Repercussions of withdrawing my PIP claim after successful appeal

victoriafv

I had a telephone review of my PIP claim in April, and their decision was to end my PIP claim after scoring me zero points (my last claim I was awarded 16 points). Unsurprisingly, I took it straight to mandatory reconsideration because their decision was outrageous and the report I received was shoddy to say the least. I'm still waiting for their response. However, I am thinking long and hard about ending my claim once they've come back to me with their decision, regardless of what it is. Without PIP I will _just about_ be able to get by, and though it won't be pleasant, I've been dealing with their demeaning, exhausting, and frankly corrupt system for a decade and I just can't do it anymore. The constant dread and uncertainty is doing more damage than good now and I'd rather be struggling financially and free of them. My main question is this - if they review my mandatory reconsideration and decide to reinstate my award (partially or fully), then they will owe me a lot of backdated payments. If at that point I contact them to say "okay, now I want to end my claim", is there any chance they'll take that as some kind of indicator of fraud and open an investigation into why I "suddenly" decided I didn't need PIP? The DWP have treated me like cr*p for 10 years and I'm damned if I'll withdraw my claim before their decision and let them keep all those backdated payments that I was fully entitled to, but I really just want out after that. I can't take it anymore. Short version: if they reinstate my claim, give me the money they owe me, then I tell them (politely) to take a hike, can they take the money back?

TELLIT01

No they will not be able to take the money back.  Although I understand your feelings on the situation, it seems an odd decision to make if you are going to be paid.  Why not take the alternative option of receiving payments going forward until such time as they decide a reassessment is due.  At that point make a decision as to whether or not you wish to continue?

phillw

TELLIT01 said:

At that point make a decision as to whether or not you wish to continue?

Or even make the decision now that you won't continue, to avoid dreading the letter.

calcotti

I agree with TELLIT. If you are contemplating cancelling a claim the sensible time to do it would be when it next comes up for renewal/review. You might as well take advantage of any award until that time.

poppy12345

I don't understand why you would put yourself through the MR process and then decide to end your claim if the decision changed. Although the percentage of claims the succeed at MR stage is very low. Most people take it to Tribunal.