Form text after assessment?

KierR
KierR Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

Hello, just want to start by saying a big thank you to everyone on this forum. Reading here has been a big source of information and comfort during my PIP troubles over the last year and has helped me so much. 💖

I have had a face to face PIP assessment at the start of June, and received a letter saying they have all the info they need. On the 20th June, I received a text saying they have not yet made a decision.

Yesterday I was called twice by a PIP number. I cannot make or take phonecalls due to my issues (as I said repeatedly in my forms 🙄) so missed these and couldn't call back.

Today I missed another call and received a text saying "Thanks for claiming Personal Independence Payment. We will shortly send you a 'How your disability affects you' form. You'll need to fill it in carefully and return it to us so we can see if we can award you PIP." The same as at the start of my claim.

Is this a mistake, or am I going to have to start all over because I couldn't answer the phone? Doing all of this without phonecalls has been a nightmare with no other way to contact them except via post, and personally not being able to use relay services either.

I've already had a lot of text errors, like saying they didn't receive my original form (they did) or saying they received my ESA form (I have never applied for ESA 😂) so it could be a mistake? Has this ever happened to anyone else here and what ended up happening?

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    As you've already had your assessment then it's highly likely to have been sent in error. Do you have someone that can ring PIP on your behalf?

  • KierR
    KierR Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    I don't at the moment, my family member that helps me just started a new job and is busy during the day.

    However, today I received a text saying I have been awarded pip! I'm still slightly worried what they wanted with the phone calls. I hope it didn't hurt what level I'd be getting if they needed more info for that. I'm hoping for basic daily and mobility at least, though last time I tried for PIP they refused because I could make a single piece of toast with butter a day, so my paranoia is quite high...

    Should I still try to get someone to call for me or wait and see?

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,750 Online Community Programme Lead

    I suppose it's up to you @KierR - do you want to wait until they send you the letter or do you feel like you need to know now? As you've had the text saying you've been awarded, you shouldn't be waiting too long. Let us know what you decide. 😊

  • KierR
    KierR Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Typically as my anxious self tends, I couldn't make a decision and time decided it for me 😂

    I received almost a whole year's back pay yesterday, and today the letter arrived and I have been awarded basic level daily living and mobility for 5 years! I'm very relieved I qualified for both, despite getting lower scores than I expected, so I don't think I'll add any more stress to myself by appealing it considering how messy and long this whole experience has been.

    One thing I noticed is they mentioned I did not have diagnosis of several of my physical issues as reasons to deny points, despite me providing evidence of being in the process of getting those, and how my mental health makes that extra hard for me (which they did acknowledge and give me points for?). I'm also on the ADHD diagnosis waiting list which has doubled in length since I was referred.

    It just seems so disconnected that they don't consider the current NHS wait times or how one illness can affect the other in getting treatment? Very frustrating...

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 1,649 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Morning @KierR.

    I'm so glad you've received your payment! Great news 😀

  • KierR
    KierR Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Thank you! I am so relieved it turned out well after the year of anxiety and confusion 😅