PIP Reviews: Case managers extending awards

Hi, I’m one of the B&W members who successfully challenged my length of award. I was awarded 4 years but got them to change it to 10 years!
I filled an MR form in that I found by googling, printed it out and sent it. I stated I was happy with the points awarded but wanted them to reconsider the length of my award. I had evidence that my condition is considered to be permanent that I said may have been overlooked at my review. I therefore asked for an on-going award.
They still reviewed my whole award but fortunately agreed with the points I’d been given and changed the length. They said on-going awards don’t exist (!?) but gave me a 10 year fixed term award.

UPDATE: I submitted my request to review award length on 23 October and received a letter dated 13 November advising they will reconsider their decision and offering me the opportunity to submit further evidence. I have not submitted further evidence as feel there is enough on record with PIP to justify an award length extension. A follow up text message from DWP sent 13 December advised the case will be looked at by 26/02/26. I will post the outcome of the reconsideration when received. Copy of my letter below in case anyone may find helpful who is considering challenging their award length.

REF: [Insert NI Number] - Length of award

Dear PIP Case Manager

Thank you for your letter dated 17 September 2025 advising me of your decision to award me PIP at the enhanced rate for daily living and mobility. I agree with your decision to award me 15 points for daily living and 12 points for mobility in respect of the amount of help I need.

Please can you look again specifically at the length of my award as I feel based on the evidence of my claim history, health conditions and disabilities, a fixed term award would not be appropriate:

• PIP has consistently been awarded to me at the enhanced rates for daily living and mobility since the start of my claim in 2017 as validated by the First-Tier Tribunal decision dated 29 October 2019
  My disabilities include physical and mental impairments (eg ADHD / HIV / Hearing Loss and Tinnitus) and chronic mental health conditions (eg Borderline Personality Disorder / Complex PTSD / Anxiety / Depression) that have a substantial and long-term adverse affect on my ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities as indicated in my initial PIP claim form, subsequent responses to AR1 forms and the medical evidence provided in 2017, 2022 and 2025
  Several of my limiting disabilities and chronic health conditions have persisted for most of my adult life and will likely persist for the rest of my life with restrictions on my daily living and mobility unlikely to change significantly

I would be grateful if you would consider the above to amend the length my award to an on-going award. If you require any additional information, please let me know. Thank you for your support.

Kind regards

XXXX

I received a call from the PIP Case Manager assigned my request to review the length of award. DWP treated the request as a Mandatory Reconsideration. She confirmed she would only be looking at the query on length of award not my points/rates. I answered her questions and last week the MR Notice arrived confirming the award has been kept the same and they are maintaining the decision of the First-Tier Tribunal from October 2019 that set the length of award.

I am now deciding whether to appeal. As my PIP review last year and this MR have maintained my enhanced daily living and mobility rates, I do not see what there is to lose in making an appeal as the review noted my circumstances had changes (new diagnosis/disability) and my previously reported conditions have not improved. I am trying to source FTT cases where a PIP claimant has appealed solely on the grounds of length of award and is not a DLA to PIP migration scenario. If anyone knows of such a case, please can you flag it.


Thank you

UPDATE

I submitted my PIP appeal on 25 June specifically on the grounds of length of award as per my submission below:

PIP Appeal

What you disagree with
● Appropriateness of a fixed term award - refusal to make an ongoing award

Why you disagree with it
● PIP has consistently been awarded to me at the enhanced rates for daily living and mobility since the start of my claim in 2017 as validated by the First-Tier Tribunal decision dated 29 October 2019
● My disabilities include physical and mental impairments (eg ADHD / HIV / Genital Herpes / Hearing Loss and Tinnitus) and chronic mental health conditions (eg Borderline Personality Disorder / Complex PTSD / Anxiety / Depression) that have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on my ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities as indicated in my initial PIP claim form, subsequent responses to AR1 forms and the medical evidence provided in 2017, 2022 and 2025
● Department of Work and Pensions guidance ‘ADM Chapter P2: Assessment for PIP’ states in P2062: Where following an assessment consultation, it is considered that the claimant has 1. a level of functional ability which is not likely to change in the long-term or 2. high levels of functional impairment which are only likely to increase a fixed term award will be inappropriate and an on-going award with a PIP Award Review date after 10 years will be applicable.
● Several of my disabilities and chronic health conditions have persisted for most of my adult life and will persist for the rest of my life. Limitations on my daily living and mobility have remained significant over time and are not expected to change materially in the future. This is the view of my healthcare professionals. Please see attached letter from my psychiatrist Dr Schrader advising my conditions and how they affect me are not expected to change.
● Therefore, as no material change in my limitations is expected, and in consideration of DWP published guidance and case law (RS vs Secretary of State Work and Pensions [2016] UKUT85 (AAC) Case Number UK/5459/2014), the only reasonable decision is that a fixed-term award in my case would be inappropriate and an on-going award should be applicable.

Today I received a call from a DWP PIP Case Manager who said he had reviewed the appeal and the evidence. He offered me an increased award from three to five years and stated that is the most he was prepared to do. The offer is contingent of course on withdrawing the appeal as this would be a settlement of the appeal. I have until Friday when he will call me back to decide to accept the offer or advise I wish to proceed to a hearing. I asked for longer time and he asked why and I said to contact my benefits advisor but he said he had a deadline to submit the DWP response to HMCTS and wasn’t willing to extend the offer consideration period any longer.

I did state to him I felt the DWP guidance and my evidence gave grounds for an ongoing award. He said this is not given to claimants who circumstances do not change. But this is not how I read the guidance!

My gut is telling me to continue to a hearing as the evidence is there and yield to the decision-making of the Tribunal panel rather than this DWP Case Manager.

Any thoughts from moderators or other PIP claimants who have experienced a similar scenario?

Thank you