pip - PIP say my AR1 form was late when it wasn't, anyone else had this?

michael_m · June 22

Hi everyone

Just wondered if the following has ever happened to anybody else, or is it just me?

I received a pip review (AR1 form) that I was requested to fill in with a view to establishing whether or not my pip claim should be extended beyond the december 2024 end date.

The date I had to return this form by was 22/05/24

I filled in the form in full and provided all my supporting evidence.

I posted the form back, sent by royal mail guaranteed next day delivery on 15/05/24

Royal mail has confirmed delivery on the 16/05/24, thus before the deadline

The dwp sent me a letter dated 17/05/24 (before the due back by deadline) confirming receipt of my ar1 form

On 08/06/24 I got a letter (dated 01/06/24) saying my pip claim had been ended due to 'not receiving the ar1 form back on time' (even though they sent me the previously mentioned letter stating it had been received on time.

I phoned pip centre on monday 10/06/24 and explained to them that they had made a mistake and pointed out to them they themselves had sent me the afforementioned letter confirming receipt on 16/05/24

They were very appologetic and stated they would re-enstate my pip claim straight after the phone call and would confirm this in writing.

They haven't confirmed this in writing

Thus I have know had to make a request for a mandatory reconsideration and goodness knows how long it will take for a desicion maker to correct this.

Should I even have to do this?

Why should I have to wait months for a desicion maker to correct a mistake by the dwp, surely this isnt even the job of the decision maker, there job is, presumabley, to review desions made for pip based on wether a claimant is or isnt entitled to pip in regards to meeting (or not as the case may be) the pip qualifying criteria, not for 'correcting' the wrong desicions made by pip staff.

My evidence shows that they did receive my ar1 form back in time and is both factual and verifiable.

So on what evidential basis are they concluding they didnt receive my ar1 form back in time, when there own records show it was.

I believe this situation would have occured because a member of staff stated they 'didnt get the ar1 form back in time' even though there is no evidence to support this and thus this has happened ONLY has a result of a staff members 'opinion' who didn't have any evidence to backup there 'opinion'

I dont think it's fair a claimants benefits should be stopped purely on the basis of a 'opinion' of a staff member, if there is LITERALLY NO EVIDENCE to support there opinion, and actual evidence to contradict it (the letter they sent me)

I just wondered if this had ever happened to anyone else

thanks everyone

Rosie_Scope · June 23

Hi @michael_m, Sorry this happened to you, that sounds really frustrating. I'm afraid I haven't been through this myself, but hopefully by replying to your post more members will see it and be able to lend their thoughts. I'm sure someone will have been through a similar experience, it might just take them a little while to find you.

If you feel like you have been mistreated, you could think about making a complaint. There's some information about it on the Government website if you'd like to look into it.

WhatThe · June 23

Hi michael. Can you cancel your MR request?

You need to be insistent and email their letter of receipt. Don't rely on a call handler to take action. As you say, you did nothing wrong so they have to correct this on their system.

They can't just pretend your AR1 form didn't arrive and expect you to appeal this new decision!

michael_m · June 24

Hi everyone

Although I dont think it is the job of the mandatory reconsideration descision maker to resolve this issue (I believe his/her job is to establish a persons entitlement to pip based on whether or not they meet the qualifying criteria, not to correct a 'mistake' made by the pip staff)

I have put in a mandatory request ONLY because I feel if I dont do that and I phone pip centre after 1 month to ask for update and remind them of the phone call I made to them on 10/06/24 where they admitted fault. They would state 'what phone call, we don't have any record of any such phone call' (they magically made it dissapear) and also without a mandatory reconsideration request, they would then say I would have to make a brand new claim.

I have enclosed a photocopy of the letter they sent me confirming delivery, and a 'screenshot' of the royal mail delivery confirmation with my mandatory request so I don't believe they can deny they have received my ar1 form in time, but as stated I am not sure it is the job of the mandatory request desicion maker to 'resolve' issues caused by the pip staff making errors.

