Giving updates to PIP

Sunbeam2023

Hi can those who have had interaction with PIP respond please. Mean comments not welcome

I'd like to know how your calls have gone when you ring PIP to give an update. I've rang today for the second time and the person on the phone only seems concerned if things have gotten worse. A friend has had a similar experience. Surely if something improves or will improve shortly they need to be updated? So they can reassess?

Or is it that if you are awarded to a certain year regardless of the update they don't want to know if anything gets better until then? I'm so confused.

Muttleythefrog

Yes you are correct. I can't explain why they seem to be refusing reported change of circumstances (health). If health worsens or improves which impacts PIP entitlement then they should consider re-assessment necessary.

The award length is based on what they think makes sense to assess whether there has been any change in disabilities but the claimant is required to report such changes during an award.

Is it possible the improvements you were reporting to them wouldn't affect award? It's the only justification they could have for passing over reported changes as I see it.

I'd be interested to see if anyone else is reporting similar problem...

If you don't get anywhere fast and are worried about future problems... I would be inclined to report the changes in writing.. keeping a copy of your letter and at least proof of posting.

Spoonie_Turtle

It may depend on what kind of changes you're trying to report and what you're telling them.  Changes need to be long term, in case you weren't aware. 

So for the original PIP assessment, you have to have had the difficulties for at least three months and expect them to continue for at least nine more.  I believe the same kind of principle applies to changes of circumstance, things being better or worse.  

And the change has to be significant enough to affect which PIP descriptors you meet for more than half the time over the course of the year, enough to materially affect which award you qualify for.

Really the people on the phone aren't trained to assess whether the changes you're trying to report do affect anything, but since they have such huge backlogs of reassessments that definitely need doing because people's awards are running out, perhaps they've been given some guidance about what things definitely don't yet count (like relatively minor or recent changes) so as not to add to the caseload unless they really have to.

Sunbeam2023

I actually thought it would lower my payments

Sunbeam2023

It's just their apathy on the phone makes me worry if they log it properly

born_again

TBH, given the already long delays on reviews. Many of which have been already extended a couple of years, & looking at 12 months to be assessed. I guess they maybe trying to avoid extra workload.

Sunbeam2023

Born again that makes sense but how then can people be reassured they won't come knocking to do you for fraud etc. The system us broken.

beanielou

Sunbeam2023 said:

Born again that makes sense but how then can people be reassured they won't come knocking to do you for fraud etc. The system is broken.

Best to put in writing.