Review PIP no phone interview.

Boohoo

My BIL has had PIP for nearly 24 months.

Last year he had to fill in a form to continue getting PIP and send it off before 10/1/25 which he did.

Every month he got a SMS saying they have his form and due to backlog it will take a few months to review the application.

On July 28 th he got a letter saying due to backlog his PIP has been extended for 12 months until 8/08/26 which is 1 year from when it ends.

Last week he got a SMS saying they have done the review and they will send a letter with the outcome within 2 weeks.

He never got a telephone interview and nobody has called him asking for any information about his application.

Does this mean he has been turned down or is this normal not to have a telephone interview?

He gets the lowest payment and his symptoms have got a bit worse than the last time he 1st ever applied.

Robbie64

It means that a paper assessment has been carried out. While it's impossible to guarantee that he has been reawarded PIP, it's unusual for someone to go from getting PIP to not getting PIP on review without having a telephone or face to face assessment. At the very least it would suggest that he has kept his exisiting award.

He could phone the PIP helpline. He doesn't need to hold on the line to speak to an agent but an automated voice will ask him three security questions which are answered using either a telephone keypad or by speaking into the phone. Once successfully answered, the automated voice will then state when the next PIP payment will be and the amount it will be. This might help answer what the outcome of the review was.

KxMx

The PIP automated line isn't always reliable and an agent won't always give the outcome over the phone. 

Muttleythefrog

Agree with Robbie's advice... very likely a paper based assessment has been sufficient (and if their disabilities and health is unchanged this is very possible... it's hard to know if any indications of worse health was picked up from their form filling and they've reacted to that also) and so no phone and in person assessment required. It is unlikely that the award has been stopped. The new decision will replace the extension which was made to prevent PIP running out before they could action the reassessment. 

Try calling... not only check the next payment but perhaps if time hang on that line and ask what the decision is... they are meant to not tell you but in my experience they sometimes will even read out the decision letter.

Any issues with the outcome of the reassessment - return with details.

magicmoneyportaloo

I had a review recently and the adviser was willing to tell me. My experience of the PIP helpline has never been too bad honestly.

I'm glad I did as I did not want to spend weeks worrying about it.

Boohoo

Robbie64 said:

It means that a paper assessment has been carried out. While it's impossible to guarantee that he has been reawarded PIP, it's unusual for someone to go from getting PIP to not getting PIP on review without having a telephone or face to face assessment. At the very least it would suggest that he has kept his exisiting award.

He could phone the PIP helpline. He doesn't need to hold on the line to speak to an agent but an automated voice will ask him three security questions which are answered using either a telephone keypad or by speaking into the phone. Once successfully answered, the automated voice will then state when the next PIP payment will be and the amount it will be. This might help answer what the outcome of the review was.

Thank you.

I will tell him to try the helpline and see what or if his next payment due and amount.

Boohoo

Muttleythefrog said:

Agree with Robbie's advice... very likely a paper based assessment has been sufficient (and if their disabilities and health is unchanged this is very possible... it's hard to know if any indications of worse health was picked up from their form filling and they've reacted to that also) and so no phone and in person assessment required. It is unlikely that the award has been stopped. The new decision will replace the extension which was made to prevent PIP running out before they could action the reassessment. 

Try calling... not only check the next payment but perhaps if time hang on that line and ask what the decision is... they are meant to not tell you but in my experience they sometimes will even read out the decision letter.

Any issues with the outcome of the reassessment - return with details.

Thanks.

We thought it strange that there was no telephone interview and that's why he is in panic mode.

Hopefully it will be extended for another year.

On a side note if you claim PIP and you are still waiting for you renew claim to be assessed and it goes past your date of you existing claim for saying 4 months and then they reject you application do you have to pay back all the money you got while waiting?

KxMx

No because the original award was extended and the end date of the existing claim was replaced by the extension date.

Any decision on the review applies immediately, so payment would stop as of decision date (PIP is paid 4 weeks in arrears). 

Boohoo

Update.

My BIL got a letter today about his PIP review.

The good news is that he has been awarded PIP for another 3 years.

Looking at the award he got minimum amount to be awarded PIP compared to the 1st time he applied and had a telephone call.

Still surprised that he never had a telephone conversation but maybe they looked at the form and just gave him the min to carry on and not waste their time with a cal.

Thanks for all the replies and advice.

TELLIT01

If the information provided on the form is enough to confirm that their entitlement level hasn't changed, DWP won't make a phone call.  It would just be a waste of their time and that of the claimant.

Muttleythefrog

Boohoo said:

Update.

My BIL got a letter today about his PIP review.

The good news is that he has been awarded PIP for another 3 years.

Looking at the award he got minimum amount to be awarded PIP compared to the 1st time he applied and had a telephone call.

Still surprised that he never had a telephone conversation but maybe they looked at the form and just gave him the min to carry on and not waste their time with a cal.

Thanks for all the replies and advice.

Pleased to hear it.... always remember there is a right to ask them to look again at their decision and after that appeal to an independent tribunal if still unhappy. Obviously here we cannot determine what is a correct award but from carefully looking at all of the activities and genuinely assessing against the descriptors conclusions can be drawn by the claimant or those who know their situation well in terms of what should be awarded. It sounds like you're (they are) happy with the award... if so expect it to be reviewed in the final year of the award... if the DWP and co ever catch up with assessments!