PIP and Coronavirus

PeggyMay

I hope someone here can help me. I sent my PIP form off four months ago, and am still waiting for a home assessment. I chased them about three weeks ago and they said they were waiting for an assessor to become available in my area.

However, due to Coronavirus I have now started self isolating, as I’m in the “vulnerable” category... and soon we will probably all be going on lockdown for months. 

This means I won’t get my assessment... and therefore my decision about my entitlement... and therefore the money I need... for months! I don’t know what to do or if there is any recourse for me. I’ve been trying the PIP helpline but just keep getting put on hold and eventually have to give up.

Can anyone shed any light or have any suggestions? Thank you.

calcotti

The blunt truth is that nobody knows how this will play out and how it will impact.

calcotti

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51901818
"From Tuesday, face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability welfare payments will be suspended for three months.
The suspension will apply to claimants of personal independence payments, employment and support allowance, some on Universal Credit and people on industrial injuries schemes."

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/15/boris-johnson-to-hold-daily-coronavirus-press-briefings
"On Monday the Department for Work and Pensions will also be announcing that face-to-face assessments for people claiming sickness and disability benefits will be suspended for three months. Instead claimants will be assessed by phone or paper-based methods."

45002

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/face-to-face-health-assessments-for-benefits-suspended-amid-coronavirus-outbreak

Newly_retired

Telephone or paper- based assessments will be used. It says that Claimants who already have an appointment for an assessment will be informed.

theworrier1979

PeggyMay said:

I hope someone here can help me. I sent my PIP form off four months ago, and am still waiting for a home assessment. I chased them about three weeks ago and they said they were waiting for an assessor to become available in my area.

However, due to Coronavirus I have now started self isolating, as I’m in the “vulnerable” category... and soon we will probably all be going on lockdown for months. 

This means I won’t get my assessment... and therefore my decision about my entitlement... and therefore the money I need... for months! I don’t know what to do or if there is any recourse for me. I’ve been trying the PIP helpline but just keep getting put on hold and eventually have to give up.

Can anyone shed any light or have any suggestions? Thank you.

I'm in exactly the same position, I applied in November, I've had 2 appointments cancelled because my sign language interpreter was not available and my appointment on 30th march has been cancelled due to coronavirus, I can't put any care in place for myself until I get my PIP - I'm getting desperate now and nowhere online seems to have the answer!