DIisabilty benefits

NickBri73905474
NickBri73905474 Community Member Posts: 18 Connected
in PIP, DLA, ADP & AA
why do they make it so hard to contact them about a change in your condition, it just winds me up been on hold for 3 hours

Comments

  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,848 Championing
    Sorry to hear you were on hold for so long @NickBri73905474 Did you manage to speak to them? 
  • NickBri73905474
    NickBri73905474 Community Member Posts: 18 Connected
    Hannah_Scope said:
    Sorry to hear you were on hold for so long @NickBri73905474 Did you manage to speak to them? 
    No I had enough of being on hold 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community Member Posts: 64,375 Championing
    Best time to ring is as soon as they open at 9am. 

    Are you reporting changes for a worsening of condition? If so, before doing this please make sure that you’re 100% sure that it’s possible to score more points for a higher award. A worsening of condition doesn’t automatically entitle you to a higher award. 

    You will be sent more forms to fill in and return with all your supporting evidence. Another assessment is most likely. Once a decision was a made your award could either remain the same, be increased, decreased or stop completely. 

    You should get some expert advice before doing anything else. 
  • nasturtium
    nasturtium Community Member Posts: 389 Empowering
    edited June 2023
    Hello NickBri
    I am sorry to say but you are not the only one who is having problems getting through to the PIP department of the DWP. Nearly a million were cut off last month after waiting hours on the phone to speak to someone. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/dwp-cut-off-almost-one-million-callers-to-a-single-helpline-in-a-month
    My advice would be to contact your local MP and make a complaint about this. The more peope who complain to there local MP the more that something "might" get done to solve the problem. You can contact your MP by putting in your postcode and you can either write a detailed letter of complaint or you can email them including your home address because they will need to confirm that you are in there constituancy. https://members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
    I see you were trying to contact them about a change in your condition. Have you had advice from a welfare agency before you do this because even though your condition my have deteriated it might not mean that you would get a change in award. There is a chance that your award could be reduced or stopped because a change of circumstance means a whole new assessment of your currant conditions and award. You need to make sure you meet a higher descriptor than you have now to warrant a higher award before you make a change of circumstance request. I very strongly advise you to seek advice before doing a change of circumstance request.
    Hope that helps
    Nasturtium
  • NickBri73905474
    NickBri73905474 Community Member Posts: 18 Connected
    nasturtium said:
    Hello NickBri
    I am sorry to say but you are not the only one who is having problems getting through to the PIP department of the DWP. Nearly a million were cut off last month after waiting hours on the phone to speak to someone. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/dwp-cut-off-almost-one-million-callers-to-a-single-helpline-in-a-month
    My advice would be to contact your local MP and make a complaint about this. The more peope who complain to there local MP the more that something "might" get done to solve the problem. You can contact your MP by putting in your postcode and you can either write a detailed letter of complaint or you can email them including your home address because they will need to confirm that you are in there constituancy. https://members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
    I see you were trying to contact them about a change in your condition. Have you had advice from a welfare agency before you do this because even though your condition my have deteriated it might not mean that you would get a change in award. There is a chance that your award could be reduced or stopped because a change of circumstance means a whole new assessment of your currant conditions and award. You need to make sure you meet a higher descriptor than you have now to warrant a higher award before you make a change of circumstance request. I very strongly advise you to seek advice before doing a change of circumstance request.
    Hope that helps
    Nasturtium
    The Dr said I have a brain injury that affects my memory and I have to tell pip
  • NickBri73905474
    NickBri73905474 Community Member Posts: 18 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    Best time to ring is as soon as they open at 9am. 

    Are you reporting changes for a worsening of condition? If so, before doing this please make sure that you’re 100% sure that it’s possible to score more points for a higher award. A worsening of condition doesn’t automatically entitle you to a higher award. 

    You will be sent more forms to fill in and return with all your supporting evidence. Another assessment is most likely. Once a decision was a made your award could either remain the same, be increased, decreased or stop completely. 

    You should get some expert advice before doing anything else. 

  • NickBri73905474
    NickBri73905474 Community Member Posts: 18 Connected
    I had Citizens advice do my forms so don't know what to do. Thank you for the advice.
  • NickBri73905474
    NickBri73905474 Community Member Posts: 18 Connected
    NickBri73905474 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    Best time to ring is as soon as they open at 9am. 

    Are you reporting changes for a worsening of condition? If so, before doing this please make sure that you’re 100% sure that it’s possible to score more points for a higher award. A worsening of condition doesn’t automatically entitle you to a higher award. 

    You will be sent more forms to fill in and return with all your supporting evidence. Another assessment is most likely. Once a decision was a made your award could either remain the same, be increased, decreased or stop completely. 

    You should get some expert advice before doing anything else. 

    I already on high award just need to update them thanks.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Community Member Posts: 9,999 Championing
    NickBri73905474 said: I already on high award just need to update them thanks.
    You do not need to them tell about changes in diagnosis or medication or such like. You only need them about changes that impact the impact your impact has on yet and could affect your award. If you report a change this is likely to result in them sending a health form and thanking a new assessment and review.

    If your health has got worse but am already enhanced rate of both PIP components there nothing you need to report.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community Member Posts: 64,375 Championing
    NickBri73905474 said:
    NickBri73905474 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    Best time to ring is as soon as they open at 9am. 

    Are you reporting changes for a worsening of condition? If so, before doing this please make sure that you’re 100% sure that it’s possible to score more points for a higher award. A worsening of condition doesn’t automatically entitle you to a higher award. 

    You will be sent more forms to fill in and return with all your supporting evidence. Another assessment is most likely. Once a decision was a made your award could either remain the same, be increased, decreased or stop completely. 

    You should get some expert advice before doing anything else. 

    I already on high award just need to update them thanks.
    What award do you currently have exactly?

    A doctor would be the last person I’d listen to when it comes to benefits because they very likely have limited knowledge of the benefits system. 
  • blonde1234
    blonde1234 Community Member Posts: 21 Listener
    hi do you get the 150 payment if you are on enchant mobility can any help please 
  • nasturtium
    nasturtium Community Member Posts: 389 Empowering
    edited June 2023
    NickBri73905474 said:
    I already on high award just need to update them thanks.
    If you already have the highest award then you do not need to do anything. You do not need to update them on your change of condition because you cannot get any higher award if you already have the highest award possible.
    If you contact them to update them on your condition all it will mean is they will do a change of circumstance and you will have to restart the whole claim process again.
    My strong advice is not to contact them and update them the only time you woud need to contact them is if your condition has improved.
    Kind regards
    Nasturtium
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community Member Posts: 64,375 Championing
    blonde1234 said:
    hi do you get the 150 payment if you are on enchant mobility can any help please 
    I already answered this question for you on another thread a few days ago. As your award doesn’t start until June then you won’t be entitled to the £150. You can see my advice here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/704984#Comment_704984
  • NickBri73905474
    NickBri73905474 Community Member Posts: 18 Connected
    calcotti said:
    NickBri73905474 said: I already on high award just need to update them thanks.
    You do not need to them tell about changes in diagnosis or medication or such like. You only need them about changes that impact the impact your impact has on yet and could affect your award. If you report a change this is likely to result in them sending a health form and thanking a new assessment and review.

    If your health has got worse but am already enhanced rate of both PIP components there nothing you need to report.
    Oh OK thank you, great advice here 👍. 

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