PIP Change Of Award Date, Decision Timeframes and Mobility Criteria

PolarBear95

Hi,

Hoping for some advice if possible please. I had my original award end date given by the tribunal service, received my re-assessment questionnaire and extended the deadline to return it quite a few times because of being unwell. Whilst DWP were awaiting the return of my forms, they sent me a letter stating that they had changed my award end date (extended it).

I have my assessment this week but now I’m wondering if there has been a reason for them extending the award. Could this be so that any backpay they may have to payout would be less? I’ve been in receipt of PIP for a number of years (this is my second or third assessment) and I I’ve never had them do this before.

Whilst I’m here I do have a couple of other questions if anyone has any advice please.

How long is it currently taking to get a decision following an assessment? I know there’s long delays waiting for the actual assessment, but what about once it’s been completed?

I was very close to being awarded high rate mobility on my last assessment and my tribunal but unfortunately fell short. I was awarded high rate daily and standard mobility. Is there any advice on how I can push for the extra couple of points? I explained that I don’t go out unless I’m with someone because of severe anxiety which also worsens my physical pain. And I explained I can’t follow the route of a familiar journey giving them an example that I met a friend at a location only 10 minutes from home, which was a location I had grown up in so was extremely familiar with. However I continuously took wrong turns, ended up on the motorway (which was absolutely not the necessary route given I was so close to home) and missed several exists on the motorway because of sheer panic and not focusing properly. In total the journey took me around 1 hour. But the tribunals response to this was (and this is verbatim) - “but you did actually get home didn’t you?”. This completely threw me because the basics of PIP (safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and timely fashion) had clearly not been met. And now I’m worried that I will fall short on the points needed again if they are seeing this as being able to follow the route of a familiar journey.

Thank you so much for reading.

Kimi87

If your existing award had an upcoming expiry then 35 days before that date the award is extended by one year, to allow the review process to complete.

It's impossible to answer how long the decision after assessment will take, as there are many variables.

PolarBear95

thanks for your reply. Does that mean it could affect backpay though?

I understand it’s impossible to say but I wondered if there’s any averages on how long things are currently taking, like there is for how long it takes to get an assessment?

do you or does any one else have any guidance on the mobility aspect at all please?

thanks so much

Kimi87

If your award after a DWP initiated review was increased, this would usually apply from the date of the decision

Trevor_PIP

There will be no back pay in your case I do not think. Your award has been extended as explained Kimi, partly due to you asking for extensions. This is a normal PIP review so there will be no back pay.

I can't comment on the mobility issue. Whilst you have a point, it is an area of a PIP claim which causes a lot of confusion and what actually has to happen to be awarded the maximum points for that descriptor, which I think you are after. If you took that journey on your own, it is not possible to score the maximum points. I genuinely would not like to comment further in case I get it wrong.