PIP Review

My first claim to PIP was from Nov 2014 to Nov 2019 a 5 year award, I got the dreaded PIP review form come through the post in Nov last year, filled out the form with as much detail as possible with a lot of added supporting medical evidence attached, sent it off, and waited, Christmas was a blur with the worry of a pending assessment over my head, towards the end of January this year I gave the DWP a call to see what was happening with my claim, I was told they were in a right mess and things were behind with PIP assessments, I was not surprised to be honest after reading some of the sad and distressing stories of how claimants are poorly treated by the DWP on this very excellent website, anyway two weeks later I got the letter from the Capita, with an appointment at home, within 4 days of getting the letter from them, had the assessment, the assessor was very matter of fact and straight to the point, was not interested in human friendly chit chat, the assessment lasted about 50 minutes, and all that she done was repeat the questions form the PIP review form, so it goes to show that you can be very detailed with the information in your form as you like, it does not mean you will not have another assessment at a PIP review, anyway I was just glad it was all over and done with, now it was just the waiting for the dusty brown smokie envelope (that has been sitting in the DWP stationery cupboard for over 40 years) well I had to wait 5 weeks for that lovely surprise from the Case Manager, well it was certainly not an invite the DWP Christmas Ball, it was the PIP entitlement letter, which was very good news for me, an ongoing award for 10 years, with a review in 2029, I nearly fell off my chair when I read it which would not have been good for me, I thought it was an early April fools sent by Amber Rhudd.

Thank you Gordon, to you and your excellent team at B&W and those who support it, I have been a member of B&W for over a decade now, and the site has been a valuable resource to myself and to those who are lost in a very complex and unforgiving system that always seems to go against the most vulnerable in our society.

Your guides have been an excellent source of information and advice, not just to me but friends and family, I know a few friends have joined B&W over the last few years, who have told me it has been vital to them in their personal challenges with the DWP and some have had excellent results due to the wealth of advice and information on this website. I know some have been petrified as the momentous changes in the benefit system, I report that you and your team have helped a lot of very distressed and scared individuals at a crucial time in their lives, so a very big thank you from me and those it has helped in a time when things seemed so bleak, we are now better off and lot happier.

I would say to those who are going through tough times with the DWP and the benefit system, is to keep trying and keep your head up high, use this wonderful site as much as possible and fight for what you think you are entitled to.. Good Luck to everyone who needs it!!

P.S Has anyone on B&W or a member found out what a "light touch review" actually means under PIP?