PIP claim timeframe

Lunamia

Hi, any advice would be welcomed.

I made an initial claim for PIP last year, I’m on no other benefits and have no income except savings. I had cancer a few years back, and the treatment for that (rare one) was especially aggressive and has left me with life changing problems, including pain issues. I held off from claiming as I didn’t feel entitled to help, but realised that I actually am. 

My claim was received on July 22nd, and I’m still waiting. It was passed from DWP to the new assessment company (ATOS rebranded) in Sept, they haven’t even got to it yet to decide whether I need an assessment or not. I understand delays but I’m unsure what to do - surely 6 months is too long to decide whether I have an assessment? I have MH issues too, including depression, and it was really hard for me to make this claim, triggering. 

Any advice on what I should do please? Thanks.

poppy12345

There's huge backlogs at the moment across most of the country. The estimated timescale form start to finish is 10 months, sometimes longer so 6 months isn't that long.

The majority of people have assessments so you should expect one of those. Paper based assessments do happen but they are rare.

Lunamia

poppy12345 said:

There's huge backlogs at the moment across most of the country. The estimated timescale form start to finish is 10 months, sometimes longer so 6 months isn't that long.

The majority of people have assessments so you should expect one of those. Paper based assessments do happen but they are rare.

Thank you Poppy, that clarifies things. May I ask how you found out that info? When I looked originally there was no mention of a much extended timescale, although of course I anticipated delays. It would have been helpful if I’d known when applying, contact in any form other than writing is difficult for me, so ringing to ask is a big deal 😊

poppy12345

It's well known on here. The pandemic has caused huge delays. You're not the only person waiting.

pinkmouse

I don’t know if this will be any help to you OP but I put in a change of circumstances. I phoned in mid May and got the forms, didn’t have my assessment (phone) til beginning of December and got a decision on 14th January. So aye 9 months. There was no communication from them until they told me the assessment date. Hang tight, it’ll be in hand 😊

Spoonie_Turtle

May I ask whether you've looked to see if you are entitled to any other benefits?  If your savings are over £16,000 then there wouldn't be any income-based help but if they are £16,000 or less you may be eligible for Universal Credit.  (I infer from what you say about treatment that you probably haven't worked within the last few years so wouldn't be entitled to ESA, which is based on your NI contributions record.)

Also, you may need to consider what impact not being in work or claiming income-replacement benefits will have on your state pension.  Income-replacement benefits such as UC and ESA (but not PIP) give NI credits which count towards your pension.  If you are not eligible for either one, you can do a credits-only claim for ESA, so you'd go through the claim process, not get the payment, but have your NI credited for future pension entitlement.  Maybe something to look into and would be good to decide by April for the new tax year.

Edit: just to be clear, this is all unsolicited advice so if these are things you've considered already, please feel free to disregard and no need to justify yourself to us!  But I bring it up in case you haven't considered it, especially with the state pension, because it's important and often people aren't aware of it.