PIP renewal - Time scales and what happens next

Cyclamen

Hi,  My husbands PIP renewal arrived, we completed it and returned it and DWP had confirmation they have the form.  Completed using new medical evidence and advice from a couple of charities, so a detailed reply. 

His mobility needs have changed.  So its not as simple as DWP leaving his award as is.  We are anticipating some sort appointment, phone call, face to face.  

Please can anyone point towards time scales for these things.  I know it counts as early days on DWP time scale as its only 5 weeks ish since they acknowledged the form but for him its a very long wait and I'm pretty keen to know to.

So could anyone tell me what happens next please?  

Thank you

Spoonie_Turtle

You're not going to like this, mine took over a year.  My first assessment appointment was booked for a year and 5 days after returning the form (then postponed for a couple of weeks due to assessor illness).  Thankfully after that it was only a couple of weeks between assessment and decision.

I guess they work on the assumption that if things have changed you would contact them instead of waiting for the review (although we know it's too stressful for most people to do that) - but then again I don't know if Changes of Circumstanc are looked at any quicker anyway.

Cyclamen

Hi Spoonie. 
I will like that you replied but not your experience , how cruel to leave someone that long. 

I was thinking 4-6 months.. the issue here is getting the award was gruelling involving a Tribunal and a lot of mental health ripples so he was not keen to do a change of circumstances.  However as the review form came through and we started looking at his existing and the eligibility points it does seem he fits higher mobility now. 

I will never understand why DWP don't leave people alone until they have the capacity to process reviews.  Why call anyone now if you cant assess them for 12 months+.  I can only assume they hope people don't reapply and drop out and it was a huge mental leap for my husband to agree to returning the form as the last time was so mentally damaging.

Right so i need to try and forget it all , but like most people in PIP/DWP open claims I'm nervous every time the letter box goes. 

born_again

Cyclamen said:

Hi,  My husbands PIP renewal arrived, we completed it and returned it and DWP had confirmation they have the form.  Completed using new medical evidence and advice from a couple of charities, so a detailed reply. 

His mobility needs have changed.  So its not as simple as DWP leaving his award as is.  We are anticipating some sort appointment, phone call, face to face.  

Please can anyone point towards time scales for these things.  I know it counts as early days on DWP time scale as its only 5 weeks ish since they acknowledged the form but for him its a very long wait and I'm pretty keen to know to.

So could anyone tell me what happens next please?  

Thank you

Deep breath & you just have to wait it out. Hope it is getting quicker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6594738/pip-reassessment-timescale-2025/p1

Cyclamen

thanks.. 

I knew the system was broken but not this broken.. i was moved to the 'indefinite award' / ten year award thing without going through a review so i've not had experience of a review for a long time. 

Its a blooming long wait for everyone

poppy12345

Mine took just under 1 year and I didn't have an assessment. My form wasn't even sent to the health assessment providers either and the decision was made just on the information I sent them. 

Cyclamen

Thats good to read about no assessment.. hes already stressed about another medical etc.. so to know there may be a chance he doesnt have to go through that is good. 

Markdavid1962

My wife submitted her PIP renewal in July and we have been in touch with DWP with the same question and have been told they will only look at her application just before the current PIP award expires in February 2026.

Cyclamen

Thanks Markdavid.. but what a truly silly situation why not send renewal when they are ready to look at it. 
Its also blooming cruel to the person waiting.. extra stress.  

A brown envelope arrived yesterday.. turns out it was about warm home discount .. but the anxiety level and fear.. i wish they understood how this effects all of us.  Its brutal being judged on how disabled you are , waiting so long and drowning in medical evidence

I hope you too get the right award

poppy12345

Cyclamen said:

Thanks Markdavid.. but what a truly silly situation why not send renewal when they are ready to look at it. 
Its also blooming cruel to the person waiting.. extra stress.  

A brown envelope arrived yesterday.. turns out it was about warm home discount .. but the anxiety level and fear.. i wish they understood how this effects all of us.  Its brutal being judged on how disabled you are , waiting so long and drowning in medical evidence

I hope you too get the right award

If they did that then the waiting would still be the same and it would be just as stressful as it always is.

benefits letters come in white envelopes not brown. 

Cyclamen

Thanks Poppy.. you are right they did change to white, years back the dwp used brown envelopes.. and its sort of stuck so in that moment logic wasn't working

Would the wait be the same if they only called people for review when they had the capacity to review them? I'm not so sure. I don't think they take months gathering evidence and reading the form, just assumed it was scanned in and left in a queue somewhere. 

Its a jolly long wait