P.I.P. timescales...

LL30

Great news for you Marcus. I may be brave and ring them tomorrow. It's now 2 months exactly since my f2f...

Mrs_Ryan

Hi all
Bear with me this might be a long one! I'm typing on my phone so I will try to break the paragraphs when I can.
25 past 9 this morning my phone rang. I wasn't in the best frame of mind as I got the sad news at 1am this morning that a friend had died so as you can imagine I wasn't exactly with it.
It was the DWP. First question was why was I unhappy with the decision? Cue floodgates opening. I first of all asked why they had once again ignored medical evidence regarding my back pain. She said that they had medical evidence but it was to do with back pain and nothing to do with my claim? To which I said have you actually read my claim?! She read out my GP's report which was more helpful than I imagined- for example it said I had mentioned I had poor appetite and had to be prompted to eat, which I repeated to Capita but the DWP insisted I was motivated to eat and could cook a meal! It also said I had poor concentration which I had also said but the report said that I could concentrate on reading and did so often..
She kept repeating parrot fashion 'it's got nothing to do with the diagnosis' to which I said 'read the original decision, there's quite clearly said you have no diagnosis!'
The gem was when I said I was most annoyed with their continual insistence that I can communicate appropriately with everyone all of the time. There is a specific aspect of my PTSD and a reason behind this which means I cannot communicate with men I don't know as I have a certain belief. She said 'oh your condition is variable so you can communicate with them most of the time!' To which I had heard enough and I blew. I shouted no! It doesn't work like that! I explained why this was the case and said I can't just go and talk to men I don't know in whatever environment- could be a male shop assistant or male on duty anywhere or over the phone- when I feel like it- I physically can't because I believe if I do they will attack me! And this is constant- it's not just when I feel like it as you are stating!
I said I won't be appealing as I believe that the DWP have made their mind up on Capita's lies and I believe I'll just get refused again as they believe there's nothing wrong with me (she didn't deny it) I asked why I was told I would get another assessment and they would contact my GP again and she just said 'oh we wouldn't say that' I just kept saying why do you accuse me of lying everything I say?
She actually had the cheek to ask me at the end of the call did I understand better to which I rather caustically said I understood in the first place and after 8 years of working in mental health and 8 years of caring for someone with a mental health problem I know that you can't just turn them off and on when you feel like it!
I've put in a fresh claim today. I'm going to go to CAB and when I see this new consultant I'm hoping that they can make it a bit clearer and also clarify the link between my cancer and the mental health problems. I'm also going to demand this time round that the assessment is recorded so Capita don't get away with their lies again.
I told the woman who rang I'm putting in a second complaint but she said 'oh you can't complain just because you've been declined' (I kid you not) to which I rather incredulously said I've been treated really badly and that's why I'm complaining!
More determined now to get through it this time. I know that I'm not making it up which is why it got me so down when they kept saying there was nothing wrong with me

Indie_Kid

Very sorry to hear that, Mrs_Ryan.

My understanding (this is true for DLA at least) you can make a new claim if your needs have changed. But I was told if it was too recent, they may use the old stuff they have and base your claim on that.

In theory, your diagnosis doesn't matter. But from experience, they tend to take you more seriously if you are diagnosed. Unless you're like me and either don't fit the stereotype or have a stupidly rare diagnosis that hardly anyone has heard of.

I hope you get it sorted.

lemontart

diagnosis does not matter - if that is the case why do they ask for medical evidence which will often contain said diagnosis

Sunshinesusie3

I think that the diagnosis informs them as to what the care needs might be and how they could affect mobility. The diagnosis is also likely to then inform how long the condition could last and be taken into consideration when setting an award period. For example the person that saw me knew that I have a fluctuating condition that can massively effect my day to day care needs.

For Mrs R I think you can only make a new claim if your condition has got worse since the date of their decision, the other option is to appeal. I'm sure the CAB will advise you.

