PIP Review - no access to Motability until......... who knows!

Hi
Bit of a conundrum
I had a car until recently but as I suspected it has reached the end of life and I had to get rid of it. It has left me without wheels and in a perfect storm where I returned my PIP review from early August and I am now awaiting the review. My PIP doesn't end until May 2024 but I can't access Motability unless I have 12 months access to PIP.

I am loathed to put myself into debt to get a replacement car as I would rather wait. I have run PIP on 3 occasions in the week just gone but the wait was too long and exhausting.

I was wondering if anyone else has been in this predicament and if they found a way to get a positive outcome.

My anxiety spiked today when I read that there is a huge backlog of reviews and I fear I will be at the back because my PIP doesn't end until May 2024 so they may not see me as a priority - not that I am as I think everyone is equal.

Grateful for anyone who has gone through this to hear your experience.

Thank you
Rob

Hi Rob, I spoke to PIP in May when I sent in my review form to ask how long delays are, at that time.
My initial 3 year award ends 15/10/23 so was concerned about my blue badge getting renewed.
I was told there then, there was a year wait for reviews to be done as new claims were priority!- just received letter today 18/9.. saying my initial 3 yr award has now been officially extended(& paid) until Oct 24. I don’t know if this info is helpful to you or not..

This is my worry.

I managed to get through to them today .

they said that I have to wait up to 35 days before my end date which means I need to wait until the end of January. They said that they are not able to extend by 12 months because this was a lockdown policy that has been lifted and that there was nothing that could be done. The lady appreciated my position and spoke to her superiors who only affirmed her statement which is I have to wait and there is nothing that can be done.

my review is in a queue and has yet not been picked up or looked at.

ill need to find myself a way of getting transport until such a time the review concludes.

I have written to my MP to explain the situation and hope that he may be able to assist. Its no reflection on DWP staff but I do believe the policy is a bit old and creaking given the demand pressures on the service.

Hi Rob,
I’m in a fairly similar situation, though thankfully still have a car until end of January.

I have a private lease car, and the lease ends in January. When I renew I want to do it via Motability.

However - I’ve had the same issue re: PIP Review. Mine runs out in February, so I can’t join Motability. I tried calling them but had the same answer as you - nothing can be done, just have to wait.

I sent my forms in October last year for my review. And actually just had a text today to say my phonecall interview will be in October. So 1 year after I submitted the forms.

I’m just hoping now that a decision is quick and what I think it should be (I’ve got much worse so I would hope it’s just extended as is now) - so that I can put an order in with Motability in time for my current lease ending.

...and the trouble is even if successful Philip, the wait for the new car. Hopefully your needs will allow you to choose what's available without a wait. Months after we had chosen and ordered at the end of extending the M lease to 5 years, a careless driver wrote off our old Motability car. We have a courtesy car because it wasn't our fault, but as a new customer you will still have no car until your first one arrives.