Is what the DWP is doing ethical?

PotionsQueen

My PIP award ended at the end of 2023. I only have paperwork saying I need to fill out my review documents so I have nothing showing that I still receive PIP. This has become an issue when I need to show evidence I am in receipt of this benefit.

I have no paperwork saying that I am continuing to receive PIP (which I am luckily) or been given any sort of timeline as to when I will hear the results of my review. Others seem to have received more paperwork and I want to ring the DWP but was told that they are only interested in changes of circumstances.

How is this allowed? Leaving vulnerable people in limbo? I can't move into a new house in case I no long receive PIP after the review so am stuck in an inaccessible house? I wish there was something I could do publicise how the government treats us.

poppy123456

You should have received a letter telling you that your award has been extended. This should have been sent out to you around 35 days before your award was due to end. You can ring them to ask them to send you confirmation that it's been extended. I know this doesn't help moving forward with any plans to move but at least you will have some proof of the extended award.

When did you return the form?

PotionsQueen

Hi poppy, thanks for your reply. I checked all my paperwork and they never sent me anything a month before my award ended. That is a good idea, I might phone them and ask; the worst that can happen is they don't send out a confirmation.

I returned the form in April and I think it'll probably take a year though I did read somewhere that someone sent their form in March and has just heard back. I will keep trying to be patient but my living situation is interesting so I will be relieved when the DWP finally contact me.

poppy123456

Are you sure your award ended at the end of 2023? or did you mean 2024? if it had I would have expected you to have received your form about 8 months before that. If you only returned your form in April 2024 then you would have received it around March, which was after your award should have ended. That doesn't make sense really.

For my recent review I received my form around start of November 2023 and my award was due to end in June 2024. They extended my award for up to 1 year and I received a letter in June telling me this. I waited until around Oct 2024 for my decision so yes it was a long time. I had a paper based decision, without my claim being sent to the health assessment providers.

Based on the time you returned your form, it's perfectly normal to be waiting this long.

PotionsQueen

I think there was definitely a mistake made as my award ended in December 2023 but I didn't receive my review paperwork until March/April 2024. I haven't come across anyone else who has had this happen; as you said I should have received more paperwork and the form should have arrived much earlier. I've gone through my folder and the only PIP letter from the last year is the one attached to the review forms.

Glad to read that you had a positive result but I think it would be beneficial if the waiting times were reduced. I feel I should definitely give them a call but I'm concerned they will just say I should have called them earlier even though in the text message it said to only phone if circumstances have changed.

poppy123456

Hmm very odd. As you said the good thing is that your award hasn't ended and your payments have continued, though I know that doesn't help the anxiety of all the waiting. Been there, did that.

The text messages telling you to only ring if you have changes doesn't mean you can't ring them. The reason it tells you that is to try to stop people ringing because all that causes is delays with them answering the phone. You can ring them anytime. Nothing bad will happen if you do ring them and all you're asking is for proof your award has been extended.

PotionsQueen

I attempted to speak to them today but after an hour waiting for an operator, I decided to try again next week.

poppy123456

The best time to ring is very often as soon as they open at 9am.

PotionsQueen

Thanks for this