PIP application timeline (my experience)

Overwhelmed1

Hi I’ve seen other members share their application timeline experience and it really helped me make my application, thank you. Here’s my experience. Sorry it’s a bit long but I hope there’s some useful bits. 

12/02/25 - started application process using the link on the Govt website to see if I could apply online. Put my postcode in and got an immediate response saying I was not able to apply online.

12/02 Called the New Claims phone number and spoke to a really helpful person who took quite a lot of details from me (fortunately I had them in front of me even though I hadn’t realised how much she would cover, so it’s worth having all your info to hand).  She then asked me if I would like to apply online, told her I would.

I got an email from DWP straight after our call with a link to make an online applications.

As others have said, the form is really long and asks a lot of questions, so I completed mine over a few weeks.  It saves your answers as you fill it in.  There is a deadline for completion.

03/03 I was sent a letter from DWP informing me that I had been given an extension of time to complete the form. I hadn’t requested this and didn’t need it so I don’t know if this is standard or not.

04/03 I had a text reminder from DWP to complete the form and it included a phone number in case I needed to request more time.

09/03 I sent my online application and received an email immediately confirming receipt of my application and telling me they were reviewing it.

10/03 I got a text from the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) telling me they conducted assessments for PIP on behalf of DWP. The text said it was for information only and they would contact me with an appointment if they needed a consultation with me.

31/03 my health had deteriorated and I had further medical appointments and diagnosis so I phoned the DWP to update them of this. They were very helpful and said they would pass this information on to HAAS, they also told me to mention this at my assessment if I had one just in case the information hadn’t reached them 

08/04 I got a text from HAAS saying a health professional was looking at my application and they would contact me with details of an appointment if needed.

14/04 I had a text from HAAS informing me a telephone consultation had been booked for me on 28 April.

21/04 HAAS sent me a text to remind me about my appointment.

Between the text on 21st April and the next one on 27th April, someone from HAAS called me to check I was ok for my appointment- I took this opportunity to ask them if I could record the assessment and explained that my health condition means I have difficulty writing so it would help me if I didn’t have to make notes.  I thought they were a little reluctant about this as they told me that it may affect my assessment date if the assessor did not have the equipment to record the call but I persisted nicely and she became very supportive and said she would make sure they could record it and to leave it with her.  I had read on this forum about requesting the appointment is recorded and think it really helped me, thanks.

27/04 HAAS sent me another text to remind me about my appointment.

My medical consultant kindly agreed to provide me with more information about how my health conditions affected me (I read how helpful this is on this forum and it was so I’d recommend it if you can get it). I uploaded this new info via the link the DWP had included in their previous email. I got an immediate reply via email that they had received the information.

28/04/25 - Telephone assessment day - Half an hour after my appointment was scheduled for (they tell you it may be up to 30 minutes after your appointment time) someone called and informed me that the person I was meant to speak with had had an emergency and they would have to reschedule my appointment.  They asked me if I was available in the afternoon which I confirmed I was.  I got a call about 20 minutes later telling me someone would call me in the next 20 minutes.  It was about 40 minutes after that that someone else called me to conduct my tel assessment.

My assessment took 2 hours which was difficult. I’d explained that my health conditions meant that I had difficulty sitting or standing for long and would need to keep swapping which she said was fine.  I found the questions emotionally difficult to answer because I found it quite depressing telling someone about all the things I cannot do but the health assessor was very nice and kept encouraging me and telling me I was doing well.  She did note in my assessment record that I had not requested a break at any time and I wish I had, I didn’t realise you could.

28/04/25 I got a text message from DWP about 2 hours after my assessment finished saying they had received the report from my assessor and that I would hear from them in about 8 weeks with my decision.

Someone had shared on this forum that it’s a good idea to request your assessment report (thank you for this advice!) so I phoned the day after the assessment and the person I spoke to was very nice and said it would be posted to me and I should have it in about a week.

A few days after the assessment I was sent a disc with a copy of the recording.

02/05/25 I received my PIP assessment report in the post. It did capture our conversation accurately (I know some people have shared theirs did not) but I didn’t always agree with the conclusions that had been drawn however I thought that overall it was fair.

08/05/25 my husband told me that we had received some money from the DWP in our bank account.  I hadn’t had any information about this so phoned them.  They were very helpful and explained that it was backdated payment for my PIP award.  They explained that the letter was in the post to me and that this often happens when payment is made before the letter.  I was so pleased to hear I was getting PIP that I didn’t mind at all!

My PIP award letter arrived a few days later and informed me of my award and the payment details.

In all it took me about 3 months which I don’t think is bad compared to what I have read others have gone through so I am thankful.  Whilst it wasn’t the easiest or nicest of things to do everyone I spoke with at the DWP and HAAS were very pleasant and helpful so I’d encourage everyone to keep going despite the process.

Thanks for all the support I’ve had from everyone on this forum and the information you’ve shared as it helped me to keep going.  Good luck to everyone making an application.

Mary_Scope

Thank you for sharing this @Overwhelmed1, this is going to be helpful for other people on the community!

Trevor_PIP

@Overwhelmed1 Excellent application timeline and well written. Definitely helpful and well done!