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Nine month PIP extension letters flood out

Details
Category: Latest news

Benefits and Work is hearing from numerous members who have received a letter from the DWP telling them that their PIP award has been extended, usually by nine months.

The letter reads:

‘We suspended Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Award Reviews because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

We have now begun reviewing PIP awards again and we may look at some awards later than we originally planned. To make sure that you still receive your payments we have extended your award until . . .”

The letter then gives a new end date for the award, typically 9 months after it was originally due to end.

The letter goes on to say that the claimant does not need to contact the DWP and that the DWP will contact them before the new end date, to review their award.

We have heard from members whose award was due to end as far off as 2029 but who have now been told it has been extended into 2030.

The letters appear to be the ones that Justin Tomlinson referred to earlier this month, when he admitted that over half of the 1.6 million claimants who are having their PIP awards extended had still not been informed.

Comments  

#19 Normski 2021-03-19 09:25
There should be a big outcry from hospitals and GPS that all this is doing to claimants is sending them back to hospitals or doctors when we should be trying to go there less , the government need to think about this instead of blaming other things
#18 Mentalhealth sucks 2021-03-10 11:45
Awful struggle. I had a letter in dec stating my award had been extended until dec 2021. January I got a letter with review forms had 4 weeks to.complete. I've been unwell mentally and the form.came same time which just added to me trying to recover from this episode. Making me bad. Wish I didn't have to rely on the small amount I do receive. But this small amount makes a massive difference.. Still makes me think is it worth all the stress again. The way they done this is disgusting.. you can't tell someone their ok then month later spring the review like this.. cruel
#17 Lorraine Burns 2021-02-05 14:59
Me too, extended my April 21 award until December my renewal papers arrived yesterday which need to be back within 3 weeks I was so happy when they were extended as I am feeling really ill at the moment and can’t face them but as I am an ex DWP benefits advisor I’m the best person to do them.
#16 denby 2021-01-28 19:29
I hope no one suffers for the state of the post- this week we received two Christmas cards postmarked 18th December. And my sister in London has yet to receive ones from Derbyshire, Sussex and locally that were all sent. There must be DWP mail in some of that held-up lot, surely?
#15 Geoff 2021-01-28 16:37
I received the same letter in October last year, but in January (letter dated 18 December 20) I received a further letter and the review forms which had to be completed and returned.
#14 mrfibrospondodysthmatic 2021-01-28 16:32
I'm waiting for an extension too, but where is it????????
-2 #13 bayliss 2021-01-27 17:10
jJust had 7 YEAR extension to my pip ....does that count ..???
#12 Sue 2021-01-27 16:52
I received a extension for six months ending this month . I had completed review and sent back may think 2020 .
What happens now ?
+1 #11 claire cross 2021-01-27 15:20
We had stress this week. My husband got his award in 2019 for 10 years. We got this letter saying because of Covid his award will be reassessed in NOV 2022!!! Rang up and they didn't know why as their computer said ongoing period from 2019... After a week of waiting they said a sentence was missing from the original letter!!! But all sorted and renewal date is Feb 2029. What stress! I'm sure they do it deliberately to unnerve you. All he wants is to be Ill n peace!
#10 Annis 2021-01-27 14:42
My award was extended by 2 years!
+2 #9 Appletart 2021-01-27 12:33
My brothers Pip was stopped after a 6 month extension in December due to a tribunal award. Put in a new claim in December with help, and now is waiting to be assessed by IAS. There waiting times are months. Have asked MP to help. He is struggling. It’s an absolute mess by the DWP.
+1 #8 kb32904 2021-01-27 12:09
There's a sting in the tail with these letters though.

Anyone with a Blue Badge will have to re-apply for the badge and entitlement to that new badge will end at the same time as the extended PIP date.

My motability car is also due for replacement but can't be because the extension doesn't cover a three year period.

Whilst not having to worry about PIP renewal applications for a few more months, this extension is not without it's own problems.
+1 #7 SueB 2021-01-27 11:56
I received an extension letter in November until July 2021 and then I got a light touch letter in November about a week later to say I have to fill in a light touch form... I’ve now got a phone consultation as I’ve not provided enough information on 2nd February!!
+1 #6 craig41 2021-01-27 11:42
I received the same letter in November last year, but in December I received a further letter and the review forms which had to be completed and returned!!
#5 David Armstrong 2021-01-27 10:46
Quoting andrew:
Many including me rec'd an extension letter mine came last sept extending my pip award from mar 21 to Dec21

My renewal forms arrived last Thursday they needed to be back by 8/2 -a month before my original end date

Many others have had the same experience

Mine was exactly the sme had 2 weeks to post back .
+1 #4 denby 2021-01-26 20:11
Sunflower, you need to post your question in the forum so you can get a good answer. Good wishes, Denby
+1 #3 sunflower 2021-01-26 19:54
I had the same letter in December 2020 extending to December 2021 so heaved a huge sigh of relief as this comes in every 2.5 years usually having a month to fill out over Christmas.
I received a smaller form to update my conditions and can't believe it's due in 3 weeks when my original PIP didn't end till May 2021.

Can anyone advise what I should do? Should I say this is sooner and refuse to complete it .Or rush to get information at this difficult time when it's even more difficult to contact medical professionals.
+6 #2 denby 2021-01-26 18:29
Huh, what a surprise. Give claimants a false sense of security and then spring it on them. The NHS ought to sue the DWP for causing it extra costs in the needless damage to people's mental and physical health....
#1 andrew 2021-01-26 17:18
Many including me rec'd an extension letter mine came last sept extending my pip award from mar 21 to Dec21

My renewal forms arrived last Thursday they needed to be back by 8/2 -a month before my original end date

Many others have had the same experience

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