PIP Review

Hi Gordon,

Thank you for your advice. I called this morning and the guy said it should arrive in a few days. I have that awful feeling of dread, I nearly chickened out of calling for it

Although weirdly, the guy I spoke to seemed to think I'd had a telephone assessment. I had mentioned I was anxious about calling up to ask for the report when I apologised for stammering so much (I am still embarrassed about that). Anyways, he was like 'you've nothing to be scared of. You had a nice quick chat with someone and now the report is ready' Err I didn't speak to anyone, my psychologist spoke to someone and I had a paper review. 'Oh even better then, it'll be with you in a few days'.

Talk about increasing someone's anxiety levels.

Hi BIS,

Thank you so much for your kindness.

Just a wee update, I'm sorry to be a pain and ask more questions. So last Wed I received the ;we have your report' text after a successful request for a PBR. After requesting the report on Thurs, I still haven't had it. But literally moments ago I checked my bank and there's a PIP payment for just over £1000, I'm not due to get paid until next week.

Does anyone know why this might have happened? Does it mean I may have an award? I'm really confused especially because of the amount. I was due to have a telephone assessment 29th Sept, which was cancelled a few days before the day they received my first letter asking for a PBR. Then a week or so later I fired in some extra evidence to support my request. I know it's all on my previous posts, I am just confused, scared to get my hopes up and don't understand is where almost £1100 figure has come from, especially because I thought reviews were only backdated to the day the DWP made the official decision? Could that amount come from some point from end of Sept through October or earlier?

Sorry to be a pain, I know I do people's heads in with all my worrying.

Hi Gordon,

Thank you for your advice, I wasn't able to call today because I've had a blinding stress headache. But I received my decision letter this morning and it explained the payment.

Before I get onto that I just want to say: I have been awarded enhanced daily living (from 14-17 points) and standard mobility via PBR - this feels like extra validation because it was stripped from me when I switched from DLA to PIP. The award has been backdated to 30 November 2019, when they sent the review form, until April 2023. This process has been so long and it's been hell. I have lived in fear since the review form dropped through back in December. I'm still in shock about it finally being over, it hasn't fully sunk in yet.

But most importantly, I want to say a massive thank you to you all and the hard work you put into helping and supporting us all navigate through the benefits system minefield to get the support we're entitled to. I couldn't have done it without your amazing guides and the time you all have taken to respond to my questions and help me. This forum is a wonderful place with so many support people. I couldn't have got through this hell if it wasn't for this site. Words fail in how to articulate well enough how grateful I am to this site. It truly is a lifeline and I would have been lost without it.

On the decision letter, it says the award was backdated because they decided my mobility difficulties were a change in circumstances - they aren't, I just didn't have the energy or see the point in trying to challenge the 4 points decision back 2016. Anyways, the payment was that and a very welcome surprise.

The only concern I have, and please don't think I'm being un grateful or something because I'm really not, but I'm worried because I was awarded mobility on cannot undertake any journey which I thought was for people who cannot leave the house at all/a condition like agoraphobia? I don't have the assessors report yet so I can't see why that has been chosen. But I gave more than one example of difficulties I have outside, as did my GP and psychologist. I am in the house a lot because of my depression, but I do go out. I explained in the answer I gave that even though it's not always possible for me to have someone with me, I need someone with me when I am out and what help I need/can happen/risk etc.

Although my difficulties are more likely to be triggered in my hometown I feel like at the least the unfamiliar journey descriptor should have been applied. I have sensory processing issues, mixed in with a whole load of other fun MH issues, and they're triggered by things like noise/stress. I don't want to rock the boat with them by challenging it, but I also worry about having the wrong descriptor applied.