Returning Review Form

Nashota

A quick few questions, I've followed the advice on the forums for filling out my form.

1. I have done my answers on sheets of A4 as it was much easier to do it that way, do I need to attach these together at all? I also have 2 supporting letters and a request letter to send with it as well. I have put my name, dob and NIN at the top of each page and have copies on my Google drive, I'll scan the form once it's completed.
2. My son has asked the medical letter for a supporting letter (not to do with the descriptors it's for a request I'm sending with the form), the medical centre is short staffed and I've a feeling it won't be done before I send the form off, can I send the letter afterwards? That's if they agree to do one. I have said that I'll pay for it.
3. Also what's the best method of postage to use?

Thanks in advance.

poppy123456

1/ No, you don't need to attach the sheets of paper to the form. If you staple anything to form the staples are only removed anyway once they scan everything onto the system. Just make sure you clearly state which question each part refers to.

2/ Yes, you can send any additional evidence separately, just make sure you keep a copy of the address where you return the form to.

3/ Ask for proof of posting from your local post office. It's free and is all you need as proof that you actually posted the form. What happens after that is not your responsibility.

As you may already know, review decisions are taking a ridiculous amount of time and you could be waiting up to a year for a decision. I returned my form in November last year and I'm still waiting for a decision. Your current award will continue until a decision is made.

Nashota

Hi Poppy! I hope you're well :) Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post, I always value your opinion and advice on different things.

Ok thanks for the info Poppy.

Yes I have seen different people mention the waiting time for PIP reviews, I don't mind. It sounds like they update you and give you an extension if needed anyway.

poppy123456

You're very welcome. Thank you also, that's very kind of you.

Yes, they will extend your award for up to 12 months if a decision hasn't been made within 35 days of your current award ending. Mine was extended up until end of June 2025 and I received a letter confirming this round the start of June. I have also received a few texts messages since returning the form, all telling me they still have my form and will process it as soon as they can.

Jimm_Scope

Best of luck with the review @Nashota 🙂 You know this place is always here if you need any support

Nashota

Thanks Poppy and @Jimm_Scope :)

I'll try and remember that for future reference.

AKR

@Nashota I also numbered each page when I did mine.

Nashota

Hi @AKR I've done that as well :) thank you.

One more question, it was something that Poppy and AKR reminded me about, when filling the form and saying "please refer to page (x)" do you put it in each box? because there's 3 boxes per descriptor I believe. I just want to make sure that we do it correctly.

I know for one of the descriptor that I don't fit I either put N/A or not applicable in each box (I think I have that right).

poppy123456

I number the questions and put the actual question before the answer. In the box I then put something like, there's been no changes since my last review but please see extra sheets question number X for further information.

The information I give is usually at least half an A4 side of paper per descriptor that applies to me so it's not difficult for them to see which question each one is anyway.

Yes, just put N/A if it doesn't apply.

Nashota

Ahh ok! I'm glad I asked now.

I have given each sheet a page number, put my details on them and have put the question and number, for example "1. Preparing and cooking food" and then answered the question.

I've done a bit less than half an A4 for a couple of them because there isn't much that I can explain about 2 of the descriptors I think it is (managing finances and reading), the rest have more info, the info added does give examples and explains why I can't do them properly and explains whether I have aids and if aids help or not and if my son helps and if not, why not etc.

So I just put that in the top box on the form and nothing in the rest?

I'll go through it all again just to make sure I'm happy with it all and see if I can add more info to the 2 descriptors I've mentioned above.

It's not got to be back until the 17th but I want to get it sent off a week or so before.

Thanks again for the advice.

poppy123456

You can number the sheets, if that's what you want, it will be fine. I was just advising what I do.

As long as the information you've given is relevant to the descriptors and how your conditions affect you and you've included a couple of real world examples then that's fine.

You can write something in all the boxes or just one of them. I usually keep to just one of them but that doesn't mean you have to do the same. It's up to you what you do.

You can ask for extra time to return the form and they will give an extra 2 weeks.

Nashota

Hi Poppy,

Everything that has been written is relevant and I have tried to do 2 real world examples, I've been doing it over a period of time and then fine tuning it if that makes sense because I knew that I'd be due for a review in August because of you advising me previously about how long roughly before your award end date you receive your review forms.

I'll just do what you have suggested because my son has issues with his hands so can't write a great deal so one box is good.

We did that, the form was meant to go back this week but we have until the 17th which is fine as everything is pretty much done now and anything I get afterwards can be sent in separately.

Thanks very much for taking the time to help and advise me.

Jimm_Scope

Best of luck with it, sounds like you put a lot of effort into it, hopefully it works out

Nashota

Thanks cross fingers! I don't want a rerun of the last time where Capita requested a GPFR from the wrong medical centre which took them 2 months for them to rectify and 2 months of the DWP blaming my current medical centre for it when it was nothing to do with them, I ended up having my award reduced because although the DM disputed the reported she didn't get the GPFR in time so went along with the report anyway.. It was overturned at appeal stage, it was really stupid and messy and there was no reason for them to claim that I had no longer had mental health conditions.

poppy123456

Was this current award from a Tribunal?

Nashota

No, it never went to tribunal, I'm assuming that when I appealed the DWP took another look at the evidence and found that they had the GPFR at that point which confirmed my health conditions, so the tribunal was cancelled due to the DWP changing the decision, if that makes sense, I was appealing the fact they had lowered my award from enhanced to standard.

It's the bog standard PIP review form.

Nashota

Do I need to mention on the form that I had to appeal my award decision the last time?

wonkydaze

I spoke to DWP yesterday and despite the advisor giving me all the wrong advice, ( just write no change) even she suggested sending the form by the recorded delivery service because so much gets 'lost' using the freepost service. I had to ask for an extension because I won't get the form back in time. I only had 2 .5 weeks left after it arrived.

Nashota

Oh really? Thanks for the info.

I had about 3 weeks I think, I've about done my info now. Tomorrow it'll all be printed off and my son will fill the form in for me, it should hopefully be sent on Thursday or Friday. I really just want to get it all sent off now because it's causing me a lot of anxiety.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/905849#Comment_905849

I wouldn't advise anyone to just write "no change" on the form with no other information. Doing this could lead to all sorts of problems. I always advise to treat each claim as a new claim and give as much information as possible.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/905876#Comment_905876

Proof of posting is all that's needed, which is free from any post office. No need to send anything to DWP recorded delivery because it doesn't mean it arrives the following day. It's not treated as arriving until it's been added to the system, which can take anything up to 2 weeks, the majority of the time.

As long as you have proof it's been posted, that's all you need.