Why does the PIP process take so long and what are the steps?

TELLIT01

The intention with PIP is that virtually all claimants will need a face to face interview before payment. One of the perceived problems with DLA was that too much trust was placed in the statements provided by the claimants and the amount of money paid out to those who didn't actually have a genuine entitlement.

Diary

Catlover777 wrote: »

It's important to me to claim PIP and I am wondering why it takes so long.

Also, what is the exact process that happens on both ends?

Sure, there are a lot of people that need to be dealt with, but it just sounds so unrealistic.

How difficult can it be to just make the few phone calls, send all the medical evidence in, have everything fully assessed and then have a decision made.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Actually it's easier than you think. PIP claimants don't need to send in medical evidence. The form clearly says ATOS/DWP will ask for evidence if they need it. As it states this I sent no medical evidence whatsoever and my claim for PIP was decided yesterday.

I was asked along the way for evidence but I just directed ATOS/DWP to my GP - it's not up to me to chase and pay for medical evidence when they say they will get it. It's my personal view and not for everyone I know but I they made me go through a horrific assessment and you can't have it both ways. I just batted it back to them with a 'it was your choice not contact the numbers/addresses on my claim form - get on with it'. Although I've never been to tribunal and can't comment on the form, I would've supplied evidence for the court if they don't say they will get it.

I will add I was awarded enhanced mobility but lacked the care part by 2 points. My mandatory reconsideration was upheld - with still no medical evidence - and I was awarded care as well. Maybe if I had supplied evidence it wouldn't have gone to mandatory reconsideration but that's a chance I was willing to take.

Scully38

Catlover777 wrote: »

It's important to me to claim PIP and I am wondering why it takes so long.

Also, what is the exact process that happens on both ends?

Sure, there are a lot of people that need to be dealt with, but it just sounds so unrealistic.

How difficult can it be to just make the few phone calls, send all the medical evidence in, have everything fully assessed and then have a decision made.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I applied in November for PIP (i'm working part time). They cocked up by sending a letter saying I didn't qualify, but I had no face to face. Finally had my F2F assessment in July and awarded care component 4 weeks later.

The person who interviewed me said they'd lost all my documents, so the entire result was based just on the interview not on anything else, but I am appealing. As they took so long I had all my back pay from the day I claimed; £2500 paid into my account four weeks after my F2F.

To answer your questions, you aren't likely to be awarded PIP by simply putting down basic info. You have to show how you need help by looking at the descriptors and assessing first if you qualify, then you have to get doctors reports, have a daily written diary is helpful for a week showing how things are. All this takes time. A lot of people are refused (i've been told by CAB) because the form doesn't show the needs of the person in accordance with the PIP descriptions.

There are so many appeals going through at the moment in particular you have the DWP having to do a management review of their own decision which obviously stops them from dealing with new cases, ergo a backlog builds up...

Scully38

Diary wrote: »

Actually it's easier than you think. PIP claimants don't need to send in medical evidence. The form clearly says ATOS/DWP will ask for evidence if they need it. As it states this I sent no medical evidence whatsoever and my claim for PIP was decided yesterday.

I was asked along the way for evidence but I just directed ATOS/DWP to my GP - it's not up to me to chase and pay for medical evidence when they say they will get it. It's my personal view and not for everyone I know but I they made me go through a horrific assessment and you can't have it both ways. I just batted it back to them with a 'it was your choice not contact the numbers/addresses on my claim form - get on with it'. Although I've never been to tribunal and can't comment on the form, I would've supplied evidence for the court if they don't say they will get it.

I will add I was awarded enhanced mobility but lacked the care part by 2 points. My mandatory reconsideration was upheld - with still no medical evidence - and I was awarded care as well. Maybe if I had supplied evidence it wouldn't have gone to mandatory reconsideration but that's a chance I was willing to take.

My assessor didn't get the medical evidence from my consultant or my GP and they lost the documents I sent in, and didn't get anymore. They put on the form that I got back detailing what I qualified for that there was no medical input, hence why i'm appealing.

Robbie64

A PDF which outlines what the DWP call the "claimant journey" when claiming PIP can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pip-claim-process-overview-the-claimant-journey

The time taken for a decision has increased since the above document was published in March 2014. I have read that the DWP are now informing people making a claim to PIP to not contact them to chase up a decision on a claim until 26 weeks have passed since the initial claim was acknowledged.

In other words the "claimant journey" is a very slow one...

rogerblack

Diary wrote: »

Actually it's easier than you think. PIP claimants don't need to send in medical evidence. The form clearly says ATOS/DWP will ask for evidence if they need it. As it states this I sent no medical evidence whatsoever and my claim for PIP was decided yesterday.

