Hi, my name is Tiptop! and I have a problem DWP

Tiptop
Tiptop Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
edited September 15 in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA

Hi, nice to be here.

I'm a pensioner on SP, PC and PIP. I was told (last year) that I had been awarded PIP for 10 years and would not be needed to be seen again until then. Now they are visiting me next week,

Why would they need to see me? Why do they not say in the text why? They know I can't use the phone, so I can't ring them. I thought the stress was over, but it seems not. As soon as you start to breathe easier, they contact you.  


Any insight at all please? Anyone else had this and what was the outcome

Comments

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 6,656 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @Tiptop Sorry to hear you're facing this, it does sound a little strange considering your last award is only a year old.

    Was the text just confirmation of an appointment visit? Has anything else changed with your other benefits recently?

    Hopefully one of our members has experienced similar and can share what happened for them.

    The PIP enquiry line offers some other ways to contact them if any would be accessible to you:
    Textphone: 0800 121 4493
    Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4433
    British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet

    Or would there be anyone you trust who could call the enquiry line on your behalf to see what it's all about?

    Hope you can find some answers soon!

  • Tiptop
    Tiptop Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Hi, thank you for your reply.

    No, nothing has changed and not received any letters etc

    Text just says An appointment has been made for you by DWP visiting, then says he date and ref and the visiting officer's name who will be coming.

    My son has been trying to ring them, but no one is picking up, he is off on holiday this afternoon, and no one else can help me.

  • Tiptop
    Tiptop Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    No one? Now I'm really worried, if this were a normal thing, then surely it would have happened to others.

  • Doglover2
    Doglover2 Online Community Member Posts: 263 Empowering

    @Tiptop I've no experience of this side of things.. I've about 8 years to go before retirement age. But I was wondering if this message you recieved could be a scam? As there are many doing the rounds pertaining to be from DWP but aren't.

    Just a thought really.

  • Trevor_PIP
    Trevor_PIP Online Community Member Posts: 435 Empowering

    @Tiptop was it a review when you got the 10 year award or because you became a State Pensioner? The DWP can arrange these visits, it's normally called a Support Visit. Have you asked for support to claim benefits? You can call the DWP to verify the meeting and the reason for the visit. You should also get a letter. You can also reschedule the visit.

  • Tiptop
    Tiptop Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Hi, it was a review. Ive not asked for any support from anyone.
    unfortunately I cannot use the phone and my son who usually does it for me is on holiday, he tried a number of times before he went but no one picked up.

    Hopefully, I will get a letter explaining, although why the text could not say, is baffling.
    They know how people become stressed with this kind of thing. I thought it was all behind me

  • Passerby
    Passerby Online Community Member Posts: 878 Championing

    The DWP typically does not conduct home visits for people with a 10-year PIP award, as these are considered "ongoing" or "indefinite" awards for conditions unlikely to improve. so try to find someone who could be with you when they're coming, in case they're scammers. And don't let them into your house until you're sure who they're.

  • IrishManc
    IrishManc Online Community Member Posts: 80 Empowering

    I’ve had a similar problem with the DWP while on UC last Feb 2025 despite my autism diagnosis in 2021, where they did a third party assessment, who refused to accept any official supporting documents when offered, as part of the “assessment” process, then delivered their decision letter by journal message, outside of the legal time limits for making any appeals, mandatory reconsiderations, etc and once all of these had passed to prevent my appealing, declaring me as “fit for work” with no support - its very clear that this Labour government are determined to create the economic conditions for the collapse of the benefits system before they decide to abolish the benefits system altogether, as they are also already targeting able-bodied people in work as well in many ways - even disabled people and their employers in workplaces are having problems with the Access To Work scheme - Labour has deceived and betrayed working class people since 1914 and this latest Labour government is the worst in British history - mental health and disability, including hidden disability, needs its own body totally separate from the NHS and other ways to financially support sick and disabled people, separate from the DWP, needs to be found, as they are no longer fit for purpose and need disbanding

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,933 Championing

    That doesn't make any sense as you have 13 months dating from the fit for work decision, to ask for them to reconsider (Mandatory Reconsideration).

    If asking for the MR "late" (after one month) you have to give a reason as to why it's "late" .

    If the decision is unchanged then you have a month to request an independent appeal tribunal hearing.

    https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/problems-with-benefits-and-tax-credits/challenging-benefit-decisions/challenging-a-decision-by-the-dwp-or-hmrc/challenging-a-benefit-decision-mandatory-reconsideration/

    https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/problems-with-benefits-and-tax-credits/challenging-benefit-decisions/challenging-a-decision-by-the-dwp-or-hmrc/appealing-against-a-benefit-decision/

    Access to Work has been in crisis since before the current Government came into power.

  • Tiptop
    Tiptop Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Ive googled and they do visit people for various reasons, the text came from the same place as my codes for signing into my pension portal, so not a scam. I found an email address and have emailed them to ask for more information.

  • Tiptop
    Tiptop Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Just received a letter, apparently its to make sure my circumstances haven't changed.

    They need proof of income and bank accounts, savings etc. They already have all this from last year, but what can you do 😳

    Thank you everyone.