P.I.P. timescales...

Monkey_moo

Just in case anyone is still trying to get timescales.....

I have just received an award for PIP at the higher rate.
I applied back May 2013, as a new claimant. That's 7 months ago!!
After many phone calls to ATOS and the DWP. I made an Official complaint to ATOS, Then followed up with phone calls to the case worker assigned.
During this, I also wrote to my local MP, who in turn wrote to the head of the DWP.
I believe this helped.

It was a huge stress and effort....But at least it is now sorted.

.....And at the speedy time of only 7 months later!

925dancer

I just called ATOS, I'm still being audited. Sent my MP an email, he replied yesterday saying he would help if I still haven't had a decision by the end of next week.

So frustrated with it all now.

dizzykat

New application June 2013
Assessed 7th October 2013 (Atos)
Still in the audit pile January 2014

Was told on 9th December my case was being escalated. Rang last week - still in the audit pile. Got her to admit escalation makes no difference. Cannot bring myself to ring anymore. :mad:

925dancer

It occurred to me today, what if your award is only for a year? Does that start at your application date and if so, shouldn't they be starting to re-assess now so that there isn't a massive delay between your old award running out and the new award starting?

I can see this just turning into a never ending headache for a lot of people.

mrsmartguy123

hi all,my wife has claimed in june,assessed in September and heard now,t,from assessment,, she has phoned phoned dwp and capita and gets the same answer,"with health professionals dept " from capita and dwp say cannot interfear and have raised a complaint with dwp against capita with them,only to receive a letter from capita "stating they are dealing with pip claim and no time limit and offer there apologizes ",I have never heard of anything so mad in my life,these contracters are doing what the hell they want and when,hence we suffer in the process,i have contacted our local mp and as of yet no reply.my wife now has been waiting from day 1 of her claim 30 weeks and no decision yet,my wife has come to the end of her tether and is anxios and depressed,has said numerous times wishing she was dead,she and me are sick of this situation as me being disabled as well,i do not need the stress either, perhaps I should shut and curl up in corner with my wife and "vegetate", I will not phone the dwp or capita over this matter again and not expecting replie from mp either, WHAT A life.

smudge75

i am now into week 32 of my claim and 20 weeks since assessment still no word . have had letter from MP saying she has wrote to DWP and is waiting for a reply . i wrote a complaint to Atos last week they are meant to reply in 2 working day surprisely they haven't . 7 and half months is just ridiclous now . i am getting worse help wise and really this is taking it toll .

mrsmartguy123

hi,sorry you with same problem,just an update,this afternoon mp rang wanting wifes ni no so she can go for I d s,s blood,probably in commons tomoz,we told her no more phoning from me or my wife as had enough,she said that they want you to give up,so they save money,but give themselves a 11% pay rise,theiving b

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ds.

925dancer

Just called ATOS again. Surprise surprise report still hasn't been completed. The lady this time did say that they had requested further information (I assume from my GP, I didn't ask) and they had now received that. How true or even recent that was who knows. She said she'd try and get them to look at it again and push it along but admitted she doesn't get any feedback on whether her efforts are successful so can't let me know the outcome or if it's worked.

So all a bit hopeless really.

My MP fobbed me off last week saying to wait until the end of this week so have now dutifully sent him another email telling him I'm no further and forward and to please help.

smudge75

925dancer i was on the phone the other day got the same rubbish again its still in audit cant give a time limit . i have actually sent a complaint in ant have my MP on to the DWP so hope that something might happen soon . but not going to hold my breathe

singlehouseholder

Hi all had my pip assesment on Friday. Have to say I found the whole thing quite harrowing. It was held in a leisure centre, about ten minutes drive away. The waiting area faced tennis courts, nice, so while sitting waiting I just watched people doing what I'm probably never ever going to be able to do. Assessor came and got us, we went into a small messy room. She asked me how I was so I told her, t12 incomplete paraplegia, she wanted , insisted upon knowing who had told me this and when, explained my consultant at the regional spinal injuries unit gave me the diagnosis. She then apologised, saying she didn't have any of my medical information as the computer was down. She then proceeded to take notes. I explained how I'd ended up with my disability, gave her all my drugs, which she noted down. Then began to ask about my typical day,so I told her. She asked what I did for dinner, said my mam comes round at dinner time so I'm not alone all day and she'd bring home made soup for us, or I'd maybe have a tin of fish. She asked if I had a microwave and could I feed myself if I did. Said I don't, never have, always ate healthy , as a vegetarian I my diet consists of lots of freshly prepared veg/salads. I never have a ding meal person. She then went on to try and explain how , you know it's about what you can do not what you can't, the Paralympics proved that, which I thought was a little patronising as she knew nothing about me before the accident, or now!! Told her how I'd love an adapted kitchen , unfortunately I've had to pay for all adaptions, widening doors/paths/changing garden gate for access. Install a stairlift and a wet room and that I can't afford to do my kitchen, ands it's unlikely that I'll be able to given the debt I now have and the reduced income I'll also have. She asked about hobbies, pets. We , my partner accompanied me, told her we have two dogs, and would regularly holiday with them, weekends away at the coast, log cabin twice a year. She then told us about her dog, for about ten minutes. She done a basic exercise test, maths test, then said that's it. We reminded her that we had only got to lunchtime of my typical day, she said oh yes. She was writing down very little of what was said, and ignored the fact that I said I'll probably not be able to return to one of my jobs, a youth worker. It wasn't til I got home I realised we hadn't discussed any of my home therapy, or physiotherapy. I'm expecting to score low for the care element and will probably have to appeal . Hopefully the fact that I'm paraplegic should qualify me for mobility , but who knows.
She said she had 48 hrs to send the report off, I'm assuming back to atos, she found the fact that my main employer is the DWP funny for some reason...... I suppose now it's a waiting game, if my assesment passes through the atos internal audit , it will only be because she has made some of it up, as we didn't cover the whole area that the Dms at the DWP will need information about to make their decision.
Overall I found the 1hour and ten minute assesment gruelling, reliving my accident, explaining my treatment, with the help of my partner as a lot of it is very hazy, after the airlift anyway.
I will keep you updated as to how my claim progresses, or not.