What's the difference between a PIP award from DWP vs. one from tribunal?

Gobbygirl66

Hi all,my question is what is the difference between an award for pip from dwp and one given by tribunal,mine was awarded by tribunal for 3years 2017-2020 but was given 6 months extension until 28th Feb 2021.Completed form back to them 11th Jan I have telephoned them and was advised to contact assessment people they said no date for telephone assessment she said I'll log your call and put phone down, has anyone had this happen or know what I should do now.

calcotti

woodbine said:

if your award was via tribunal then the DWP can't extend it.

There’s been a lot of discussion on that point on Rightsnet over the years and there are differences of opinion about DWP powers in this respect. It has also been suggested that there is no legal basis for DWP to issue the extension they are currently doing - but nobody is going to complain. 

calcotti

Have just seen this parliamentary response earlier this month which confirms that a DWP have been applying extensions to awards made at tribunal.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-06/134179
“The Department has been automatically extending awards of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for decisions which have an award review scheduled, including decisions made following a First Tier Tribunal hearing. This action has been taken in order to provide continuity of payments for claimants whose award review is delayed as a result of Covid-19.”
Again, whether or not the law supports such action I don’t know.

Gobbygirl66

Thanks for that information Calcotti do you think that would apply to my pip claim ?. Also does anyone know if you can reuse medical evidence used in  pip appeal tribunal on my pip 2 form that I have just returned.

calcotti

It’s not clear how DWP are selecting claims to extend, anecdotally it seems hot and miss. The only way to know about your own claim is to ask.
You can use any evidence that you consider relevant.