Pip review and change of circumstances

KaliB

My health has steadily worsened over the last 6-12 months, meaning I have had to take significant time off work (work was a struggle to begin with).

I have been waiting quite a while for hospital appointments etc to discover why my health has declined, as the NHS is obviously very busy.

My pip review is due around Easter-time next year, and I sent the review paperwork back about a month or so ago. In this, I detailed all the ways my health is affecting me etc and included how my health has gotten worse. I am currently on standard daily living only, but I feel like my health has declined to the point where I could be eligible for enhanced.

However, with the long waits for reviews I don't think I can wait this long for this assessment to be complete. Can I register a change of circumstances whilst I am awaiting review? How would this affect my review (whenever they get around to it)? Also, about how long would I have to wait for an assessment etc?

Thanks 🙂

Jimm_Scope

While I've not heard of entering a change of circumstances while under review, I can't see why you couldn't. As we know reviews do take a long time, reporting a change of circumstances certainly couldn't make it take longer. So I can't see the harm in calling PIP and asking? You are supposed to call and report when your condition worsens, so honestly I would just call.

Let us know how it goes @KaliB?

KaliB

I called the Pip line to report the change of circumstances - I finally got through after nearly an hour 🙄

I explained to the call centre operative that I wanted to report a change and she said that as I returned my review paperwork in September, I might as well just wait for the review. But I really insisted that I wanted a change of circumstances as the reviews are taking a very long time.

I initially planned to just wait for the review, as I have detailed the decline in my health on the review forms. However, after finding out how long it would take, I decided to push forward with reporting the change in circumstances.

The call centre operative wasn't sure if this was allowed, so she transferred me to a case manager. He told me reviews are currently 12+ months waiting time, so I could report the change of circumstances, which would take around 2-3 months. He said this would cancel my review and the process would basically be like when I first applied - a new assessment, a new award and time period the award would last for etc.

He also warned me my award could be reduced in a change of circumstances review, but my condition is much worse so I don't see how this is possible.

They will send me the forms out in the post and hopefully by then the reports etc I'm waiting for from my consultants will arrive so I can send them off in time.

Fingers crosses