DWPhelp Rules

Yesterday, I received the golden text that I had been awarded PIP. I called and was told that I have been awarded enhanced in both elements.

I first called 26/07/2024 but struggled with my health and didn’t complete the form until August.

I had my assessment 17th October and was awarded on 31st October.

I have chronic neuropathy, brain, gut axis disorder, Coxa Vara, panic disorder and hyper mobility syndrome.

I am so relieved as no I can get help with day to day things!

Great experience in all!

I receive LWCRA, ADP (adult disability payment) and UC but my partner was fojd to apply for careers allowance but we're not sure what one to apply for. We got told to be aware of which one to apply as there's one that deducts whatever you get for careers from UC and there's others that don't do deductions.

Hi there. I left college last month and I applied for CA As soon as I left. I got a phone call yesterday asking to send a letter about me leaving from my college I sent it to the email they gave me How will I know if they received it or not? Do DWP Work on a weekend? Will the decision be quicker? Is the email an automated one? Any help would be appreciated Thanks

So I’ve had my blue badge for almost 3 years and I’ve since moved to a new borough. It’s due to expire in mid January 2025 and I know it could take up to 12 weeks for the new one to arrive, assuming they will reissue me one but I haven’t heard back from PIP yet as I only submitted my 3 year review recently and they received it I think at the end of September.

If I were to apply for my blue badge renewal, do I need to select the option without my PIP which will mean only having the badge for a year, or can I use my current PIP award that I was granted 3 years ago?

I have now been offered a home visit for the verification process.

I have been advised that this should only take 10 to 15 minutes.

Do I have to invite them to the dining table?

I would ideally want them gone asap just in case I need the toilet again.

Apologises to any DWP staff on here, but this is not a friendly visit, and I do not want to waste time with pleasantries as the DWP staff would not be a guest.

I suspect I will take a chair to the door with my documents. I will like put my passport next to my face and then the address on my tenancy agreement to prove that I am who I say I am.

My assessment period is between 13 October to 12 November 2024. My regular UC payment is paid to me on 19th November.

I sign my tenancy agreement on 7 November 2024. I move in Sunday 10th November 2024.

My tenancy rent officially begins on 11th Monday November 2024.

I’m expected to pay 1st week's rent upfront - possibly two weeks rent to prevent arrears.

That is altogether near £400.

My question is: 

I do not expect UC to start paying rent to the housing association a few days later on Monday. The HA have said they will make contact with them to arrange a direct debit etc. Which is likely to take a few days after or maybe a few weeks.

So, I have a feeling it will have to come from myself. I think I have enough to do that - but I would like reassurance that this amount can somehow be reimbursed to myself. Or, I can find a way to pay the rent using another way such as discretionary house payments - but I can’t see that registering in just a few days either.

Does anyone have any suggestions; info or advice on what can be done about the initial rent?

(Apologies if I sound silly; I'm new to all of this - which is why I'm asking).

Thanks.

Hi, I'm currently helping my mum through a review of her PIP (the review was instigated by PIP after 2 years of receiving pip). We are still waiting for a decision to be made but I've got a copy of the report from the health assessor and she has advised some changes and some things have stayed the same since her last assesment, which I've put below. She currently receives lower rate for both but I'm just wondering if there is anyone who can advise if they think she's going to be upgraded to higher on either daily living or mobility. My personal feeling is she will stay the same on daily living but be upgraded on mobility. The reason for this is none of the questions she has scored more able to do but she is now less able to complete some things. I've put the question number previous assesment score and new score next to each

Q.1 preparing food, previously b now c Q. 2 taking nutrition stayed the same a Q. 3 managing therapy, previously a now b Q. 4 washing and bathing stayed the same at b Q. 5 managing toilet or incontinence stayed at b Q. 6 dressing and undressing stayed at b Q. 7 communicating verbally stayed at a Q. 8 reading and understanding signs stayed at a Q. 9 engaging face to face previously a now b Q. 10 making budgeting decisions previously a now b Q. 11 planning and following journeys previously a now d Q. 12 moving around stayed at D.

Hey everyone,

I reported changes to my condition in August and have a phone assessment appointment coming up. Today I received a text from my GP inviting me to book an appointment, when I rang the surgery to enquire why they stated it was because of a PIP assessment.

My old GP has never contacted me on assessments, so I’m just wondering why they want to see me. Can anyone shed any light?

