Tell PIP about change or wait for AR1?

Hi to everyone here.

This is my first post and I have a query which I can't seem to get a definitive answer for.

I was awarded PIP both components at standard rate in 2016 until November 2019 for mostly mental health related issues, and mild mobility issues. I had a F2F in 2016 which lasted about 5 minutes.


Things have now changed.
I now have a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and I was involved in a serious car accident where I was rear ended by a double decker bus. My mobility has been severely affected, and I have multiple joint issues on top of the mental health diagnosis that I've always had.

Both Fibromyalgia and my mental health condition have no cure, and affect my ability to perform day to day tasks. On my last award, I was 2 points of engancedmobility and 1 point off enhanced daily living. I decided to not rock the boat.

I know I will be contacted in November this year to complete the AR1 form, 1 year in advance of my claim ending. I got my diagnosis for Fibro in July2018. I was also on a chemotherapy drug for almost a year before being diagnosed for a skin condition, which has gone away but contributed to my lower back pain.

I have now started to gather evidence. I have a letter from my Doctor in Harley Street London describing that I cannot carry out daily tasks or need a lot of help doing some of the tasks. He has also said that I cannot walk more than 15-20 metres without needing to stop and/or experiencing unbearable pain.

I also have a letter from my NHS GP, again, saying I cannot walk more than 15-20 metres and stated I can't perform the tasks stated on the PIP form.

Both Doctors have strongly emphasised that my 2 conditions do not have a cure and face to face assessments cause me extreme psychological distress, and put me at risk for harming myself.

I have also been promised a letter by my physiotherapist.

My question is, do I contact PIP NOW and state a change ofcircumstances of wait until November when they sendout the AR1 review form? I have spoken to a couple of charities who advise waiting until they contact me as I have a strong case for a higher award (apparently)

I understand PIP wants people to have their new diagnosis for more than 3 months and if I wait for PIP to contact me I'll have left it 4 months however, it took me over a year to get diagnosed fibromyalgia after everything else was ruled out.

I don't want PIP to cancel my award all together due to not telling them straight away. But surely it's easier and better to wait for PIP to contact me? Or must I reveal my hand now and contact them to inform of change of circumstances? It's only about 3 months until November.

Advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

Gordon wrote: Sam

Only you can make this decision.

The first thing to consider is whether the changes will result in a higher award, not all deteriorations result in the claimant scoring extra points and even where they do it may still not result in a higher award.

If you notify the DWP of a Change now, then subject to the three-month requirement and new Decision should take effect from the date of your letter, if you wait then the new Decision will apply from the date that it is made, this could be six months of increased payments.

Notifying the DWP of a change will result in your receiving a new PIP2 rather than an AR1 Review form and you will almost certainly have a face to face assessment.

If you decide to tell the DWP then do it in writing and if you can afford it send the letter by a Tracked post so that you have proof of delivery.

Gordon

Thanks Gordon.

If I wait until they send the review form out can I be penalised in any way for not telling them about my new diagnosis?

This is what worries me.

Waiting a little longer enables me to get some more evidence. Would I be taking any risk in not telling them until they contact me? Surely I could say I needed time to see how my new diagnosis effects me or something, although in fairness I already know it is effecting me a lot.

Would anyone on here say the best thing to do is inform them now? And if I Did, would my payments stop?

I really want to wait until I'm contacted by them but just want the reassurance that that's an option and won't go against me.

Thanks

Thanks for quick reply Gordon.

Hopefully all will be well. I done the PIP self test on here and scored myself very cautiously and I still got around 20 points on each. The amount of care and mobility deterioration has more than doubled.

I'm a long term DLA/PIP claimant and had a break from claiming a while ago as I thought I was fine and boy did that backfire. I need this benefit to continue my excellent relationship with my private Doctor and other care needs.

What I thought were strong supporting letters may not be so strong as they don't go through the PIP questions one by one. Instead, they go into detail mostly about mobility deterioration and some care deterioration.

Perhaps I can elaborate deteriorations on the AR1 along with my 2 doctors letters. So from what I'm hearing it's definitely a year before the claim end date?