Awaiting to hear from PIP

Welliboots93

Hi!
Hope you're all well whoever reads this ☺️

I applied for pip on the 27th March, got the  a week later. Sent it back off towards the end of April 2020 and they recieved it on May 1st 2020.

Its now been 12 weeks since they recieved my pip form and I haven't heard from them for an assessment. Should I ring them? Is this normal to be waiting this long? 

Also, If I am awarded pip do they backdate the money awarded from when you applied?

I'm started to get really anxious waiting because I really need this assessment as I'm struggling to work because of my disabilities and I'm not eligible for UC!

Thank you, 
Jade

poppy123456

Hi,

That length of time really isn't long at all and it's perfectly normal. Backlogs cause delays and there's no timescales. In normal times a PIP claim can take several months, these are not normal times.

There's no harm in ringing to ask but there's really nothing you can do but wait.

Once the assessment has been completed a decision can take anywhere between 2-8 weeks, sometimes longer. It's not a quick process i'm afraid.

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community glad you have joined us. I would just add to the advice that if you are awarded PIP it is backdated to the date you applied.

Hope you hear something soon and keep us updated

katho31

Hi @Welliboots93, yes i would give them a ring tomorrow early if poss, due to covid theyve had a big backlog but are getting back on track so i dont think you will have long to wait, i applied, first time PIP application and i was like you and so worried and anxious, if you ring ask if its with an assessor, if it is then i dont think it will be much longer, best wishes and good luck 

vinylcountdown

I am new on here, but when I had waited for 12 weeks after sending the form in, I called DWP for an update.

They said the form was with IAS (the assessment company) and I could call them directly. I did, and they said I was in the system, waiting for an appointment, The guy on the phone checked there and then, and said there were no appointments available. 

I called again a week later, and they gave me an appointment for the following week. 

I don't know how much longer I would have been waiting if I hadn't called them
 

loulabell

I had an appointment they called me on an private number my phone just went to answer phone really frustrating I am anxious as well all the wait from months so felt like crying  from long drawn out wait and obviously circumstances the  way they are   

janer1967

It would be from a private number 

If you were expecting the call maybe switch off your answer function 

mikehughescq

katho31 said:

Hi @Welliboots93, yes i would give them a ring tomorrow early if poss, due to covid theyve had a big backlog but are getting back on track so i dont think you will have long to wait, i applied, first time PIP application and i was like you and so worried and anxious, if you ring ask if its with an assessor, if it is then i dont think it will be much longer, best wishes and good luck 

Actually this is not what to do. PIP have issued advice some weeks back asking people explicitly to not call them  to check this kind of thing. Their priority is to register new claims and reviews. Whilst numbers have dropped considerably in lockdown so have the numbers of staff taking calls and they are over-whelmed. Asking “where exactly is it up to” is potentially a blockage to people trying to register a claim in the first place. 

You know your PIP 2 form has been received so you’re in the PIP process. Things will happen when they happen and a phone call at this point won’t change anything for you in terms of speed. No-one can stop you calling but I’d suggest that even if you did make a call and find out exactly where it was most people then simply fret about how they contact someone about that and so on. Anxiety about delays is entirely understandable but a call may well perpetuate that rather than solve it.

cupcake88

Hi there I sent my application off in feb and only now got my  assessment for next week . So hopefully it’s not much of a wait for your self .