PIP application & decision time?

BamberBoing

I made a new claim for PIP, the forms were returned beginning of November 2021.  I understand the decision time is usually around 12 weeks however it's now been almost 12 weeks and I haven't heard anything.

I'm obviously aware of delays but is this usual?  No contact? No requests to attend an assessment? I've tried to chase up using the enquiry line number but the line is constantly busy.

Any help appreciated! 

poppy12345

I'm not sure where you got the 12 weeks from but that's very optimistic. You were advised in a previous thread of yours here..https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6306774/dla-pip-claim-advice-needed#latest that timescales are very lengthy. You are looking at abolut 10 months from start to finish.

An assessment is most likely because most people have them, this will be through either telephone or face to face. Once an appointment becomes available you'll be contacted.

Your DLA will continue in the meantime.

turnitround

Its all very confusing. My brother has cancer and has put in a claim. I was telling him it could take quite a few months to be dealt with. However, my next door neighbour put in for PIP at the end of Nov last year and it took 7 weeks from start to finish including a telephone assessment. She is not terminally ill so that was remarkably fast.

Spoonie_Turtle

turnitround said:

Its all very confusing. My brother has cancer and has put in a claim. I was telling him it could take quite a few months to be dealt with. However, my next door neighbour put in for PIP at the end of Nov last year and it took 7 weeks from start to finish including a telephone assessment. She is not terminally ill so that was remarkably fast.

That is exceptionally fast!  Back in 2020 when claim volumes were way down, my own assessment was about 9 weeks after returning my form. 

[From sending my form back to receiving the right decision via MR was about 5 months in total, which is really quite quick for PIP - and was only because they'd stopped all reviews and had many fewer claims than usual at that point.]

peteuk

turnitround said:

Its all very confusing. My brother has cancer and has put in a claim. I was telling him it could take quite a few months to be dealt with. However, my next door neighbour put in for PIP at the end of Nov last year and it took 7 weeks from start to finish including a telephone assessment. She is not terminally ill so that was remarkably fast.

Apologies for the nature of the question, but is your brothers cancer terminal?  If so does he have a DS1500, this will mean his PIP assessment is routed differently.   Seven weeks is extremely fast, turn around from assessment to decision in Oct was 8 weeks and I cant see the back log having been cleared. 

calcotti

peteuk said:

turnitround said:

Its all very confusing. My brother has cancer and has put in a claim. I was telling him it could take quite a few months to be dealt with. However, my next door neighbour put in for PIP at the end of Nov last year and it took 7 weeks from start to finish including a telephone assessment. She is not terminally ill so that was remarkably fast.

Apologies for the nature of the question, but is your brothers cancer terminal?  If so does he have a DS1500, this will mean his PIP assessment is routed differently.   Seven weeks is extremely fast, turn around from assessment to decision in Oct was 8 weeks and I cant see the back log having been cleared. 

Seven weeks was the neighbour's experience, not the brother's. If a DS1500 had been issued for the neighbour there would not have been any telephone assessment as referred to.
I agree, 7 weeks would have been very quick for a normal claim even pre pandemic.

turnitround

Im pleased to say that my brother is not classed as terminal although his cancer is widespread we are all trying to remain optimistic.

The neighbour I referred to was not terminal but she is 87 so perhaps she was fast tracked due to her age.  I know she did have a telephone assessment though.

calcotti

turnitround said:

The neighbour I referred to was not terminal but she is 87 so perhaps she was fast tracked due to her age.  I know she did have a telephone assessment though.

7 weeks is extraordinarily fast (for any claim other than a terminal claim).

poppy12345

turnitround said:

 However, my next door neighbour put in for PIP at the end of Nov last year and it took 7 weeks from start to finish

turnitround said:

The neighbour I referred to was not terminal but she is 87 so perhaps she was fast tracked due to her age.  I know she did have a telephone assessment though.

That would not have been PIP it would have been Attendance Allowance. Those of State pension age are unable to claim PIP.

turnitround

Thanks Poppy, that explains it.

calcotti

poppy12345 said:

turnitround said:

 However, my next door neighbour put in for PIP at the end of Nov last year and it took 7 weeks from start to finish

turnitround said:

The neighbour I referred to was not terminal but she is 87 so perhaps she was fast tracked due to her age.  I know she did have a telephone assessment though.

That would not have been PIP it would have been Attendance Allowance. Those of State pension age are unable to claim PIP.

Completely missed that! They wouldn’t have had a telephone assessment either as AA doesn’t have an assessment process of that kind.