Pip Made an error and now I have no income

Unbeatable22

I wonder if you can help me as I'm really struggling at the minute 

I'll try to keep this short. I have PIP enhanced for both ESA support group, and my partner gets carers allowance for me. My PIP review form came on 7th August. I filled it out and sent it straight back, signed for the same day. On the 18th August, I got a letter saying they haven't received my form. So, I rang them and they said to ignore the letter, it's here. This Friday just gone, I got another letter saying they have stopped my PIP, and this has now suspended my Housing Benefit and my partners carers allowance and possibly Esa, leaving me with no income.I was due my benefits this week. My bills are due this week, and I was due to be paid this week for my benefits.   I spoke to pip on Friday to a man called matt who said he would contact management but I need to get this sorted out asap.

Have you had a similar issue how long did it take to resolve I have no savings and with no income going in because of the error im going to really struggle if it takes any longer than a few days  anything I can do to speed up the reinstatement of my pip ?

What would you advise me to do, please?

Thanks in advance.

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

Your ESA should still be paid.

When this happened to me, I had to ask a relative to phone PIP on my behalf.  They got the PIP reinstated within a few days.

Unbeatable22

Thanks I do hope its just a few days for me as well   thanks so much for getting back to me did any of your other payments stop too as I'm thinking I will have to do the ring around tommorow 

Albus_Scope

Hi @Unbeatable22 and welcome to the community!

It seems that forms do go missing a fair bit, but they're usually very good at sorting things out quickly.   though if the issue is with your PIP, you should still be getting the ESA paid to you, as they're two separate benefits.  It's worth giving them a call tomorrow when everyone is back in the office.  I hope you can get this sorted out asap! 

Unbeatable22

Thanks @Albus_Scope i will update forum once I know anything 

OverlyAnxious

Unbeatable22 said:

Thanks I do hope its just a few days for me as well   thanks so much for getting back to me did any of your other payments stop too as I'm thinking I will have to do the ring around tommorow 

No.  I should have lost the SDP from my ESA and the one-bed housing rate from housing benefit but I assume the departments didn't communicate to each other that quickly.  It was only the PIP that had to be reinstated in my case. 

Unbeatable22

Thanks everyone you have all been really helpful  I know my Housing benefit has been suspended as can see that online here's to hoping it all gets sorted this week I'll keep you all informed

woodbine

What I can't understand is why they said they had received PIP forms then said they hadn't, most strange.
It shouldn't have any effect on your ESA as they are separate benefits, all you can do re:PIP is phone again Monday asking if they have or haven't got it? Did you get proof of postage? which is always better than signed for.

Unbeatable22

@woodbine yes I did get proof of postage and rang  2 separate times and both people I spoke too said they received it and can see it on the system I also rang Friday and the admitted there was an error as he can see my form but I agree  so strange indeed 🤔 

Unbeatable22

Have an update spoke with PIP this morning and got my Pip reinstated but will take 3 days to get money reinstated and  my housing benefit said they would take up to 30 days to reinstate my rent payments and carers allowance  said they are waiting to hear from Pip Nothing is very easy but I think that's progress not sure about was as I'm on legacy benefits and was on phone for ages so going to wait to see if I get my esa in bank before I ring them again 

Unbeatable22

What a mess my income-related esa didn't get paid in today so looks like I'll be ringing them up today what actual chaos over one error that wasn't my fault 

Jimm_Scope

While you cannot complain about a benefits decision outside of Mandatory Reconsideration and Tribunals there are reasons you can go through the DWP complaints procedure listed here Complaints procedure - Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

I hope you get everything sorted @Unbeatable22, sounds like a real mess behind the scenes.

OverlyAnxious

This has been happening for well over a year now, several examples have been posted on this site.  I would have expected the 'Covid rush' to be over, so I'm not sure why they're still so far behind.

What annoyed me more is that there was no acceptance of their error.  The letter I eventually received simply said: "I have decided there were good reasons for you not returning the forms on time". 

Cheeky g*ts!  I returned the forms in plenty of time.  They left them festering in a pile for months!