Hey all
I just thought I would run through my personal timeline regarding my recent application for PIP. I know it helped me along the way knowing about other peoples timeline and what to expect. I appreciate all cases are different and timelines maybe shorter or longer.
24th April 2024 - Applied on the phone and gave name, address, NI number, bank details etc. Was asked if I wanted to apply on paper forms or online. I chose online and was sent a link. I also received the following text.
Thanks for claiming Personal Independence Payment. We will shortly send you a 'How your disability affects you' form. You'll need to fill it in carefully and return it to us so we can see if we can award you PIP.
I filled in the form over the next week online with my partner, adding bits as I remembered them.
2nd May 2024 - Submitted the form online and received the following text.
Thanks for sending us your 'How your disability affects you' form. We may need you to attend a consultation with a health professional before we make our decision. We'll contact you again if we do. Please call us if any of the details you gave us have changed.
I also received this text from the independent assessors
Hello from Independent Assessment Services. We conduct Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments for the Department for Work and Pensions DWP. This is for information purposes only, to let you know that we are managing your PIP assessment. We will look at the available evidence and will contact you with an appointment if we need to have a consultation with you. You can find information about the service we provide at https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk. You do not need to contact us.
31st May 2024 - Received the following text from DWP.
A Health Professional is looking at your PIP claim. They will contact you with an appointment if they need to. You only need to contact us if your circumstances change.
11th June 2024 - Text received from independent assessors
This is a message from Independent Assessment Services about your PIP claim. A face-to-face consultation has been booked for you on Tuesday 25 June at 9:00am. The address of the consultation centre is Regent House, Regent Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2EG. Here's a link to a map to help you find it: https://goo.gl/GX74vz. You will receive an appointment letter from us and can find useful information at https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk. If you can't make this appointment, please contact us straightaway on 0800 008 3073.
When I received this text I did consider asking for a phone interview instead due to my condition but decided in the end to attend as I could show the assessor better than I would have been able to describe my issues over the phone.
25th June 2024 - Attended the PIP assessment which went ok and received the following text from DWP a couple of hours after.
We've received the written report of your PIP assessment. We will write to you once we've made a decision on your PIP. As a guide you should hear from us within 8 weeks. You don't need to contact us unless any of the details you gave us have changed. Thank you.
10th July 2024 - Received the following standard text from DWP
We have not yet made a decision on your PIP claim. We will write to you when we have made a decision. You only need to contact us if your circumstances change.
15th July 2024 - Received the following text from DWP
We have awarded you PIP. We have sent you a decision letter explaining the award. Please allow 2 weeks to receive this. You only need to contact us if your circumstances change.
I was definitely pleased to hear I had been awarded something and impatient to find out what it might be. The following day I rang the automated phone line and found out the amount I would be paid and the next payment day. From this amount I worked out my award (standard DL/ enhanced mobility).
This morning I received the letter confirming this and that I have been awarded it until 2028. Turns out I was 1 point off the enhanced DL 😏 I briefly considered getting a review but have heard some horror stories about being scored down on review so decided not to rock the boat.
Anyway, apologies for the lengthy read but just thought I would share for anyone going through the process currently.