This advice seems familiar.

ATOS/DWP will ask for evidence _ONLY_ in very limited circumstances.
If, for example, the claimant is likely to become violent at an assessment, or if the decisionmaker is almost certain the claimant fits into the most severe groups, and wants more evidence.

They certainly do not routinely contact the claimants GP or other care professionals listed.

Specifically - they do not request evidence usually if they are about to find that the claimant is not disabled.

If you have relevant evidence that you can supply that supports your claims - then doing so at the outset will boost your chances.

Elsie1

Hi
Just thought I would share my experience of the PIP process. I applied on 6 Jan 2014 and I enclosed quite a bit of evidence including the paperwork refering to my RECENT successful claim for an ill-health pension. The claim was passed to ATOS on 9 Jan 2014. Then I waited and waited and nothing. I phoned ATOS a couple of times but all they would say was that my claim was in a pile and would be looked at on a strict first come, first served basis. This continued past the magic 26 weeks point and by the beginning of August I was seriously fed up. So I emailed my MP, got a reply from his office the same day, got a letter from the DWP 4 days later saying they were dealing with my claim and a decision without an assessment today, 20 days later. Apparently ATOS phoned my consultant to have a chat with him about my condition and made the decision presumably based on that - and a good push from my MP I suppose. You absolutely should not have to go to the length of contacting your MP, but it's worth a try (although as I told his office, it wasn't enough to make me vote Conservative!). Good luck to everyone.

mattk35

My wife sent off her claim form on the 20th dec 2013, got an appointment with a capita assessor on the 14th may. Report was with the assessor for 5 weeks before going to capita. Capita sent the form to the DWP on the 14th Aug and the decision letter was sent to my wife on the 29 Aug. Absolute shambles and to think as tax payers we are paying for this disgusting service. But as we were told on every phone call we made chasing them up, "don't worry because the money will be back dated" that's a great help when I'm trying to do my shopping. Wonder if Aldi would let me back date paying for my big shop.

dont-give-atos

I was medically retired from work in march 2012 on the say so of ATOS who my company used.
I had 7 medicals with ATOS doctors in an 18 month period,a good service for my company who were paying for the assessments to get medical severance,and after contacting my G.P. and consultant my company were given permission by ATOS to get rid of me.
Then I come to making a PIP claim in AUG 2013 so sent my part 2 back and was told they never received it,even though they sighed for the recorded delivery.I then sent it again and waited and waited and waited exactly 364 days (1 day short of a year) to get the face to face assessment on Friday 29thAUG 1 year and 1 day after the first claim.This was only after my ex-wife phoned on my behalf to complain about the length of time it was taking.They had reports from 7 of there own doctors as well as my G.P. and the professor who was treating me and guess what?THEY ASKED ME FOR EVIDENCE.I am now waiting for the decision.I have severe copd and cannot talk for long on the phone and i feel totally depressed by the whole sorry affair.I can only imagine the amount of people who just give-up,I nearly did,and i suspect that is what they want!
Believe me they don't give ATOS

Scully38

Diary wrote: »

Actually it's easier than you think. PIP claimants don't need to send in medical evidence. The form clearly says ATOS/DWP will ask for evidence if they need it. As it states this I sent no medical evidence whatsoever and my claim for PIP was decided yesterday.

I was asked along the way for evidence but I just directed ATOS/DWP to my GP - it's not up to me to chase and pay for medical evidence when they say they will get it. It's my personal view and not for everyone I know but I they made me go through a horrific assessment and you can't have it both ways. I just batted it back to them with a 'it was your choice not contact the numbers/addresses on my claim form - get on with it'. Although I've never been to tribunal and can't comment on the form, I would've supplied evidence for the court if they don't say they will get it.

I will add I was awarded enhanced mobility but lacked the care part by 2 points. My mandatory reconsideration was upheld - with still no medical evidence - and I was awarded care as well. Maybe if I had supplied evidence it wouldn't have gone to mandatory reconsideration but that's a chance I was willing to take.

The problem with that is they (with me anyway) just took information from my F2F, they didn't write to my GP or my hospital consultant at all, and now i've had to tell them the decision is wrong as they never contacted any of the people I advised them of. Whilst I got some PIP, the mobility part and their reasonings didn't even include half of my medical problems as the assessor never wrote it down, and the explanation letter clearly states the decision is based on interview only. They didn't even look at my form according to them as they lost it!!