It's good to see others are having their decisions come through though a shame that it doesn't look like the time scales are getting any shorter. To those still waiting for a decision - it does come and you do feel better, may take a little while to get over the additional stress it factors in mind.

Sunshinesusie3

LL30 wrote: »

Great news for you Marcus. I may be brave and ring them tomorrow. It's now 2 months exactly since my f2f...

Phone them up!
However, remember that the person answering the phone can't see everything about your claim so if they can't give you anything other than in 'you're in the queue, we're very busy, I feel your pain, etc etc' it may be worth asking for a claim manager to call you back. Unfortunately this is not instantaneous and you may have to get back on the waiting merry go round but it may help gee someone up especially if it's just got stuck on a desk somewhere.

cazz2013

Hi All, I originally posted on this thread - during my 30+ week wait for PIP - which was awarded January this year. It was a two year award from June 2013 - June 2015, with information that I would receive a renewal pack approx. 20 weeks before my award ended.

Fast forward middle of July (2 weeks ago) and I have already received the renewal pack with a deadline to return within the next two weeks. After phoning to see if there is a problem with my claim - I have been informed that all renewals are being sent out early to allow time for the correct assessments, given the backlog they are currently contending with.

So after over 6 months getting really stressed, worked up, and upset waiting for the claim to be decided - they have now deemed 7 months later that they will I need to start again so that they can have nearly a year to assess all renewals. I am really wondering if it is worth going through it all over again.

Even more so - given that my health has defiantly not improved - my world is falling apart at the seams - it is causing so much heart ache and stress to so many people - I just do not know if I can do this anymore.

Sorry for the length of my post - but thought that you would all like to know what to expect next. And I really needed just to vent on this, because everything else is so ****. I really hope that all of you still awaiting decisions hear very soon - it is a weight lifted once you receive your award - but they quickly come back for another round. Thank-you for taking the time to read all of this x

Indie_Kid

That really is a pain (text removed by MSE Forum Team) I know with DLA, it was 6 months at one that they'd send the renewal packs out. Never this early.

Mrs_Ryan

Sunshinesusie3 wrote: »

I think that the diagnosis informs them as to what the care needs might be and how they could affect mobility. The diagnosis is also likely to then inform how long the condition could last and be taken into consideration when setting an award period. For example the person that saw me knew that I have a fluctuating condition that can massively effect my day to day care needs.

For Mrs R I think you can only make a new claim if your condition has got worse since the date of their decision, the other option is to appeal. I'm sure the CAB will advise you.

It's good to see others are having their decisions come through though a shame that it doesn't look like the time scales are getting any shorter. To those still waiting for a decision - it does come and you do feel better, may take a little while to get over the additional stress it factors in mind.

Hi Susie
I did actually tell them that due to their actions my suicidal tendencies have come to the fore again. Since their original decision date my medication has been increased and also I have an appointment with a psychiatrist as they think it now might be something different again and that it might be a direct result of my cancer. So my needs have changed yes in a sense. Apparantly now I cannot appeal the original decision (good) I didn't want to appeal the original decision as the assessment was so badly flawed and I didn't want it considered at all. I have been back to my doctor and the exact words I used were 'I cannot cope with life' I've never said that in the past. I'm hoping that my doctor has recorded that but I know she has wrote there is a marked decrease in my condition which is something. When I first applied my mood was bad but not as bad as it is now. I am actually now trying to get back into work (with massive adjustments) as I feel it's only a matter of time before my ESA is taken off me and I'm forced back into care work which would damage me more. Really think the DWP have it in for me..

Shisha

Hi. My ftf was on Friday 18th July I thought it went well but after reading various posts that doesn't really count. Now I am wondering when I should start phoning to see if a decision has been made or where I am in the queue. This final bit of waiting is harder to cope with than all the previous weeks of waiting. I don't think I can handle any more stress if the outcome is not favourable.