PIP assessment extension needed.

Mattzed

Hey all I have the message to say that my assessment is due and they are sending my paper work out, my father passed away 5 days ago so obviously this is a stressful time, I'm wondering If pip will give me an months grace period or even 2 week as I usually have to have to extend due to having support to fill out paperwork so intotal a month. At the minute I'm trying to sort the funeral etc so pip really isn't going to be my priority, as much as it should be saying my goodbyes to my dad is very important to me as it's just me and my sister as my mum has passed away 2 years ago and nana (father's mum) 6 months before my mum and his dad died when my father was 7 so there is no-one else and my sister can't do it all by herself. I understand my assessment needs to go ahead and I'm happy for it to I just need some time but unsure if they will consider allowing extra and who to actually asked I appreciate it if you made it to the end many thanks.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Mattzed

So sorry to hear about your father. It sounds like you've been through a lot of grieving over the past few years and I can see how your PIP assessment would add to the strain. 

There's no hurt in asking for an extension. Would you feel up to phoning them? You could try contacting the office where you made your claim, or once your paperwork arrives there should be contact details on there. Not an easy thing to do in your current circumstances, but definitely worth looking into when you're feeling up to it.

Hopefully some of our other members have had experience of this and might be able to share their thoughts, but if you ever feel like you're struggling or just need to chat, don't hesitate to reach out

chiarieds

Hi @Mattzed - I'm also sorry to read about your father. Yes, do ring on 0800 121 4433. The best time is 9 am to get through. I'm pretty sure you'll get an extension under the circumstances.

ElMH

Albus_Scope

Hi @Mattzed I'm so sorry for your loss. 

  I just wanted to check in and see how you're getting on with things?  Have you managed to speak to anyone about an extension? 

Mattzed

Hello so I have been given one for 2 weeks, it's proven impossible to get help to fill in my forms so I spoke to DWP and as it is a review he said just write no change on everything as nothing has changed them my reward will be extended and new date given, I struggle with the spelling he said it's fine if wrong, he was very dismissive of my needs and even tried telling me it's easy to write 2 simple words I rely on taking into to my phone to message for me, it feels daunting but I'm going to do it, he mad me feel very sick, heighten my anxiety where I felt very shaky as he kept suggesting grabbing anyone even if off the street I struggle to go out never mind approach and stranger and even though I stated how he was making me feel he still continued to dismiss what I was saying, honestly I don't get why he thinks it's appropriate but he said because he was my case manger I didn't need to speak to anyone else, I was in tears by end of call.

Jimm_Scope

I'm really sorry to hear about the awful experience you had on the phone with PIP.  As I've said in another thread, call centres can be very variable in their workers. Like anyone you meet in life they can have empathy or they can have very little empathy. It's unfortunately quite the luck of the draw and how well the call centre runs their quality control. It's quite horrible to hear that even after you told him how you were feeling he continued in the same manner.

You mention you've struggled with filling in the form, have you reached out to your local citizen's advice at all? They can often find someone to work with you in filling out forms.

Mattzed

Hey yes unfortunately cab has proven impossible to get hold of I never had issues before but I have tried several times and there's no answer the phone gets out down after 1 hour, our local services don't exist anymore either so it all has to be done by phone.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @mattzed

I'm sorry to hear CAB have been difficult to get ahold of. Can I ask, have you managed to get through to them today? 

Mattzed

I haven't, I have done my paperwork as suggested I wrote no change on all sections. 

poppy123456

Mattzed said:

 I spoke to DWP and as it is a review he said just write no change on everything as nothing has changed them my reward will be extended and new date given,

That's very poor advice you had there from the call centre. (they are not DWP) If only it was that simple. 

Most people have assessments even for reviews. I wouldn't normally advise anyone to just write "no change" and nothing else. Usually the advice is to treat it as a new claim.

I do understand you have difficulty writing but Ideally you should give some information, even if it's just a small amount. There's a guide on citizens advice for filling out the review form. (assuming it is the review form, not the PIP2) https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/pip-changes-and-reviews/help-with-your-pip-review-form/

Mattzed

Unfortunately I have done what he said, I really struggling with writing I use the microphone on my phone which makes every easier until I need to do it in actual writing, I have dyslexia and with my learning difficulties and Autism I struggle to word it how I need to, the way he suggested to just grab a stranger off the street was actually making my anxiety go into overdrive, so I felt it's the best I can do I'm not sure if I've even done it right just praying I have, nothing I can do now. I had support previously off DWP think my last claim as I couldn't get CAB and my father has passed away recently, the funeral last week I didn't have strength to keep trying to call CAB as I phoned for 3 hours straight, unfortunately my local services have been slashed so everything is done on the phone, I was able to do it through the national line previously but can't do it that way, the CAB I have to use has just been in local paper as seems everyone is having the same struggles but they are covering an huge area to what they were previously.