PIP Review Success Story and Timeline

Hi

I thought I'd share my PIP review timeline and outcome here. People so often share the negative and I just wanted to share a positive story. I spent hours lurking in forums reading posts during the review process and most of what I read scared me, so I wanted to put it out there that sometimes it does go well!

My Review Timeline was this:

26th August 2024 - Review Initiated and AR1 Form Sent out.

12th September 2024 - I Completed the AR1 form and sent it back using Royal Mail Tracked delivery.

18th September 2024 - Text Confirming Receipt of AR1 Form from DWP.

12th December 2024 and 7th March 2025 - Texts from DWP to say they still have my form and will continue to pay my PIP until my review is completed.

25th March 2025 - Letter to say my award had been extended for a year to allow them to complete the review.

30th May 2025 - Another Text from DWP to say they still have my form etc.

12th June 2025 - Text to say that my claim had been passed to the Health Assessment Advisory Service (Maximus) to say they were looking at my evidence.

9th July 2025 - Text with an date for a Telephone Assessment.

25th July 2025 - Telephone Assessment. Then on the same day a text from DWP to say they had received my health assessment report and would take 6 weeks to make a decision.

1st August 2025 - Called DWP to request a copy of Assessment Report.

5th August 2025 - Received copy of Assessment Report.

25th August 2025 - Text to say Review is Complete and I would receive a decision letter in 2 weeks.

29th August 2025 - Received Lump Sum Back Pay.

4th September 2025 - Received new increased monthly amount of PIP.

5th September 2025 - Received Decision Letter to say I had been awarded Enhanced Daily Living and Standard Mobility. Increased from Standard Daily Living Only.

In addition I would like to mention that despite all the horror stories I'd read. My PIP assessment was not totally horrific. I had my social worker with me and it lasted nearly two hours as they asked a lot of questions. However the assessor was polite and listened to my responses and when I received the copy of the report it was very accurate and included everything I had said. It also noted how much I struggled with anxiety and needed prompting at times. Overall I felt that whilst these things are never fun, that I was treated fairly and what I said was recorded accurately.

And as I mentioned previously I had my award increased and backdated to the day my review began.

I'm very happy with the outcome and hope that my story can reassure people. We know the process is long and stressful, but at times it does go smoothly and can have a positive outcome without needing to go through MR and/or Tribunal.

Best of Luck to all those still navigating this process.