appealing it. Just waiting on the bundle from dwp response. I diddnt have much evidence before because I diddnt have an ultrasound on My right foot until recently and I have severe arthritis and joint effusion so I've sent the tribunal evidence to that. Right now u guess I have to wait for a hearing but I've chose not to attend due to anxiety 

poppy123456

Are you aware you can request a telephone hearing? Paper based hearings have a very low success rate of between 5-8%. Telephone hearings have the same success rate as face to face ones with a more than 70% success rate. 

HMCTS will always prefer to hear from you in your own words exactly how your conditions affect you. 

If you can manage the telephone hearing I would strongly advise you to do that. You can have someone with you during the hearing if you want to. 

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 yeah sure I can try to request that thanks 

poppy123456

You’re welcome. There shouldn’t be any issues with them agreeing to the phone hearing. You will need to contact HMCTS. 

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 yeah hope so 

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 I received a email today saying its my last chance to provide evidence before the tribunal makes a decision on my pip claim dos that mean my hearing could be soon?

poppy123456

It means they could make a decision at anytime. It’s still not too late to request the telephone hearing but you need to do that ASAP. 

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 I have emailed them 

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 if they was going to make a decision can they do it without a hearing?

poppy123456

jamieleehill92 said:

@poppy123456 if they was going to make a decision can they do it without a hearing?

It’s not a hearing as such because the decision is decided on paper alone. 

You will not know when they are about to make a decision exactly, you will only know once the decision is made. 

For paper based decisions they do not give a date, they decide those in between other hearings when they have the time to do so. 

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 ah I see that's probably why it's going so fast then 

poppy123456

Yes, for sure. Paper based is usually much quicker but a much less chance of success.

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 ah okay cool. Thank you 

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 how long do we normally have to provide evidence for the tribunal when they send that email where they ask if u have any do so now before they make a decision 

poppy123456

I'm sorry but i have no idea. You should do it ASAP because as i advised a decision can be made at anytime. Unless they agree to a telephone hearing, which they should.

jamieleehill92

@poppy123456 ah okay thanks I haven't received my bundle yet from dwp so I don't think I'll have enough time to right what I think is wrong from that 

poppy123456

I'm shocked to read that you haven't received the bundle yet and HMCTS have contacted you to tell you it's your last chance to send evidence. 

I would advise you to get some expert advice at this point from an agency near you. This link will help with that. https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits