PIP2 timescale automatically extended?

DustyBlues

Has anyone else been advised by DWP that the usual four week time limit to return a completed PIP2 has been extended by a further 8 weeks? I rang them yesterday to say mine would be delayed just a couple days as I had been admitted to hospital and they told me not to worry as since Monday 15th March they have automatically extended the time limit by 8 weeks as they are so far behind in arranging assessments. Also, I read on another forum that face-to-face assessments are restarting from next month - again does anyone know if this is true please? Thanks

poppy12345

This is the first time i've heard of the 8 week extension but it doesn't surprise me. When i had my daughters review form some months ago i rang for an extension to return it and they happily gave me an extra 5 weeks or so for it to be received by them. Awards have been extended to allow plenty of time for a decision anyway.

As far as i know there's no plans to restart face to face assessments but i could be wrong.

calcotti

I had heard that a extension has been applied to all PIP2 return periods although the letters still state the standard 4 weeks. Haven't seen any announcement about this but the automated message on the help line says claimants now have three months from the date the form was issued in which to return it. 

F2F assessments are, to the best of my knowledge, still suspended.

poppy12345

calcotti said:

I had heard that a extension has been applied to all PIP2 return periods although the letters still state the standard 4 weeks. Haven't seen any announcement about this but the automated message on the help line says claimants now have three months from the date the form was issued in which to return it. 

F2F assessments are, to the best of my knowledge, still suspended.

That's good to know thanks. I had my dreaded review form a couple of weeks ago and was going to ring for an extension to return it.

Spoonie_Turtle

calcotti said:

I had heard that a extension has been applied to all PIP2 return periods although the letters still state the standard 4 weeks. Haven't seen any announcement about this but the automated message on the help line says claimants now have three months from the date the form was issued in which to return it. 

F2F assessments are, to the best of my knowledge, still suspended.

That is most interesting because when I applied a year ago it was 12 weeks and the message was on both the claim line and the info line*, but when I last phoned (months ago, now - probably September/October), there was no such message.  Evidently they've reinstated it.

*the letter at that time still had the 1 month deadline, although of course it was 3 weeks by the time the letter actually arrived.

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

calcotti said:

I had heard that a extension has been applied to all PIP2 return periods although the letters still state the standard 4 weeks. Haven't seen any announcement about this but the automated message on the help line says claimants now have three months from the date the form was issued in which to return it. 

F2F assessments are, to the best of my knowledge, still suspended.

That is most interesting because when I applied a year ago it was 12 weeks and the message was on both the claim line and the info line*, but when I last phoned (months ago, now - probably September/October), there was no such message.  Evidently they've reinstated it.

*the letter at that time still had the 1 month deadline, although of course it was 3 weeks by the time the letter actually arrived.

There was no message on there either when i rang regarding my daughters review and this was January.

sammyjammy

poppy12345 said:

This is the first time i've heard of the 8 week extension but it doesn't surprise me. When i had my daughters review form some months ago i rang for an extension to return it and they happily gave me an extra 5 weeks or so for it to be received by them. Awards have been extended to allow plenty of time for a decision anyway.

As far as i know there's no plans to restart face to face assessments but i could be wrong.

I can't speak for face to face assessments but I know normal Jobcentre activity is resuming from 12th April so no doubt it will follow, maybe at a slower pace.

calcotti

poppy12345 said: There was no message on there either when i rang regarding my daughters review and this was January. 

I think it’s very recent.

DustyBlues

Thanks All for your replies. After I started this thread earlier, I received a letter in today's post stating .......... 4 weeks time limit is almost up! But it was dated end of last week. So I rang again and was assured there IS an 8 week extension being applied and to ignore the deadline stated this letter as the change was not instigated until 15th March. Just to be clear - in my case this is a first-time PIP application, not a review.

poppy12345

The letter you received was automatically generated and they always send this even if you had asked for an extension a couple of weeks ago.