New PIP Application

My question is as follows:

I received my letter from the DWP to advise me around 3 weeks ago that my DLA was going to end and if I wanted to apply for PIP. I contacted the free phone number on the same day and requested an application form which arrived 3 days later and I completed accordingly and sent recorded delivery the following day.

I received a text message from the DWP on 1/6 to advise they had received my application form and they may invite me in for an assessment.

I received a further text message from the DWP on 6/6 to advise they had all the information they required to decide my claim and would send a decision letter once a decision had been made.

I am a wheelchair user (I am unable to walk since 2003) and use a wheelchair 24/7. I also enclosed a letter from my GP who confirmed my disablity. In the application form I answered the relevant questions that affected me i.e requiring help when showering or using the toilet or preparing a meal.

Is this normal for me not to have an assessment, I suppose it makes sense as my disability is a bit obvious in respect of what I can or cant do.

Just would like your thoughts?

Thanks

Hi and Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

It is less common to be awarded PIP without a face2face assessment but it is not rare. The assessor obviously felt that s/he has enough information to make a recommendation without seeing you.

PIP decisions are taking quite a while at the moment. It is about 8 weeks from a face2face until decision and you should expect to wait a similar length of time.

Hi

Thank you for your reply.

Quick update and also some back ground info about myself incase it can help others.

I am a wheelchair user (paralysed from the waist down) T10 Level.

I received the letter from the DWP around 3 weeks ago informing me my DLA would be stopping soon and if I wanted to apply for PIP. I called the free phone number and answered a few questions and requested a PIP application form which arrived 2 days later. I filled this form in and answered all of the questions and enclosed a letter from my GP which confirmed my disability.

I sent the application form via recorded delivery. I received a text from the DWP on 1/6/16 to inform me they had received my application form and they may ask me to attend a assessment with a health professional and if so they will contact me again.

I received a further text from the DWP on 6/62016 to advise me they now had all of the info they required to decide my PIP claim and would send a decision letter soon.

I contacted the PIP helpline on the same day as I was under the impression everyone would need to undergo an assessment but was advised that was not the case and if you submitted enough info on the application and provided enough evidence then you would not always require an assessment. I was advised this was the case in my case and a decision would be made soon.

I contacted the PIP helpline again on 16/6/2016 as I had not heard anything and was advised a decision now has been made and a letter had been sent but it takes 24 hours for the letter to be uploaded onto the PIP helpline agents systems and was asked to call back today (17/6/2016) and they would let me know what the outcome was.

As you can imagine I had a sleepless night worrying what they had decided and so called them again this morning and was advised , I had been awarded the maximum benefit for both Care & Mobility which I believe is now called Enhanced Care and Enhanced Mobility and also I asked how long this would last for as I have seen other application get awards which run until 2020 and was advised my award was indefinite with no end date , and this would only change if my condition changed i.e I started walking again which is highly unlikely.

I should receive the letter in the next few days.

I am relived and thanks to this site and the info you have in regards to PIP I was able to complete the form correctly which you guidance.

That's great news! Thank you for taking the time to tell us how the process was for you.

Hi Gordon & Mrs Hurtyback

No problem , glad to post.

As a wheelchair user, it was a pretty straight forward process , no headaches or stress at all , only stress I incurred was worrying what the outcome would be , but it turned out fine.