PIP query: Review of “on-going” award after 4 years

MariW

Four years ago, a severely disabled friend was “transferred” from Disability Living Allowance” to Personal Independence Payments. He was awarded the enhanced rate of both mobility and daily living for an on-going period.  Age has taken a cruel toll since; his mobility is dangerously bad.

A few days ago, my friend received what appears to be a “light touch” review form. He has not done anything to initiate a review. I haven’t seen the form that he is currently completing it with the help of family members.  I queried why he had received the form when his award was supposedly on-going but I can’t get an answer that makes a grain of sense. However, I have been told that my friend knows somebody else with a supposedly on-going award that has completed the same form

To repeat, the award was described to me as “on-going”, at the highest rate, and nothing has changed for the better.

This does not appear to be the norm and I wonder whether my friend out to contact the DWP and/or his MP before sending in the form.  I haven’t heard of anything like this before this week.

I fear for my friend’s health and, indeed, for my own and that of other severely disabled contacts if on-going PIP awards really are being reviewed after a mere four years unless the level of disability and need changes.

Thank you for any clarification.

Mari                                   

poppy123456

They can review your claim at anytime. Are you sure it was the AR2 form? These are only coming out this month although it doesn’t when in August. You can see a copy of that form here https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/images/resources/PIP-AR2-Light-Touch-Review-Form.pdf
more details here https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/pip-ar2-light-touch-review-form,-details-and-sample-copy
He can ring PIP to ask if receiving the form is correct. 

Edit to add, there’s been a few threads here in the past 6 months where members have received a review form after just a few years into a 10 year award but not the AR2 form. 

MariW

If it was the AR2 it must be one of the first to be issued.  

It sounds more like an AR1 from the number of questions but I haven’t seen the form. I really can't imagine what has initiated my friend's review so early without a change of circumstances. I know the DWP can review at any time but something must suggest, even wrongly, that a review is appropriate.

The claimant and his carers will not contact PIP to query whether the form has been sent out in error.

chiarieds

Hi @MariW - & welcome to the community. If the claimant doesn't wish to contact the DWP I'd suggest they look again at the decision letter about their current award. It should say that their 'PIP award is for an ongoing period and has no end date' (as does mine). Altho I received such a letter last year, it does state that they 'will review how much help you need 10 years after your PIP was last awarded. We will write to you about this on or around xx/xx/2028.' So, they are not always exactly for 10 years perhaps, but 10 years since last awarded. This doesn't seem to be the case here, as they were awarded PIP only 4 years ago after transferring from DLA, as I also did. They should double check the wording & any date mentioned.

As you will see from the first link poppy gave, the AR2 is only 6 pages long so you could ask if this is the case with the form they've received.

poppy123456

Yes, it's likely to be the AR1 form. It's entirely up to them whether they ring or not.

MariW

chiarieds said:

Hi @MariW - & welcome to the community. If the claimant doesn't wish to contact the DWP I'd suggest they look again at the decision letter about their current award. It should say that their 'PIP award is for an ongoing period and has no end date' (as does mine). Altho I received such a letter last year, it does state that they 'will review how much help you need 10 years after your PIP was last awarded. We will write to you about this on or around xx/xx/2028.' So, they are not always exactly for 10 years perhaps, but 10 years since last awarded. This doesn't seem to be the case here, as they were awarded PIP only 4 years ago after transferring from DLA, as I also did. They should double check the wording & any date mentioned.

As you will see from the first link poppy gave, the AR2 is only 6 pages long so you could ask if this is the case with the form they've received.

I'm sure it's an AR1. 

I am encouraging the claiment to look again at the 2019 decision letter. I have read him my decision letter and the assessor's recommendation from the same year: "for an ongoing period". There is nothing about an end date in my decision letter but it was known that "ongoing " meant 10 years unless there was a change.

I'm half wondering whether my friend mistook the length of his award. I hope he gets an ongoing award this time as he can only get worse.

poppy123456

Not all 10 year awards are light touch either. 

MariW

poppy123456 said:

Not all 10 year awards are light touch either. 

Interesting.

DWP Minister Tom Pursglove explained, "... claimants with very high levels of functional impairment who are on the highest PIP awards, and whose needs are only likely to increase, should receive an ongoing award of PIP, with a light touch review at the 10-year point.”

Which claimants with ongoing awards will not be sent an AR2 rather than an AR1 as the 10-year point approaches?

poppy123456

10 year awards that are ongoing are light touch, if it doesn't say ongoing, it's not light touch. I agree with chiarieds, your friend needs to check their award letter. If it does say 10 years and they won't ring PIP then there's nothing much they can do but fill in the form. Though a review can take place at anytime.