PIP Review Result and some info for others

First of all many thanks to all at B&W for their advice and support over the years. My 63-year-old wife has suffered several health issues, the main one being from CFS since around 2006. Since that time she has undergone three face-to-face reviews, each time getting more points as her health deteriorated over the years and also because we followed the advice provided on this site.

Her latest award should have expired last November so in October 2022, we completed her review application. She in the meantime received an extension of her award to 26th August 2023. Whilst DWP acknowledged receipt and kept in touch with the "we're still looking into your claim" text messages, she eventually received in August 2023 notification that her papers had been passed to IAS.

Unknown to us, at the beginning of August, she had her award extended to August 2024 to facilitate her review taking place. We only found out when we contacted the PIP helpline to ascertain what was happening with her award and extension.

On 5th September we received a text from DWP telling us they had received the report from IAS and would be in touch within 6 weeks. Initially, we were confused as she hadn't had an assessment and we were at least expecting a telephone assessment. So, presuming that she'd had a paper review, I contacted the PIP Helpline and asked for a copy of the PA3 assessor's report and received it within a week. It looked promising. The assessor was a physiotherapist who used my wife's AR1 and the previous PA4 assessment report from 2019 to carry out the current assessment.

We had followed the B&W advice and rather than merely stating, "No Change" on the review form, we went into great detail once again as to how her illnesses affected each of the Activities assessed. This I think proved vital in allowing the assessor to form their opinion, as it tied in with the 2019 assessment report.

The assessor also formed the opinion that the next review could be done in 5 years' time and that it was likely that at that time, my wife's conditions would still be present and that she would still need my support.

DWP let us know that on 14th September, they had made their decision and we would be notified in the next two weeks by post of what the decision was.

The notification came through on 18th September. She was to continue getting both enhanced Daily living and Mobility and the biggest surprise was that it was for an ongoing period, not the 5 years put forward by the assessor.

I have to say, that despite previously having negative experiences with the assessments and subsequent reports, this review seemed a lot more fair and our three contacts with the PIP Helpline were courteous, friendly and helpful.

In a nutshell, it took almost 12 months from submitting the review to receiving a decision. This was in the Yorkshire area.

My advice to all applicants, carers and supporters is to follow the advice of the B&W team, use their guidance documents and regardless of how hard, upsetting or difficult it is, make sure that you provide as much information and supporting evidence as to how your illness etc, affects you in the various Activities being assessed. Don't forget to explain the pain, difficulties and consequences you may go through trying to undertake any of the activities. If you end up with a personal rather than paper review, stick to your facts and your AR1.

Once again, thanks so much to the team, you have been a godsend and a lifesaver, and good luck to other applicants.

Thank you for this post, it’s really helpful and timely for me as just today I had a text to say I have my telephone interview in the first week of October.

I submitted my paperwork in October last year, so it will be a year by the time of the interviews I was hoping that they might also do a paper review for me - as I’m similar to your wife (I also have ME/CFS), and have just got a lot worse since the first time.

I did fhe same and put a lot of information and detail in the form explaining exactly the impacts of the symptoms etc.

I hope they make a quick decision after the interview, and that it’s positive - your post gives me hope of that.