Returning PIP review form?

Hi SleepyCompass

We honestly can't tell you how long a PIP review will take because there are such huge variations, and it depends on what type of assessment the DWP decide to do. Paper-based assessments mean that a review could be completed in less than eight weeks. If someone is going to have a telephone, video or face-to-face assessment, it is a much longer process because the form gets sent to the assessment services, who then have to book an assessment and carry it out. Then the form has to be returned to the DWP for the decision-maker to determine whether the claimant is eligible for an award. Some people have waited as little as 12 weeks for their assessment to be booked, while others have waited more than a year. The worst-case scenario is a member who had an assessment after waiting two years! Now obviously the two years is an outlier - but with all the variables that can affect the process, for example the availability of assessors, it has been impossible for us to give an accurate timeline since the pandemic.

BIS

Hi SleepyCompass

I don't think it's the length of a claimant's award that determines whether or not they get the extension letter - I think it is determined by the DWP selecting certain dates from their backlog. So it could be someone who has a short award length and is coming close to a review, but it could equally be someone who is coming to the end of a much longer award and it just happens to fall on the same date.

Also, we have noticed that some people receive letters and others haven't, and yet when they rang the DWP, they are often told they have an extension, and they should have received a letter.

At one time the DWP said there was no need to ring because people would definitely receive an extension - but it's hard to trust the DWP, and if it's getting close to a review 12 weeks or less, I would always advise people to check what's happening if they are able to - simply because you never want to risk being left without money.

BIS