Hi. I could do with some advice. I think the claim manager dealing with my case is dragging out the process of implementing the judgement of the tribunal in my recently successful PIP appeal.
They phoned me and asked me the payability questions, and assured me the award would be implemented within about a week. Then, a week later, I got a letter telling me they were applying for a Statement of Reasons from the HMCTS. The HMCTS provided the SOR within about a week, which I really appreciated because I understand that can often take much longer. Anyway, the deadline by which DWP can apply to challenge the SOR over an error in law passed several weeks ago.
I waited a while, and called the HMCTS to check if they'd received an application from DWP. They had not. I called DWP repeatedly to ask for updates and a clear explanation of the status of my case. I was unable to get a straight answer out of anyone there.
Every time I phoned, I spoke to a new person, and was sometimes put through to the appeals team. Every time, the people on the phone struggled to get a response out of the claims manager handling my claim. They simply would not respond. After several attempts one person promised to chase it up and phone me back the next day.
She did so over a week ago, and told me she'd spoken to the claim manager; the appeal had been approved and they are ready to process my new award and backdated payments. She then asked me the payability questions (again) and assured me the backdated payments would be in my account "within five working days" and a new award letter would follow "within 10 working days".
Having already been asked those payability questions once to no avail, I've not had much confidence it would actually go through. Sure enough over five days later, the payments are still not in place, and when I call the line and it gives the amount of my next PIP payment the amount is the same as it has been previously (ie : the upgrade in my award has not been processed).
Today I wrote to my MP to ask if they can escalate the matter as this is putting me under seemingly unending torment. I feel that the claim manager is intentionally slow-walking the process, and feeding the people on the DWP phone line nonsense.
I'm at a loss for what more I can do. I am really struggling for money and the constant uncertainty, and the apparent back and forth of being told it is going through, then it isn't, then it is, then it isn't, is mentally exhausting.
What else can I do to encourage them to process my tribunal judgement?
