New pip review form
Comments
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so I remember well, 😀 it's the same thing I gave above
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does this mean the short review form that just asked if there were any changes is no longer being used ?
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The shorter PIP Review form focusing on changes in your needs was the June 2018 version.
This new PIP Review form is the November 2024 version (see bottom left hand corner of form, marked '11/24'). It seems to be much more like the initial PIP claim form (PIP2) but with a lot less space provided to fill in your answers.
I've seen nothing official but it seems logical to me, given it is still referenced as the AR1 form (see bottom right hand corner) and the most recently dated version, that it must be the form they will issue from now on for all PIP Reviews unless you are having a light touch review for a longer award, which is the AR2 form.
Also, all my googling about the PIP review form directs me to this latest version of the form, so that also tells me it must be the only one they are sending out.0 -
so it seems under labour we are going backwards as the short form at least gave you the option to just say no change. Though my assessment took over two hours even though dwp said it was a light touch . Why do they keep changing the forms ? I would have expected labour to make things easier for the disabled but this seems like they’re making it harder . It’s unfair on us to go through this every few years when we have conditions that won’t improve or have a cure. But if this is the new form and the criteria are the same does that mean they aren’t planning on changing PIP ? 🤞
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I'm sorry your assessment which was meant to be a light touch review was so lengthy. You won't be sent an AR1 form for your PIP Review anyway from the sounds of it, because if you had a light touch review, then your award must be a long one. You would be sent an AR2 form which I don't know very much about. Perhaps, someone else can advise.
I first applied for PIP in early 2016, having been on DLA for 5 years before that and had to transfer when DLA was abolished. When my PIP award was first reviewed in early 2018, the AR1 PIP review form was the even shorter June 2016 version. It had tick boxes asking if things had got easier, harder or if there was no change. I ticked no change for all the relevant activities and provided little other information, other than an up to date prescription list. As a result, my file was forwarded to the assessment provider who rather unusually then sought further medical evidence from my GP because there was insufficient information on my form. I understand from what others have said that they rarely ever do that. My GP filled out the report form they sent him extensively and so the face to face assessment that had been booked for me to attend was cancelled as the health professional from the assessment provider was able to complete a paper based review using my GP's report and my award was renewed. I think I was just very lucky.
When my PIP award was reviewed for the second time in late 2020, it was during the Pandemic. This time, the form was the June 2018 version, the one which focuses on changes in your needs. No tick boxes. Even though there were no changes to my difficulties with the relevant activities, I decided to complete the form with as much information as possible and I also sought an up to date report from my medical professionals as well as letters from family who care for me, rather like I had done when I initially applied for PIP. On that occasion, my file was not even passed onto an assessment provider. A decision was made to renew my award at the same rate for a longer period by a Decision Maker at the DWP.
When my PIP award came up for review in March last year, it was still the June 2018 version of the PIP Review form. I did exactly the same as I had done in 2020. I gave as much up to date information as possible and provided up to date medical evidence as well as letters from family. I returned my form and evidence in April 2024. I only just got a text this week, 9 months later, to say my PIP review is complete and I found out by phoning that my award has been renewed at the same rate and for the same length as last time, which I am happy about. I did not have to undergo an assessment. Again, the decision was made by a Decision Maker at the DWP and not passed onto an assessment provider.
It's been over 6 years since they have changed the content of the AR1 PIP Review form. This new version, dated November 2024, asks more guided questions. I would suggest you can still say there has has been no change since your last review under the section per question which asks 'please tell us why and when these needs began' but it invites you to flesh out detail, rather than simply say no change as the previous versions had done. I like that each question is prefaced by specifically telling you what information is or is not relevant to provide for each activity. I actually prefer it. Perhaps the intention in creating this new version might be to ensure more PIP awards are able to be reviewed by a DWP Decision Maker without the need to pass your form on to an assessment provider? Especially if you also provide supporting evidence. If you simply write no change and say nothing or little else or provide no supporting evidence, a DWP Decision Maker is not allowed to seek further medical evidence. They have to refer you on to the assessor and you are then likely to have to undergo an assessment.
