PIP reassessment queries

Hi. Two years ago I was assessed for PIP having been on DLA for a number of years. After being refused PIP I asked for a Mandatory Reconsideration and thankfully this was successful. I was awarded PIP to 10/10/19 with the latter advising me that I would be contacted for a review of my PIP at some point after 10/10/18. As that date is fast approaching could some one with knowledge of the renewal process answer a few queries?

1. Given that the sending out of the review form seems to be an automated process is the AR1 Review form likely to be automatically sent out on 10/10/18?

2. When I filled in the PIP2 form I was able to obtain a 2 week extension for returning the form. Is this option available for the return of the review form? I'm not sure if having got one 2 week extension 2 years ago if this option is still available to me?

3. Where would the AR1 form be returned to? Is it the DWP? If so does anyone know the likely waiting time if the Case Manager decides to refer the form to Assessment Provider?

4. Can a negative decision be made by the CM or does a negative decision require an assessment takes place first?

5. If I receive a negative decision does PIP stay in payment for 4 weeks after a decision is made or does it cease immediately?

6. Is it likely that I would still be on PIP on 1 January 2019? I know that it's probably difficult to anseer this but my DLA stopped a month benfore Christmas 2016 and my ESA reduced due to losing the SDP. And then the DWP messed up my ESA claim so I had to live on two weeks worth of basic ESA all through December 2016 which left me destitute over Christmas 2016. It's not something I want to see repeated.

Apologies for the lengthy questions. To make matters worse my next WCA for my ESA is due on 05/01/19 and from a Subject Access Request I notice that on the Case Control on my ESA claim there is a flag for an automatic WCA referral to the AP due to happen on 05/11/18 so I'm going to be having both benefits reviewed at the same time, which is filling me with dread.

Hi Gordon. Thanks for your reply.

The reason I was asking about the procedure at point 3. (3. Where would the AR1 form be returned to? Is it the DWP? If so does anyone know the likely waiting time if the Case Manager decides to refer the form to Assessment Provider?) is because in the Benefits and Work PIP Guide (current edition version 32, August 2018) it says the followng at page 83 (in the section about what happens after returning the Review AR1 form)

What happens after you return the form

The Award Review form goes to a DWP case manager (decision maker) initially, rather than a health professional.

DWP guidance says the case manager “will compare the new information against the evidence from the previous assessment”. The case manager can also contact you or your carer for more information, but cannot send for more medical evidence..

If the case manager cannot make a decision, then all the information is forwarded to Independent Assessment Services or Capita for assessment by a health professional.

Has this part of the process now been changed (possibly due to the volume of reviews?) or in the case of reviews is this the correct procedure?

Thanks in advance for any reply.