PIP seems to have been reduced after review, but we haven't had an award letter. Is this normal?

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Luna51

Hello everyone,

Just a quick question - PIP renewals
My daughter has Learning Difficulties, Autism, OCD and Tics* (Tourettes deemed most likely by a neurologist as she has a long history of echolalia, grimacing etc, etc but we are still waiting for more support to confirm this) 

So, we had the usual 'extention of PIP' letter then the renewal form. I then sent in said renewal form with the new changes (Her tics have increased greatly during the part two years and affect her concentration and life in a new challenging ways) but everything else is the same as before. No change, of course I supported this all with old and new information.
Her PIP payment is due this Thursday, last Thursday we had a payment of £326 instead of the usual £445 (do forgive me it's around that for enhanced rate care/low mobility)
No letter to explain the payments yet (is this normal?) 
It seems we are now on standard rate/low mobility? 
I am utterly gobsmacked at what seems is a reduction in her payments.
Is this the normal now, do they just reduce the claim every time even when things are worse, they did this to us just over two years ago but then agreed with the MR and awarded her enhanced rate once more.
I could cry as I know its more paperwork, more time trying to convince someone who has never met my daughter she has these difficulties. Honestly, don't we as carers go through enough already? It really drags me down.. I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling like this.. ☹️

Emilyb81

Just my tuppence worth I believe the whole process needs to seriously looked at being changed because it really is shocking just how many people are negatively affected by it and people who are already unwell or looking after those who are do not need any added/extra stress put on them? I know obviously it won't ever be something that's enjoyable however I genuinely think more needs to be done about the sheer amount of people who are being dragged through all this negativity and anxiety etc I just don't know how they are getting away with it for so long... People are almost always expecting to have to appeal etc and that's not right? Yes we need to prove what's happening and give evidence if need be but it almost seems like people are being deliberately turned down to see if they will take it further or give up because a heck of a lot of vulnerable or already struggling people are unlikely to push further they just give up and it isn't fair!
Sorry all very negative and no help to you at all but it's been building up in me for weeks now and as I said somewhere else yesterday there's only so much positive thinking I can do!
Even your situation now... Its crazy to me that if someone wants to add extra issues onto say the mobility part of their pip claim because its got worse there why does the entire claim get looked at again?? Why should people possibly lose what they have just because they need more help? It doesn't make sense to me that a benefit that's supposed to help vulnerable people is taken away in so many situations and it puts the person or people through so much illness and stress the whole thing is just not working right but again that's just my opinion! I guess I should be more grateful pip is even available here? And I was grateful until it all got snatched away from me a few months ago! Now I am living in this constant state of anxiety and not knowing what's happening next or how long until I find out etc it's exhausting! Just one of them days for me I think! Very hot and I tried but couldn't get through to pip and I am now in self pity mode lol take care hun and stay safe! 
Good luck with everything!