PIP Reassessment Time Scales

kaMelo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82080991#Comment_82080991

There may well be a signature showing for your recorded delivery but you have no idea whose signature it is, it almost certainly was not signed for by a DWP employee. Given the quantity of mail DWP receive, having someone sign for each individual letter would be almost impossible.

Leaving all that aside, even if you have categorical proof that a letter was signed for by a DWP employee when it was delivered, it can still get lost prior to being scanned onto the system. It doesn't happen often and is unfortunate when it does but in such a scenario your proof of delivery matters not, you would still have to resend your letter.

Save your money and get a POP for your records to prove when you responded to DWP

Spoonie_Turtle

For me it's worth the peace of mind, if they decided to close my claim for instance saying I didn't respond in time, the proof of delivery just feels like a more robust defence of 'no it's definitely your fault, I made sure it got to you on time'. Yes I'd still have to resend it, if they didn't miraculously find the original, but I just feel it covers me a bit better if they decided to close my claim and I had to appeal that decision.

whizzywoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82081019#Comment_82081019

It doesn't matter whose signature is on the recorded delivery, it's the fact that DWP or their scanning department/company have accepted the letter and taken responsibility for it. As @Spoonie_Turtle says the letter may have to be resent again but you can prove you responded in time because they received it on such and such a date.

But each to their own. In my case and many other people it doesn't cost very much to have that extra peace of mind.

Starbright2

Would the DWP have on file a typical day I added as extra evidence for my last PIP reassessment?.

Thanks

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82081882#Comment_82081882

I treat each reassessment as a completely new claim, so I would not assume anything and would provide afresh all evidence you wish to be considered. I certainly wouldn't assume they still have or would look at evidence submitted in 2021.

Robbie64

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82081882#Comment_82081882

I would add it in again, tailored as necessary to how things are for you now.

Starbright2

Thanks @NedS and @Robbie64 that's a job for tomorrow then. Don't seem to have kept what I wrote last time to give me an idea.

I've also found I had a GP supporting letter last time so I will try and call them tomorrow as well & see if they will do one again for me.

Nothing has changed health wise I have standard care and enhanced mobility now. Bracing myself for a lower outcome, not looking on it as a downer just preparing myself if it does happen.

Does anyone else start to work out if they can live on ESA and U/C if the worst happens or is that just me lol

Robbie64

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82082045#Comment_82082045

Back in 2019, after a PIP review, I went from enhanced daily living to standard rate mobility. Apart from the loss of the additional amount of PIP I also lost both the severe disability premium and enhanced disability premium from ESA. The total loss of income was about £145 a week. It was devastating, to say the least. I should really have appealed but wasn't well at the time and let it go. Enhanced daily living was probably a bit lucky when I moved from DLA to PIP in 2016 but on MR or appeal against the 2019 review decision, I could have at least justified getting standard daily living. A further review in 2022 added back daily living, albeit the standard rate, to go alongside standard rate mobility. It made a big difference, this time in a positive way as I got back my severe disability premium in ESA.

However, it's best not to think negatively and instead to think about how the review will be a chance to show that your award should remain as it is now.

Starbright2

Having problems getting the GP supporting letter. I've paid for it, they have tasked it to a GP & now I'm in a cue. The medical secretaries have sent a note to the GP to see if they can do it quicker.

They are saying it takes 6-8 weeks to turn round a letter!. I've always had them before in two-three weeks.

It's looking like I might have to send my form & then either send the GP letter to them once I have it or not send it at all.

So my questions are

1, If I don't send it will the decision maker send me to have an assessment?

2, Will the decision maker ask my GP/send them a form to fill in?

3, If I do send it is it likely to get there & added to my claim?

Thanks

Robbie64

As it's PIP you can ask for an extension for the return of the form. The usual extension period used to be two weeks with no questions asked followed by a further extension where reasonable. That was a few years ago but the option of an extension is still there.

The alternative is to send back the form in time and mention that a letter from the GP will follow. The problem with that is that you don't know in advance what the GP will write in the letter. Sometimes it helps to be able to refer to the GPs letter when completing the review form.

To answer 1 and 2 in your post, it will most likely depend on what you write on the form, what evidence you include and what further evidence the Decision Maker or Case Manager requires. When I last completed the review form, there was a backlog and as a result, the Case Managers were looking at the forms to see if cases could be cleared without sending them to the Assessment company. Mine was cleared by a phone call I got out of the blue from the CM to ask a few questions.

When you send in further evidence, it should get added to your claim. You can always phone up after sending it to check it has arrived and has been added to your file.