My next pip 'due date' is on 28/06 and I will obviously check if it has been paid into my account, if it hasn't I will phone pip centre again to ask why they didn't re-enstate my pip claim when they had already agreed to do so in the phone call on 10/06/24

poppy123456 · June 24

What makes you think it’s not a decision makers responsibility to put right what is wrong? Of course it is.

Your PIP was incorrectly suspended and for this to be put back into payment it’s a decision maker’s responsibility.

Nothing can be done without a decision maker to make that decision.

Paul446 · June 27

This is exactly what's happening to me..

I sent pip review form 3 week's ago and there now saying they haven't received it..

I've asked them to send me another form but they've just given me a 2 week extension and then they will stop my pip, surely this can't be right I know the form arrived at there processing centre..

poppy123456 · June 27

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/881928#Comment_881928

Did you keep a copy of everything you sent for yourself? You should have for this very reason. If you did then just copy that and send it again. If you have proof you sent it then that's really all you need.

michael_m · June 27

PHEW!!!!!

I phoned them yesterday to ask for an update, and they confirmed my pip had been re-enstated. When I asked why they didn't bother to send me a letter to confirm pip had been re-enstated as agreed they would do when I phoned them on 10/06, they said they don't send confirmation letters.

At least I can know stop worrying for a while, until I get the letter indicating whether or not my pip claim has been extended, guess I will find out in 6 to 12 months.

Thanks everyone

Paul446 · June 27

Phoned pip again today luckily spoke to someone a bit more switched on..

He advised me that the DWP takes on average 2 weeks to enter review form onto the system..

I'm hoping to get a tex in next 7 days saying they have received it, although the agent did say they don't always send a text to say they've received it..

I've been advised to wait a week then call again if I hear nothing, the form was due to be there by 26/06/24 I've been given an extension to 10/07/24..

If they still haven't got it by then and they agree to send out a new form this time it will be tracked and signed for..

Although even in some cases where they have signed for a letter they still say it hasn't arrived but at least I have a piece of proof they have it..

The agent today blamed the royal mail but all my parcels from ebay arrive on time..

I think the problem is at there possessing centre!

michael_m · June 28

Hi Paul 446

I don't know if you will see this post as I don't know how to reply directly to specific forum members.

The fact they told you it takes on average 2 weeks to enter the review form onto their system is, in my opinion, a untrue statement. They will 'scan' pip review forms onto a claimants 'pip claim' fairly quicky, perhaps within 24 hours, as they did with mine.

In regards to your proof of delivery as a signed document from royal mail (if for example sent by 'signed for delivery) then this constitues 'legal proof' of delivery which cant be refuted (although they obviously tried to refute it, in your case)

I am not a lawyer, nor am I proffering any legal advice, but my understanding is if a individual 'signs' for anything delivered by a courier (be that royal mail or any other company), the individual who signs the document is LEGALLY responsible for that item, you may want to research this further if you feel it would help.

The individual doesn't have to sign with their 'own/actual signature' they could just make some sort of mark on the form, but whatever they sign with, they are then still legally responsible for the item and thus it cant be refuted they have received it

poppy123456 · June 28

It's perfectly normal for it to take up to 2 weeks for documents to be added to the system so I don't think that's an untrue statement at all. The call centre staff very often give incorrect information but on this occasion, they are correct.

michael_m · June 29

Hi poppy123456

Based on my own personal experience, they have NEVER taken 2 weeks to upload my pip paperwork to their pip systems, and on the basis of my most recent experience, my information was uploaded to thier systems the next day.

Thus, with genuine respect, I have to disagree with your comment

poppy123456 · June 29

For my most recent and current review it took them 13 days to send me a text to say they had received my form from the time I posted it. Usually texts are automatically generated once it's been added to the system.

michael_m · July 2

Hi poppy 123456

my ar1 form was added to the system on 17/05, the day after it had been received. But I still haven't received a text message to inform me it had been received, this suggests that the time you receive a text message indicating your paperwork has been received is NOT neccessarily when a claimants ar1 for is uploaded to their systems, otherwise, if that were so, it would mean my paperwork has still not been uploaded to their systems which is of-course not the case

pip - PIP say my AR1 form was late when it wasn't, anyone else had this?

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