DWP told me I had 12 months to appeal PIP decision

The DWP phoned me to tell me about my Mandatory Reconsideration result and they then told me that I had 12 months to appeal to a `tribunal. The DWP person told me over the phone that I didn't need to rush and get the appeal started within a month but that I had 12 months even though the letter would say it was one month. But now I find that it's definitely supposed to be within a month otherwise they can refuse to consider it.

it feels like they deliberately did this to make it more difficult for me.
Has anyone else been told this by the DWP in a phone call? Or suggest why they would tell me this?