Backdating PIP???

mentalencyclopaedia

Hello, I was wondering if anyone can help please. I applied for PIP for autism and Bipolar in November 2020, denied, mandatory reconsideration, denied, Tribunal and finally awarded lower rate both elements in February 2022. I did not respond to the tribunal requests for information or even attend the tribunal as I had become so overwhelmed and distressed about the process, and I had sent all of the evidence in already for my application. I’m September 2022 I finally got up the courage to ask for a review because I believed I was entitled to higher rate both elements. Again, denied, mandatory reconsideration, denied, Tribunal was booked for today (August 2023). I got a phone call this morning to say the hearing had been cancelled because on looking at my evidence I have been awarded higher rate for both elements without the need for a tribunal. This is being backdated to September 2022. My question is, can I request that this be backdated to my original claim? I am 28 years old and my conditions have not changed since I was 11 years old, and I only initially claimed when I was 25 because I didn’t even know how the benefits process worked and got completely distressed about the whole process, but my extensive evidence clearly shows that I’m entitled to higher rate for both.

Thankyou in advance - hopefully someone can help! 

poppy123456

That’s great news. Unfortunately it will not be backdated to the date of your original claim even though your conditions haven’t changed. DWP will not be able to change the decision made by the first Tribunal in 2022. 

It will only be dated from the date you rang to report the changes. 

It can take anything up to 8 weeks to put your new award into payment and to pay the money they owe you. 

mentalencyclopaedia

poppy123456 said:

That’s great news. Unfortunately it will not be backdated to the date of your original claim even though your conditions haven’t changed. DWP will not be able to change the decision made by the first Tribunal in 2022. 

It will only be dated from the date you rang to report the changes. 

It can take anything up to 8 weeks to put your new award into payment and to pay the money they owe you. 

Thankyou, I know it wouldn’t be automatic but I was wondering if there were any avenues/processes I could go down to request it be looked into as I had a similar situation with DWP LCWRA

poppy123456

At the time the decision was made by the Tribunal you could have requested the statement of reasons and record of proceedings within 1 month of the date of the decision. If an error in law was found you could have appealed that decision. 

As it’s now past that timeframe there’s nothing you can do about that decision and it’s beyond DWPs control.