Pip Renewal difficult and depressing

sheepy

Hi all

Is it just me or do you also find the whole process of pip renewal both difficult and depressing

When my husband first had his stroke and then the complications that created his mental health issues I was happy to take on the role of appointee but if I’m honest it’s a constant uphill struggle

His pip renewal forms have been received and are being processed but there is just no follow up information available it doesn’t matter how many times I ring them

No one can answer why I don’t receive any text updates ever every time I ring them I ask this question and every time they say it’s not necessary not everyone does but I quote this forum and tell them so many people do but they won’t check their systems no matter how much I ask and why is that ?

His renewal date is the beginning of October so I’m told he may have a 12 month extension but I have to wait until 35 days before the end date for confirmation just in case his renewal does come through which is very unlikely

I can’t apply for his next blue badge because I have to wait for this paperwork to be processed and in my area it takes the full 13 weeks from start to finish

So why can’t pip look to see if his renewal application has been assigned to anyone if it has they could be contacted if it hasn’t it won’t be processed in time

It’s giving me sleepless nights and whilst I understand that some people don’t like the system being criticised it’s clearly not working for me

When they make a statement that isn’t even clear cut that says you may or should hear from them within 35 days by text……… But I don’t get texts!!!!….,,oh ok you should get a letter but that may be later than 35 days but that hopefully shouldn’t affect his Payments……or you could phone again at the 35 day point and we will try to confirm…….its so stressful and there is never a definitive reply

If they could access the system for an update things would be a lot clearer they would know those that are actually assigned and are starting to be processed and those that are still waiting based on that the information they could provide would be much more helpful and accurate as it would be about an individual and not generic like it is now

His mental health nurse is no help at all and won’t get involved she told me she’s too busy to have to deal with that it’s up to me maybe the doctor can help !!!!

Yes I am upset because I’m sad, depressed and frustrated and no one seems to be able to help other than to say you just have to sit and wait for the 35 day point I’m sure it will be alright…..but what if it’s not then I have little time or money to rectify or appeal

I can imagine there really must be some desperate people out there who feel there is no one to turn to when the phone is put down or they are told not to worry

Leigh14

Hi @sheepy

The process can indeed be depressing and frustrating for many of us, so I do understand. I had the extension (my review date was May 2024, sent forms back in October 2023, and mine was completed last month. The blue badge, I applied for mine saying that review had been extended and they sent me another to carry me over to 2025, so you could do this also. I didn’t need anything as proof, just the letter from DWP that I received when I first claimed PIP (award letter)

You do get time to appeal also, so try not to stress about this too much.

poppy123456

You are not the only person that finds it stressful, the majority of people are exactly the same. To be honest, the texts are of no help either because all they tell you is "they are still processing your PIP claim" not at all helpful, if I'm honest. Basing this on many other threads here, I know that others feel the same too.

For reviews your file is sent straight to the decision maker but it's put in a pile with thousands of others and has to wait in a queue. Eventually a decision maker will look at it and decide if a decision can be made without having to send the file to the health assessment provides. If it can't then it will be sent across to them. If a decision can be made, it will be made based on the information they already have and no assessment report will be written.

When you ring the call centre, it's just a call centre and they can't give you any information if there's nothing on the system to tell you. There will not be anything on the system until either the file is sent to the assessors or a decision is has been made. They will not be able to give you any updates in the meantime.

I can confirm that if a decision hasn't been made by 35 days before the award is due to end then a letter will automatically be generated and sent out, this letter will tell you that the award has been extended for up to 1 year. They do not send texts advising that the award is extended. I know this based on my own personal experience, which I think I advised in your previous thread.

Yes, it's awful waiting but it doesn't help to continue to ring them asking for an update when there's no updates to give. This will just make you feel even worse than you already do. Please try to focus on something else (as I have to do too) and hopefully you'll hear something soon.

For me, I returned my form at end of November and no decision has been made yet.

sheepy

thank you for your kind thoughts and I do appreciate that there are others in the position as me it’s just so depressing and frustrating at the same time

I mean if you haven’t had a decision from November I’m definitely not going to have one from February

I thought if at least they were able to send texts they might be able to tell me about any extension because if I don’t contact them at the 35 day point I have to wait for post that potentially could arrive a few days before the end of the award date but I suppose that’s not really relevant if they don’t advise this in advance by text to anyone

I will try to be patient but living with someone who has such extreme anxiety issues combined with a high intellect that is constantly questioning and often rationalising can be very difficult but I just don’t have the answers he needs

His mental health team are sadly lacking I think perhaps they can’t address his issues because he constantly questions them. I said to his mental health nurse and his psychologist welcome to my world!!!

sheepy

So the latest update

I contacted customer services yesterday to find out if the renewal letter had been generated

I was informed that it was far too early and this information wasn’t available on the system yet

Despite the 35 day rule and the fact that his award finishes on the 4th October the lady who was very kind couldn’t help me she transferred me to a case worker who than transferred to a case manager

The outcome if you can call it that is there is nothing on the system regarding the renewal letter going out it should go out on this Friday (but that’s not guaranteed) which I was advised is 20 days before the end of his award in the meantime he still may get his full award through although he said it didn’t appear to be with an assessor

He checked both my mobile numbers were on the system but couldn’t explain why I never receive a text

His final advice was to give it until Friday 20th September if we haven’t received any letter by then to give them another call so they can check if it’s been actioned

I don’t blame any individual but the system isn’t fit for purpose you cannot subject someone with mental health issues to such anguish and then expect the spouse (me) to deal with everything especially when I don’t have a clue what I’m doing and the mental health team say they can’t help because they are too busy

Nikkita

I too am totally frustrated and disillusioned with PIP assessors. I have to give them credit for a fairly fast decision. I was transferring from DLA to PIP.

I got the lower rate of both care and mobility with DLA. PIP flatly denied me any mobility allowance, even though I can't walk unaided. I haven't been outside of my house for years now. Because I hadn't told my GP of this was cause for them to dismiss my claim. The fact that I am in a wheelchair if I ever see my GP might have given them a clue.

The good news is that I will get the higher level for care.

I'd like to dispute the no mobility award but find it too much on my frayed nerves, they certainly know how to put people off doing exactly that.