Pip 10 months waiting and still no f2f

gcs1 · November 2019

Hi all, newbie looking for advice?

I applied for pip in Feb 20 (currently get esa with disability element) by phone requesting to do the application in writing rather than over the phone, they sent this out and a completed it and returned it via recorded delivery.

They then only got in touch last week via standard text saying thanks for claiming you will get a how ur disability affects you form soon,
The next day get text saying one had been sent and will be here in the next 7-10 days.

4 days later a get a letter asking me to provide proof of my identity and residency so they can process my claim?

i call them and at first they tell me they need the proof of my identity and that a need to respond to there letter.

I point out I already get benefits from dwp so they know who I am and ask how come it has took 10 months to just ask for my identity,
at first she denies receiving my completed form then back tracks when a say it was recorded delivery and if they had no record of form would they suddenly be asking about the pip claim.

She confirms received 24th feb and imput on to the system 6th March and can not answer why it has taken to now to Oct 20 to respond.

I also ask if all my independent medical reports are there and my esa award report as well she says they are.

Then goes on to tell me that this other form there sending out is my application form as there are two ? I dispute this stating I have already filled it out and that’s what a sent back in feb 20 and I have been waiting on my f2f. She says that there are 2 forms to complete.

she asked if a wanted to make a complaint and passed me to complaints who take note of my complaint and say someone will call in next 48 hrs but nothing. Been 72 now.

So basically my question are can they make you wait that long is there a time limit to when you return claim form and appointment for f2f ?

Is there 2 different forms that need completed to dwp before the assessment centre post there one out for the f2f ?

can they ask for identity even though the dwp pay me at this address ?

Should a call back and make another complaint ?

Sorry for the long rant just bit confused.

woodbine · November 2019

Is this a new claim for PIP or a transfer from DLA?

poppy123456 · November 2019

Hi,

You say you rang asking them to send you a form to fill in rather than start the application over the phone, is this correct?

If so then yes, there will be 2 forms that you will need to fill in. Usually the first part of the PIP claiming process is done by phone and is much quicker than asking for the form to be sent to you. The first form you filled in will have been the PIP1 form.

Once that part is complete they will then you the PIP2 form (how your disability affects you form) this is the form you'll need to fill in with all your details about how your conditions affect you.

Was there any reason why you left is so long without contacting them after you returned the first PIP1 form? You would not have had a face to face appointment sent to you after filling out the PIP1 form.

See the PIP claiming process in full here. As you will see it states that you can claim by phone, textphone or by post and you did yours by post. Please take note of the part where it says "what happens next"

https://www.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim

As for the identity i'm not sure why they are checking that as you're already claiming ESA.

wilko · November 2019

Hello, I have to agree with poppy123456, why the delay in contacting DWP once you had se sent the first form in. Looks as if you weren't to bothered in the claiming process to follow up your application.

gcs1 · November 2019

Hi Poppy, thanks for clearing the 2 forms up for me that’s appreciated as a couldn’t understand why they were saying that when other people were telling me there was only one.

Thanks again

poppy123456 · November 2019

No problem. I'm assuming you didn't ring DWP about the length of time it was taking because you thought the form you received was the only form you needed, am i correct?

When you do receive the PIP2 form you will need to make sure you put as much information as possible about how your conditions affect you. Adding a couple of real life examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you.

Make sure you send evidence with the form to support your claim. Don't assume they will use the evidence they have for your ESA claim because they won't. They are different benefits with different criteria. Also don't assume they will contact any medical professional because this very rarely happens.

gcs1 · November 2019

Hi poppy, that’s correct a presumed it was the form for assessment and they had told me at the time on phone there was delays in pip,
So was confused as to what was going on.

I have already sent them 3 specialist independent reports done by private consultants with the first form, a take it a should send them again once a receive this other form?

thanks again.

poppy123456 · November 2019

You're welcome. Yes, definitely send that evidence again just to make sure they have it.

Chloe_Scope · November 2019

Hi @gcs1, I'm glad things have been able to be cleared up, I hope the rest of the process is smooth for you!

If there's anything else we can help you with then please do let us know.

gcs1 · November 2019

Hi chloe, thanks a will do, this 2nd form came today so shall attempt to get it filled out over weekend.

Thanks.

poppy123456 · November 2019

My advice is not to rush when you fill out that form, take your time and do a little each day. Put as much information as possible, as i advised in an earlier comment. You can request a further 14 days to return it.

