'Light Touch' PIP Review for those who have a 10 year award

2oldcodgers

Just noticed what the Light Touch review form will be.
It is going to be a 6 page review form similar to the full 16 page normal claim form using the same descriptors. To be honest in saying that it is just a light touch is a joke. With the sound of it it is going to look and feel like the PIP2 but in a more condensed  way.
My review comes up in 2029 when I will be 80 and I have already made the decision that I will not be making any re-claim if I am having to go through that.
Much prefer the Attendance Allowance form although I will lose the mobility element and thus the Motability car. More than likely I will have handed back my licence by that time in any event!    

What changes are coming to PIP in August?

From August, the Department of Work and Pensions will be introducing a much shorter PIP renewal form, which will make it easier for those who are eligible for the payment to apply.

With the PIP having been introduced in 2013, millions of people who qualified for the benefit to last 10 years now have to submit a fresh claim if they want to carry on receiving the payment.

However, many of those who have been on the benefit long-term will only need to complete a renewal form which is six pages long, instead of the 16-page form which those who receive the PIP for a shorter term have to fill in.

poppy123456

Do you have a link for this? That link you posted just gives information about normal reviews. 

2oldcodgers

poppy123456 said:

Do you have a link for this? That link you posted just gives information about normal reviews. 

The current review form - AR1 is for everybody that does not have a 10 year award.
The new AR2 form is only for those that do have/had a 10 year award.

Whilst it is 'only' 6 pages long it appears to require you to say yes or no as regards any changes that have not previously been notified to the DWP.
A rather open ended statement - even if there are no changes will you still be required to prove/evidence the unchanged descriptors etc ?
As with current advice to just not say 'no changes' you should treat the application form as you would if it was the PIP2.

PIP AR2 light touch review form, details and sample copy (benefitsandwork.co.uk)

Adrian_Scope

Thank you for the link @2oldcodgers, it was interesting to see the sample light touch review form. Although 6 pages sounds a lot, the majority appears to be basic details like name, address and so on, and then tick boxes, with the only need for additional information if there has been a change. 

2oldcodgers

Adrian_Scope said:

Thank you for the link @2oldcodgers, it was interesting to see the sample light touch review form. Although 6 pages sounds a lot, the majority appears to be basic details like name, address and so on, and then tick boxes, with the only need for additional information if there has been a change. 

Thanks, As has been said many times that when completing a review claim form you are advised never to just say 'No Change' or even advise of a change if there is one only.
We, as claimants have always been told that the AR1 (review form) should be treated as the PIP2 form and that you should put all of the reasons why the original award was given and are still relevant today along with any relevant changes also being added. 
I presume that the same advice should be given for the AR2 form - treating it as an entirely new claim.
It is for that reason that I simply cannot motivate myself in doing that. I would prefer to go for Attendance Allowance.

Maybe others with more knowledge of the PIP system could clarify what I believe is the correct way to go about filling & sending the AR2 back to the DWP?

calcotti

2oldcodgers said:

I presume that the same advice should be given for the AR2 form - treating it as an entirely new claim.
..
Maybe others with more knowledge of the PIP system could clarify what I believe is the correct way to go about filling & sending the AR2 back to the DWP?

My opinion is not to do these as a new claim. The stated intention is to avoid assessment unless needed to understand changes informed by the claimant. 
However nobody is going to know for sure how DWP is going to process these renewals until they have does for a while.
There is a draft of the form here https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/19431/

2oldcodgers

calcotti said:

2oldcodgers said:

I presume that the same advice should be given for the AR2 form - treating it as an entirely new claim.
..
Maybe others with more knowledge of the PIP system could clarify what I believe is the correct way to go about filling & sending the AR2 back to the DWP?

My opinion is not to do these as a new claim. The stated intention is to avoid assessment unless needed to understand changes informed by the claimant. 
However nobody is going to know for sure how DWP is going to process these renewals until they have does for a while.
There is a draft of the form here https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/19431/

I can only go by how the DWP have handled the normal AR1 form when claimants just ticked the 'no change' box. Most from what I read about in doing it that way ended up with a nil award and had to go through the Tribunal system to get the decision overturned and re-instated to what they previously had. The advice that was given to avoid this happening was to treat the renewal form - AR1 - as a 'new claim' 
But as you say maybe with the AR2 form you could get away with just ticking the 'no change, box. We will have to see.

poppy123456

Yes the AR1 should never be completed as “no change.” I agree though that the AR2 is completely different and they maybe no need to complete it this way. 

calcotti

woodbine said:

I was given a 10 year award this year following a telephone review, she said because of my age it was a ten year award till 2033 which would then be a "light touch review.

The AR2 form is the form now being introduced for ‘light touch’. The first ‘light touch’ form with be issued in August.

chucky1

Are they likely to send the form out  12 months before it's due 

2oldcodgers

calcotti said:

My opinion is not to do these as a new claim. The stated intention is to avoid assessment unless needed to understand changes informed by the claimant. 

Just something I missed in your post, suggesting that any form of assessment will only be needed if there are changes and the claimant has not made it crystal clear on the AR2 how they affect them.

Given that a large majority of the 10 year awards relate to those who already have the enhanced rate for both care and mobility (like myself) and there would be no point in telling the DWP on the AR2 if there are further deteriorations in ability as the current award cannot be increased no matter what?
Yes I understand that if there are improvements in ability then yes the DWP would want to see if they could reduce the award down to standard.
So I take it that if there are deteriorations on that level of award there is no point in even telling the DWP?

2oldcodgers

Just an update and after talking to AgeUK, they are suggesting that you should use separate paper to give details of why the points originally awarded are still relevant for those that have no change.
 

Jimm_Alumni

Thank you for continuing to update us @2oldcodgers

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

Just an update and after talking to AgeUK, they are suggesting that you should use separate paper to give details of why the points originally awarded are still relevant for those that have no change.
 

I'm going to disagree with that because it's a light touch review for a reason and i think if you go into a lot of detail like the AR1 forms you're defeating the object of the light touch review.

2oldcodgers

poppy123456 said:

I'm going to disagree with that because it's a light touch review for a reason and i think if you go into a lot of detail like the AR1 forms you're defeating the object of the light touch review.

I think that where they are coming from is that most will tick the 'no change' box simply because no matter how much deterioration there is they cannot increase the level of award that they have - enhanced Care & Mobility.
This, they believe will open the door for a HCP to look at the claim to to ensure that no change is correct (neither an improvement or a deterioration).
I did get the impression that they would feel nervous  if you did not reiterate why there is no change and why the points previously awarded still stand today thereby doing a 'belt and braces' approach.