Son returned to the UK from Europe

I wrote a long (and confusing question) about a month ago about my son when he returned to the UK to live from Spain.

He was awarded PIP, without mobility, September 2018. But by the time the decision was received he had returned to live in the UK (July 2018). Been a battle, but my son's PIP was stopped by the DWP on his 18th birthday, 3 months after the decision. Was told he had to reapply as he had reached 18 and a CofC - returned to the UK, and go through the whole process again as mobility was eligible. Another PIP form, another f2f in July. All this even though his review date was 30/09/2022. So many letters sent to the DWP and the Complaints department. Nobody knew what they were doing and I was at the stage of giving up. But I'm persistent!

I received a telephone call 2 weeks ago. My son's PIP has been reinstated and a new extended review date of 30/09/2023. The DWP apologised for their lack of customer service and their error. In their words - it should never have happened. My son's ”new” application has been cancelled, even though last month he had to go through another f2f. The DWP told me that as I was not applying for the mobility component, there was no CofC, therefore the care component was incorrectly stopped. Also the reasoning of stopping his PIP on his 18th birthday was their error.

Award is for Enhanced Care Component with 23 points. He also lost his housing benefit and council tax relief during this time, and the Council have refunded him for the overpayments of rent he had to pay.