pip

Hi colin

Life awards stopped many many years ago under DLA, they brought out indefinite awards but these too have stopped under PIP. For those of State Pension age they have brought out a 'light touch' review, which is for 10 years.

If you report a Change then you will be sent a new PIP2 to complete and it is almost certain that you will be required to have some sort of assessment, your evidence will need to be very clear and compelling for a Paper Based Review to be done.

Gary

Hi colin

Prior to Covid-19 it was about 5% of claimants receiving a paper based assessment, this may have gone up slightly but I have not seen any stats recently to confirm this.

You are free to request a paper-based assessment, but they are unlikely to grant one without a doctor's letter confirming that it would cause you 'overwhelming psychological distress' to have a telephone assessment. Be warned even then the DWP and/or the assessment services sometimes ignore such requests.

If you have a paper-based assessment are you chances improved or disadvantaged? It's almost impossible to say in the current circumstances. Paper-based assessments are great in that there is no stress or intrusive questions from an assessor, however, they have a disadvantage in that there is no opportunity to clarify any questions the assessor may have or say something you have forgotten on the form.

As your wife is now your carer she could write a supporting letter stating what support she provides, be aware that any support you receive from your wife needs to fit within the PIP criteria that you are being assessed against, you can put the best case forward that is possible but you won't score points if you do not meet the PIP Descriptors. Sometimes it is just the way it is written which goes against a claimant so use our guides to help you.

Gary