Is it a risk to report a decline to PIP?

roadrunmer94

Hello,

My PIP award ends in July 2026 so I have some time to prepare. However, recently my condition has deteriorated and I'm having a lot more trouble now, particularly with mobility and pain.

I also had a 2 night stay in hospital recently, which I know wouldn't affect my payments but I'm scared I'll be penalised for not letting them know at the time.

My question is, would I risk losing some or all of my award if I report the changes to them? Would it lead to a whole new assessment?

I am concerned also because my assessment was done over the phone originally. I didn't have to attend an in person assessment and I'm really scared of having to do that next time.

Currently I get the standard rate for both parts of PIP. I believe on reassessment I could now be entitled to enhanced mobility. But of course the assessor would have to agree!

Any experiences/advice welcome, thank you in advance :)

Lauren29

I really wouldn't worry about not reporting a short hospital admission to PIP. Technically you should report any hospital admissions and discharges to PIP as if you are an in patient for over 28 days your payments will be suspended and then be reinstated when you are discharged. The day on which you are admitted and the day on which you are discharged are ignored. In practice few people bother to report very short hospital stays. In theory if you ask for a reassessment then you could lose your existing award but it depends on the strength of your case. It is unlikely that you will lose what you have if you can demonstrate that your health has deteriorated but you may end up with the same award following another assessment. Have you looked at the descriptor scores and considered whether you should score more points than you were awarded last time? PIP are supposed to be increasing the number of face to face assessments but in the area I work in these are still being done over the phone in the vast majority of cases.

Albus_Scope

Hey there @roadrunmer94 sorry to hear about the hospital stay, I hope you're ok now?

With regard to reporting stays, yes you are supposed to report any hospital stay and if your condition is getting worse and is leading to more issues day to day, then I'd say reporting it could be in your best interests.

Yes there's always the worry that a reassessment will be triggered, and a reassessment may reduce your award (which can then go to a MR and tribunal, so it's not final,) but it's sounding like your award could be increased.

With your award ending in early 2026, you'll probably receive your forms for reassessment soon, as they tend to send them out about 8 months before the award ends, due to huge backlogs. Your award will stay the same until a new award is decided on.

FredFlintstone

I waited until my review to report a decline in health which "should" have given me more points for mobility. I had a paper-based review and got no change to my award. An MR got the same result. It appeared that neither decision maker had read the forms and just extended the award. I have since submitted a Change of Circumstances, which has been forwarded to Maximus for review, so hopefully my declining health will now be noticed. I truly despise this dreadful system. It is so soul destroying and leads to mental decline with every interaction. A point to note is that any increase in award would only be dated from when the forms are submitted.

roadrunmer94

Thanks @FredFlintstone, helpful to know that's something that can go wrong. Sounds like I might be better off reporting a change in circumstances now then, so hard to know what to do isnt it. Sorry you've been finding it hard. I agree it's soulless and the opposite of what you need when you're suffering already! I've been dreading the review since I was awarded it!

Schildpad

all this is very distressing and i dread the idea of having to inform about everything. it is like a constant anxiety and worrying. hence the reason for me to try even if it might be worse in the future to find a way out i am now worry about stays in hospital or mental health unit even if it is for a couple of days or a week. but it is true it is a constant worry about everything. if i get a windfall of money i would cut them but it is so unlikely. there should be more flexibility like a few days stay why reporting it. a month in a hospital is worth reporting but i just do not get it it is a constant fight with the system. i dread also a new review… i was lucky i had no assessment. my hospital talked to them and i was awarded.. so i dread to have a physical one now.. my next one is in a few years time again awarded a second time. but i feel a slave of the system. always worry about what if and what i am doing wrong and getting worry because the wording was wrong in the last assessment etc.. and i am talking about all benefits.. people knows how awful it is to be in the benefits system.. i would rather do not. and be there working on a daily basis but my health went down hill and i can not help it. i just hope things will turn around for all of us and more understanding is needed in the stigma of being on benefits and people out there need more understanding on hidden disabilities. i hope there will be more understanding one day. But i certainly need more flexibility …. more people would try a way out if there were more flexibility instead of the scaremongering.. you do some work or sell stuff in internet and they cut them.. i know of a case so it happens. that is way i am always so scare even of trying. you work one day and they say if you work one day you work five… anyway sorry for the long message i just carry on … and can not stop.

FredFlintstone

@roadrunmer94 I agree it is a hard decision, especially when they reiterate that awards can go up or down if you do a COC. It always seems they are trying their hardest to deter people from claiming what they are entitled to. Good luck with whichever way you go.

@Schildpad, Try to be positive. The stories you hear on the Internet are only a small percentage of what happens in reality, and it is rare to hear about the 90% of positive endings. It's not easy, though, and we all have to vent at some point. In many ways, the stages of dealing with the DWP are akin to the stages of bereavement: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. If only the powers that be could understand this.

roadrunmer94

@FredFlintstone yes that's a good way to put it, and something a good friend told me who had worked on PIP applications, was to not let them put you off! I didn't challenge them after my MR and half of me wishes I had, but I really just wanted it to be over and there was an element of trying to just be happy with what I got. I do feel lucky to have it at all, but they really make you sweat for it!

@Schildpad I'm sorry you are feeling so burdened by it all. Hope things can improve for you!

Schildpad

@roadrunmer94 thank you. I am out.. and will be going to my Friday's session.. I hope I will be feeling better later on....