My next review is not due until after January 2028. I have no idea what Labour have in store for us on PIP and what reforms are planned. They have definitely ruled out vouchers, I understand. By the time my review comes round again, perhaps the qualifying criteria will have changed and there will be some whole other form. But, to my mind, this new November 2024 version is to assist the DWP to keep more PIP review decisions in-house. I could be wrong.1 -
I also transferred over from DLA , the first assessor lied completely, ignored my Drs evidence and misquoted my then specialist. Zero points . Was awarded some at MR and went to tribunal where a dwp representative was in attendance. They really gave me a hard time and in fact I think the disabled representative was looking to remove points . I took them them to the upper tier where the dwp admitted the tribunal erred in law . I won my case after 2 years , not just for me but for everyone who couldn’t fight the system. It’s left my conditions in a worse state and I’ve been in set back since the Tory green paper.
Last assessment wasn’t a light touch award exactly but the dwp said it was a light touch review. This was during covid when they weren’t doing assessments. Unfortunately I ended up with an assessment which dwp put down as phone assessment as I was so stressed out . I know the dwp gets a hard time but every time I’ve been helped and treated fairly it’s been the dwp and not the assessors. This time I and dwp asked for it to be recorded. 30 minutes before my assessment they called to say the assessor wasn’t able to record. I went ahead anyway . She increased my care and lowered my mobility. I won mobility back at MR. My worry is I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and ME many years ago and so have no specialist or therapist as there is no treatment that I haven’t had . Apart from a letter of support from my GP I have no other professional helping me . I even have a letter explaining that I have chronic conditions with no cure and I still need assessments every few years . I really think they could save money by not constantly assessing people after they’ve proven they’re sick and disabled.
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I know what you mean about constant reviews, especially when you have been on both DLA and now PIP for so long. Perhaps within Labour's planned reforms, they might somehow address this? The stress of continual reassessment does not help your health condition.
I know what you mean about no longer being able to access specialist input. I have the same issue. In my case, all treatments, other than adjusting medication periodically, have also been exhausted. Yet, I still have the same difficulties ongoing for more than 50% of the time in any given year and so still qualify for PIP. I do think a letter of support from your GP still helps, regardless as that is still input. Well done for fighting for your award.
I share a similar positive experience with the DWP as yourself. In my case, when I had a report back from an assessor, the DWP Decision Maker took the initiative to correct the way they interpreted an activity without the need for me to put in for an MR and awarded me more points!
Good luck with your next review.1 -
Light touch reviews are only for those that have a 10 year award. For everyone else it's a normal review.
The issue with the shortened version form is exactly what you stated here.. "the short form at least gave you the option to just say no change"
I think they are doing everyone a favour here by reverting away from that form because putting no change isn't recommended. For example, what if someone had their current award from a Tribunal because they were refused by DWP. They then receive the review form and decide to put "no change" they are effectively saying that there's been no change since they filled in their last PIP form BUT they were refused. This could lead to another refusal and the whole process starts all over again.
At least with this form it's asks for more information and people will know exactly what they're asking for. Those shortened forms caused many people to be confused.
If you want to try to avoid another assessment then please don't just put no change and no further information.
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when I went to MR last time for mobility points my legal professional took so long sending in new evidence that I sent my own. Then I received a letter of their decision which was made before they had received the new evidence. I called the dwp to ask about tribunal and explained what had happened. The man put me on hold and basically asked the decision maker to look again with my new evidence. They called back that day to say I had my points back . I would just love to get a paper based assessment this time . I don’t know why the assessors are hard on me , maybe my particular conditions are considered serious enough?
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I agree with you Poppy. I also think they are doing us a favour by reverting away from the shortened form and that the new version invites more detail and guidance on what is and is not relevant information for them to consider.
