Pip review timescale

Appeal hearings are done by either telephone/video or in person.

Hello Poppy,

So good to hear that your review is finally being dealt with, albeit a year after your planned award review was initiated. It sounds like even though your form was returned in November last year, it has taken until now for it to even be triaged by a Case Manager. Can I ask, when you returned your review form, did you include any up to date evidence at that time from any medical professionals or did you just return the form detailing your difficulties?

My planned award review was initiated in March this year and I returned my form detailing my continuing difficulties in April 2024. I also included up to date medical evidence with my form. I received a text shortly after to acknowledge receipt of my returned form and have had a couple of texts in the meantime to say they still have it and haven't got round to progressing my review yet. The last text received was at the beginning of this month.

I am just wondering if I should expect an out of the blue phone call too at some stage from a decision maker. I avoid answering any calls from unknown numbers so it does worry me. I was hoping to avoid an assessment by having provided relevant recent medical evidence but the long backlog might mean it becomes out of date. It does sound like you may well have avoided an assessment after your phone call with a Decision Maker. Were their questions about your what you wrote in your form?

Thank you for any insight.

Hi yes the seven months were from signed and dated form. I received constant updates via text message but having said that, they said they have revied my award but I am still awaiting the decision, they never rush themselves.

I have had to fight three appeals with the DWP for the same problems, the last time they had not one but two people following me and videoing me. When I received a copy of thier, laughable evidence it was clear they had tried some fancy editing to make the very little video they got in the two weeks of watching me, look worse than it was. Having done a video course myself in college I pointed this out to the judge and the panel, the judge was less than happy and warned the DWP regarding their behaviour. Needless to say their case was thrown out with my case alone with the surveillance costing the tax payers thousands, laughable when they say they are doing this to save the tax payer money.

Since going through the intimidation and victimisation not to mention the stress, I have learnt that action can be taken against the DWP for such actions in which thousands have won undisclosed sums, again costing the tax payer a pretty penny or two. I for now am happy as long as they leave me alone, only time will tell and yes I will if possible take action.

Thank you. I haven't had the decision yet so I will wait a little before celebrating. 😉

Thank you Poppy for such a detailed response to my query. It's very helpful to know that you did provide relevant medical evidence along with your returned review form last November. It sounds to me like the Decision Maker called you because he simply needed clarification of the changes you reported to the descriptors that applied to you in your form in order to determine whether or not your review needed to be passed onto an assessment provider.

Because of the considerable backlogs, there is now an increased effort by DWP case managers to try to keep decisions 'in house' about continuing PIP awards at review unless further medical evidence is really needed. A DWP case manager, as you know, cannot contact your G.P. or other medical professionals directly. Only an assessment provider health professional is permitted to do so.

You may be aware that Stephen Timms MP (Minister for the Disabled) answered a question in the House last month about trying to accelerate review decisions via case managers without the need for a functional assessment where possible. See link:

Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Hopefully, after your call with the Decision Maker yesterday, he is true to his word and has enough to recommend your award continues. Fingers crossed for you.

It is helpful to know that they don't call from an unknown number and I will have to brace myself for any calls from an 0800 number in future and make an effort to answer them. I have just received a letter from the DWP extending my PIP award for a further 12 months. My current award was due to end next month and it is so my payments continue whilst my review is yet to be completed.

My last review in 2020 was paper-based and I also didn't receive a call and it was completed by a case manager, not sent to an assessment provider at all. On that occasion, I reported no change to any of the descriptors and provided relevant medical evidence as well as gave detailed answers with up to date examples of my difficulties. This time, again, I have no reported changes (other than medication type and dosage) and given detailed answers to the relevant descriptors as well as provided a recent report from a medical professional.

Hopefully, I don't have to wait too long but it sounds like if it took 11 months for your review to even be triaged, then I will be waiting at least until the spring. I returned my forms and evidence in April this year.

Thank you again, Poppy, for your insight and best of luck! 😊