PIP Appeal wait timescale

ataloss2018

Hi to everyone, appreciate this question may have been asked a thousand times already but here goes. 

My wife is disabled and has been waiting on an appeal time date for 29 weeks now and still we haven't heard anything, we've rang the appeals service but  they say they can't give a date when the appeal will be heard.

We are struggling financially and she has had a lot of hospital appointments lately, these hospital appointments all entail a round trip of 130 miles and the constant worry about the PIP appeal and the possible outcome is adding to her ill health.

Any pointers on how long the maximum waiting times for an appeal to be heard would be gratefully received.

Just for Info purposes,  she was initially on DLA and was transferred to PIP and had been on it for  3 years, in April last year she was assessed by a nurse from Atos and went from previously been awarded Enhanced Daily Living/Standard Mobility Component to zero points.  

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @ataloss2018, and welcome to the community!

What a frustrating situation for you and your wife to be in. So sorry to hear that you've had to wait for such a long time, especially on top of dealing with ill health. Hopefully our benefits advisor will be in touch soon and able to offer some advice, but please do keep us updated on any developments in the meantime.

ataloss2018

Many thanks PippaScope.  

Matilda

@ataloss2018

You could ask for a short-notice hearing in case of a cancellation but you might only be given 24 hours' notice.

ataloss2018

Thanks Matilda, we did put down on the appeal form that my wife would be willing to attend a hearing at short notice. 

BenefitsTrainingCo

Hi ataloss2018,

The waiting times are different in different parts of the country. I was recently advised that PIP appeals are waiting 33 weeks for a hearing in the West Midlands where I work. If you phone the Tribunals Service they should at least be able to tell you how many weeks your wife's appeal has been waiting and how many weeks the waiting time is. At least then you'll have a better idea.

Lee

ataloss2018

Thanks Lee, we've rang the Tribunal Service on two occasions and each time they've said they are extending the wait time by another 3 weeks, we last rang over 3 weeks ago and they said we should hear of a date in the next 3 weeks, but still we've heard nothing.

Speaking with the call handlers I don't think they can give you any idea on when your appeal will be heard, they seem to just tell you how long you've been waiting for  and how long the system is telling them that you have to wait again.

Appreciate the reply.

ataloss2018

Still nothing, so frustrating and there's nothing you can do about it, the whole system needs a big shake.

ataloss2018

Well still nothing, 34 weeks now without a word.

Barbiesnemesis

Hello @ataloss2018 I know its not a lot of help but I can totally sympathise - I've been waiting since August 2017 (33 weeks) and it is torture having to wait. I've also telephoned the Tribunal Service several times and had the same response you've had. 'Love your user name x

kevin888

Had to wait 24 weeks for mine last December. Worth the wait in the end as I won my appeal. Good luck.

Swatteam

I waited a year from Feb 2017 to appeal date Feb 26th 2018

ataloss2018

At last, after a wait of 42 weeks the letter has arrived, appeal will be heard in 4 weeks time.  

Never thought it would take 46 weeks in total,  initially told the average wait was 26 weeks.

AliCat2329

Hi I’m new here I’ve been reading your comments and have been waiting since December for a tribunal date. I’m in London so don’t know the waiting times also can somebody provide me with the phone number to ring to see how long the tribunal wait is please as I didn’t know there was such a service many thanks 

Pippa_Alumni

Welcome to the community, @AliCat2329!

The best number to ring would be the one listed on any of your previous DWP letters: hopefully they should be able to give you some further information.

Otherwise, here is the general number for PIP claims from the gov.uk page:

DWP - PIP claims
Telephone: 0800 917 2222
Textphone: 0800 917 7777
Calling from abroad: +44 191 218 7766 
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

Matilda

@AliCat2329

There will be a phone number on your correspondence from HM Courts & Tribunals Service.  Phone them.

I understand that waiting times for tribunal hearings are up to 12 months now.

Mandzt

I asked for a review due to a decline in my mental health I was on enhanced mobility was awarded it for 6 years to Zero. I'm in North Wales Prestatyn court will hear my case just wondering if anyone has an idea how long it will take I'm confident I'll get it reinstated but am struggling with losing £234 a month. I'll get it backdated from 19/01/18 if successful 

Matilda

Unfortunately, many people report a worsening of their disabilities and have their award reduced, not increased.  Always a risk to report a decline until a review is due anyway.

Yadnad

Matilda said:

Unfortunately, many people report a worsening of their disabilities and have their award reduced, not increased.  Always a risk to report a decline until a review is due anyway.

When asking for a review due to a change in circumstances you first have to decide if the change is likely to give you more points or reduce the points. If you genuinely feel that the change won't affect your points one way or another then you do not need to report it.

poppy123456

Mandzt said:

I asked for a review due to a decline in my mental health I was on enhanced mobility was awarded it for 6 years to Zero. I'm in North Wales Prestatyn court will hear my case just wondering if anyone has an idea how long it will take I'm confident I'll get it reinstated but am struggling with losing £234 a month. I'll get it backdated from 19/01/18 if successful 

Some people are waiting as long as 1 year for a hearing date, backlogs are huge across most of country.

sally1966

Iv been waiting almost a year for my sons tribunal .