I made the mistake of ticking 'no change' and giving no other information the first time I was reviewed and would have been bumped into a face to face assessment but for the fact they contacted my GP who was able to provide them with an extensive report and my assessment was cancelled. I got lucky. Since then, I've been reviewed twice more and each time I have treated the review like my initial claim and provided more thorough information. Both times, as you know, my file hasn't even been passed on to an assessor and my award has been renewed by a Decision Maker. Perhaps this new version of the PIP Review form will aid in that process of making it easier for review decisions to be kept in-house by the DWP, thereby saving the claimant more stress and the DWP more costs.1 -
Hi , poppy , the dwp told me my assessment would be light touch though I knew it wasn’t . I think it was because it was at the time of Covid so assessments were paper based . Unfortunately it was getting back to normal once it was time for my review.
I had help filling out the form and we filled it out as a usual full form. We didn’t put no change at all . The assessor took over two hours asking me every single question that I answered in the form from almost two years earlier. I have years worth of medical letters proving my conditions from a specialist and GPs . I’m really hoping things go back to the DLA way of assessing us as the stress of assessments impacts my health so much , though I’m sure it’s the same for all of us .
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Hi Asia , I always fill the firm out with lots of information and medical evidence but for some reason I get the full assessment either face to face or phone. The last time I was just asked every question I had answered in the form . I find it so stressful and tiring answering the same questions over again every two or three years . I’m hoping now they are keeping things in house more I’ll be lucky and have a paper based assessment 🤞
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I'm sorry to hear of the stress assessments cause you. I understand. We all feel the same, I'm sure. When are you next due to be reviewed?
Currently, because of the massive backlogs in PIP reviews, they have recently trained and recruited more DWP Decision Makers to try to put reviews through without the need for an assessment if there is sufficient information provided. Hence, I am speculating this is why they may have updated the review form to a version with more guided questions to invite the relevant detail/information needed from claimants?
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Hi Asia , I hope you’re right and what you said makes sense . My review is up April 2026 so I think I’ll probably get the dreaded form through the door sometime spring/ summer this year ?
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From what I have gleaned, and that was also my experience, they send you a 'Your Pip Review has started' text about 8 months before your fixed award end date. So, I expect you will hear from about August 2025. However, be prepared to hear from them anytime from a year ahead, i.e. April 2025. Gather whatever evidence you can to support your review. And, if you can get help completing the form, then do. It looks like you will probably be sent this new version. Good luck.
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Thank you I’m already stressing out. I always get help filling the firms out but tbh some haven’t been good at the MR and tribunal stage. I will definitely get as much information together as I can but they already have my medical records plus loads of Drs letters. Though I haven’t written out a diary before explaining my day to day . Maybe that will help . Thank you for your advice 🙏
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Starting a weekly diary is definitely a good idea, dealing with each of the relevant activities you have difficulty with. I did the same from a few months before I expected my review to start, earlier last year. It is so helpful in being able to record how often you experience your difficulties, although it can be depressing seeing it written out in front of you in black and white like that. Our new normal is not actually normal. I was then able to refer back to it for more recent examples of my difficulties with each activity I knew I should score points for when filling out my form.
Like the old form, this new PIP review form doesn't provide enough space to write, so use extra pages to attach to the form if you need to and say in each section to refer to additional page X for answer to question X, etc. Make sure to put your name and National Insurance number on any additional pages.1 -
Tbh I spend the majority of my time either laying down resting or sleeping. When I can go out I suffer for it afterwards. It certainly won’t be an interesting read that’s for sure .
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my Reassessment came late last year, I rang em last week they said they had it but it would be up to 39 weeks before they dealt with it, I wondered if their system sent out a load a year early.
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Was it the call centre (PIP helpline) that told you that by any chance? because what they told you was wrong. Call centre staff are not DWP staff, they are just that.. call centres. Covid had nothing to do with light touch reviews. Light touch reviews didn't start until August 2023. Paper based assessments can happen with a normal review. It just means they had enough of information not to need an assessment.
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