Pip renewal / blue badge renewal

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sheepy
sheepy Online Community Member Posts: 31 Connected
in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA

hello again

So as you know I am currently going through the renewal for my husbands pip as his appointee nothing much to report there other than they have been in receipt of the relevant renewal documentation since February 2024 his award ends in October 2024

I phoned them on advice and was told it was in the process but could take a long time due to delays and to expect a 12 month extension to the award to which I should be notified of but if not to contact them 35 days before the end of the award for clarification

They still seem to be unable to update their settings to enable texts to my or my husbands phone so that we could receive updates so phone calls are the only way so accept or go mad

However ive just started the process of applying for his blue badge renewal which in my area is 3 months before end of validity his expires in early October

The problem is that I need to provide a new pip award letter as proof of benefit the old award letter is no good as it’s only valid until October 2024. I’m assuming that they could provide a letter evidencing his pip award extension of 12 months. Unfortunately they don’t seem able to confirm anything until the 35 day before end of award point which is of course incredibly frustrating as I can’t apply for the blue badge renewal which can take 12 weeks to process

I would love to think that if I could explain this to them there would be an easy answer but cynical me has been here before and none of them appear to be able to communicate with each other

So I come to you again in the hope that someone has some sound advice

thank You in advance

Sue

Comments

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

    I had the exact same problem because my BB was also linked to my PIP award and both were supposed to end on 26th June. When I rang a month before that I was told that they couldn't produce the letter until those 35 days had been reached. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do but either wait or apply and send evidence to support my claim. I decided to wait.

    I had a PIP letter around 4th June to tell me that my award had been extended for 1 year and was now due to end in June 2025. I filled out the form for my BB online on the same day. I used that letter and my award letter from 2021 stating where I had scored those points. The letter they send you telling you it's been extended is just a letter telling you exactly this, it doesn't mention where you received those points.

    BB form completed, proof of eligibility sent, with a picture of myself and I submitted the claim which was all done online.

    I waited patiently and didn't hear anything until 25th June when I had an email asking for payment of £10, which I immediately paid. The following day I was sent an email saying my BB had been successful and to wait up to about 10 days for it to arrive. Finally I received it a couple of days ago. To my total surprise when I looked at the expiry date it was June 2027 so they gave me 2 years extra.

    The only advice I have is to either wait or apply and send evidence to support the claim.

  • sheepy
    sheepy Online Community Member Posts: 31 Connected

    Thanks Poppy

    Probably the same type of experience that I’m going through

    I rang PIP people again on Friday but they really couldn’t help

    The gentleman I spoke to said it was impossible to confirm an extension at this point as my husbands award didn’t run out until October and he still may have his renewal application successfully processed by then. I thinks that’s highly unlikely but I suppose they have to toe the line in that regard

    He said he would send out a letter but it was very much generic and not specific to my husband and would not mention dates or confirm/deny any award extension so I’m not really sure of its content but it could take up to 14 days

    What was very interesting was that despite the previous statement of 35 days before they could clarify the situation he said it could actually be as little as 7 days but I’m assuming he meant before I’m notified

    I mentioned yet again that I never receive any text updates on my or my husbands phone but he was very dismissive saying it didn’t matter as I would at some point get a letter with updates he showed not interested in checking the system

    So as usual none the wiser really when I think how difficult it is for me to manage this on my husbands behalf due to his mental health issues I despair at how some people have no one to help how I feel for them

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

    The letter they are sending you isn't going to help the BB application. You would also need to send a copy of the award letter stating where he scored those points and once they see the end date of that award then a new BB would still end on the date the PIP ends, unless you have a very thoughtful Local Authority like mine and they award the BB for the full 3 years.

    Letters saying awards are extended are automatically generated 35 days before the award is due to end. Add onto that the time it takes for post to arrive with us then yes, it may only be a couple of weeks before the award ends that you receive it.

    Although your LA have said up to 12 weeks for a BB application, it may not even take that long. Some have them back within a couple of weeks.

  • sheepy
    sheepy Online Community Member Posts: 31 Connected

    sorry for the late update but things have got away from me

    Poppy was correct in that the letter when it arrived was no help at all it just clarified my husband’s current status

    I’ve contacted the local authority with regard to the BB and I have two options I can reapply for the BB independent of his pip award status and if accepted he will have 3 years but this will be like starting over from the very beginning alternatively I can wait for the pip extension paperwork but in that case they explained it will mean a possible 13 weeks without a Valid BB unfortunately my area Gloucestershire are not as helpful

    I’ve contacted PIp yet again but still nothing positive in regard to his renewal or extension I’ve been told I can contact them again at the 35 day point which is the beginning of September 2024 and they will see if the system offers clarification but they are not very good at putting my mind at ease I’m assuming his payments will continue even without an initial letter within the 35 day window but they verbalise words like should be and could be something more definite would be more helpful

    I said to his mental health nurse surely situations like this just increase anxiety and with whispering of the new government changing benefit laws it really does make you wonder

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

    They will not be able to send you out the letter saying the award is extended until 35 days before the award is due to end and then it's automatically generated. PIP will continue until a decision is made on the review even without the confirmation letter.

    The new Government haven't changed benefit laws.

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