When you do return it, proof of posting is all that's needed and not next day signed for delivery but make sure you allow time for it to be received. I've heard that there's huge backlogs with DWP receiving post at the moment.

Chloe_Scope · November 2019

Hi @gcs1, like @poppy123456 has said, please do not rush this. It's important to fully capture how your condition fully affects you, as well as gathering the evidence. Good luck!

gcs1 · November 2019

Hi yes a will make sure a put down all my conditions and already have 3 specialist independent reports as well as the esa award report with disability premium as well. Hopefully that should be enough, thanks again.

poppy123456 · November 2019

ESA and PIP are completely different benefits with different criteria and claiming one doesn't automatically entitle you to claim another. The disability premium is it's the Enhanced one is automatically paid to those in the support group claiming income related. This premium will not help a PIP claim. I'm not saying not to send the ESA award letter but just so you know, it may not be used as part of the evidence.

gcs1 · November 2019

Hi Poppy, yes a know it’s totally different benefit, a meant a would also enclose the Medical Assessment from my f2f for esa, not just the award letter as a asked for a copy of the report back in January when a was awarded it, can’t do no harm in sending as is / was in my favour. Thanks

gcs1 · December 2019

Hi All,
Just a little update on situation, after waiting months DWP have decided they failed in there duty with my claim with waiting so long and have issued an apology from the director generals office with a £75 compensation payment.

I have also just had my pip assessment and don’t feel it went well, the lady just seemed not interested in anything a had to say and when she was reading my replies back to me she was adding in her own words that a never said and had to say several time’s a never said that or in that way,
Example:
how far can you walk before having to rest ? Stated around 80-100 meters then asked how long does it take to walk that distance? Stayed I was unsure as never timed myself and had been months since a have walked out, also depends on how sore knee is, on ground terrain,on the weather etc,
So she then asked can you walk from your kitchen to the livingroom (7ft distance) stayed yes a can do that, asked can you do it twice, yes a should be able to do that as very short distance, her reply back was okay then you can walk twice so that means your fine walking around the house for an hour ? ?

A stop her there and told her a never said that and do not agree with that a could walk around for an hour.

The whole assessment went like this with just about all the questions, a had additional app letters copied for her to take with her she stated doesn’t need them ?

My advice on hindsight is record your interview so you have proof ! No doubt going to have to go down the appeal route next, time will tell.

poppy123456 · December 2019

Saying you can walk between 80 and 100 metres may not have helped you because that's outside the distance to score enough points for standard or Enhanced mobility in the moving around part. The reason they ask you all those questions is because they are trying to get a picture of how your conditions affect you.

Although walking inside your home isn't counted for the mobility part they do sometimes ask questions about how far and how often you can walk that distance, even if it is inside your home. PIP is all about reliability and if you can do that activity multiple times a day reliably then you're classed as being able to do it.

You say that the distance between your living room and kitchen is 7 feet but the distance for Enhanced mobility PIP is 20 metres, so if you can walk the distance between those 2 rooms reliably then that may go against you.

During an assessment they will also observe you, so if they see you walking from one room to another, without any problems, or from the waiting room to the assessment room and back without issues then this could go against you. Other observations also take place during the assessment and people often don't even know that.

If the letters you had were future appointments letters then these are not classed as evidence because it doesn't tell them anything about your condition other than you have an appointment sometime in the future.

All you can do at this point is wait a week and ring DWP to request a copy of the assessment report to be sent to you. This will give you some idea what the decision is likely to be because they mostly go with the report. Once a decision's been made if you're not happy then you'll have 1 month from that date to request the MR. Good luck.

gcs1 · December 2019

Hi Poppy,
thanks again for your feedback, am hoping to have a decision in the next week as my case is now being dealt via Direct Generals Office as a priority, They have already got the assessment 2 days after it was done and they have been in touch stating they are reviewing it so hopefully have an answer soon.

If am not successful a shall ask for copy of assessment and a copy of how dwp reached there decision before asking for MR.

As for not enough points with walking a was just being honest and told the truth but a suffer bad Anxiety so hoping to score the 12 points needed through that and not so much my knee. And my assessment was done at home due to my anxiety so no walking from waiting rooms etc.

Best regards.

Pip 10 months waiting and still no f2f

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