Pip application and fibromyalgia

DouwP

I recently applied for pip but it was declined, as I was abroad in South Africa for 18 month and I could not return due to covid? Can anyone advise how I can appeal this and how do I go about it?

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community 

Unfortunately to be able to claim pip you need to have been in the UK for at least 2 of the last 3 years so I'm not sure you can appeal if you don't meet the eligibility criteria in the first place 

poppy123456

HI,

It's not clear whether you applied, went through the whole process and were refused.

Or you rang to start your claim and were refused because you haven't been in the UK for 2 out of the past 3 years, i'm assuming it was the latter? If so, what was the reason you went to S. Africa? and how long were you originally planning to go for?

DouwP

Hi there, I left the U.K. in February 2020 planning to see a doctor for my fibromyalgia in SA and I was planning to stay for 5 months. Then we went into lockdown. When I came back in May this year, I phoned to apply for pip and they declined it as they say I was outside the country for too long. I sent all the relevant paperwork to support my case. Can I contest this?

poppy123456

Then there's nothing to contest because you were originally planning to go for 5 months anyway. Part of the qualifying criteria for PIP is that you've lived here for 2 out of the past 3 years, as you haven't then you won't qualify. https://www.gov.uk/pip/eligibility