I was recently awarded LCWRA through UC and both the advisor I had been dealing with at the JC and the person who did my assessment for the LCWRA suggested I look into applying for PiP so I made the call and got the forms through but I had been looking through this sub for answers about LCWRA (I never had it explained to me so was completely lost) and have noticed that a lot of people who sound like they are in much worse positions than me are struggling with applications and reviews right now.

Another thing is I don't have much evidence I can provide as I had been avoiding doctors for about a decade so a lot of my old records didn't carry over onto digital and most of my issues are still awaiting responses from different referals so I can't back up mich of what's wrong with me from doctors.

So would I be wasting my time filling in all the forms? I can provide more details if that would help someone with more knowledge/experience help me make a choice I would just rather not waste someone elses and my own time.

Also if I did go ahead and they find me ineligible would that affect my LCWRA status at all I don't want to rock the boat?

My son receives UC and is classed as LCWRA. He suffers from a myriad of conditions including Autism and severe social phobia. His claim is now being reviewed by the DWP and they are asking for four months of bank statements.

However, because of his health condition and him still living here at home, his only real banking activity is feom when I withdraw cash every week which I use to pay for shopping and to put toward the heating and electric bills and whatever else. So his bank statements are effectively just money being taken out of the cash machine and not much else besides the few times he's made small online purchases. I'd say 90% of it has been withdrawn in cash.

I spoke to a welfare rights advisor about this and according to them this is going to look highly suspicious and that they will ask for receipts and other things in order to prove the money isn't being used inappropriately. Thing is we don't have any receipts and hald of the money is just considered his paying toward electricity, heating, internet etc which I pay via direct debit. The cash is then uses by myself to pay for whatever other expenses come up.

My son is now incredibly frightened and wants to close his claim because he's afraid of being treated like a criminal. I want to try and console him but at this point it seems the DWP might do just that, even though he's never been over the £6,000 limit and the money has always been spent on living needs with only a few occasional "luxuries."

Can anyone offer any advice? He doesn't seem to have a choice in providing the statements, but it sounds like this is going to lead to further scrutiny and will seriously affect his mental health.

I am a highly anxious person, an overthinker and someone who doesn't manage 'change' any change in my routine, my circumstances or finances will bring me to my knees. I'm finding the stress of migrating from ESA SG to UC almost unbearable. My hair is shedding, I'm not sleeping well and I'm in a constant state of worry.

I migrated over on the 14th October. I'm an Australian national, but I've lived in the UK since 2005 with ILR granted in 2007. Last time I left the country was 2016, I've lived in the same house for 12yrs and had the same bank account since 2011. I'm a creature of stability. It's the only way I can function. Im a single mum with a 16yr old daughter who was born here. I've been in receipt of ESA SG/CTC/CB/HB since 2014. I assumed my ID verification would go thru smoothly. From what I've read I pass the HRT and I previously supplied ID evidence incl. my passport visa, my d/l and a letter from HMRC. AND NOPE!! my application is still with a DM to see if I pass the HRT.

I'll be living off fresh air by next weekend because I can't apply for an advance until I'm verified. Payment won't be until 18th November. I don't need to tear my hair out over this because it's falling out! I've left msgs on my journal, explained I need an advance, no reply. I know they're swamped with case loads but mine should have been a simple ✔️ do they think I got my national insurance # out of a lucky dip? I'm sorry, but I'm so frustrated.

Can any of you lovely people suggest what I can do to move my case forward so I can at least apply for an advance?

Thankyou so much ❤️

my appeal for PIP at the tribunal was refused and I have no idea what to do now.

without going into much detail, I struggle with multiple learning and mental health issues that are either already diagnosed or in the process of being diagnosed. I applied for PIP over a year ago and was only awarded 2 points total. I did the MR, was declined again and then after having to have two hearings adjourned because of my disability I finally attended one this week, and I've received the decision today stating that my appeal has been refused (I was awarded 2 additional points but nothing else).

the panel was very hostile, they talked over and interrupted me, preventing me from using written notes I have prepared (because I get overwhelmed easily and suffer from gaps in memory) and overall treating me in a very demeaning way. one of them tried to insinuate that because I said that the extent of me preparing food is that SOMETIMES I make plain pasta, that it counted as a "one course, nutritional meal made with fresh ingredients" because they kept pushing the fact that I make fresh pasta, as opposed to boiling dried pasta from a bag. they also said that the food I eat "doesn't have to have any nutritional value" (which I'm not sure is right) and that "all that matters is I eat SOMETHING" (also they didn't really care if I only ate once or twice a day, IF pre-made food is available or my partner cooks for me and prompts me to eat). I said I have trouble following recipes, even really simple ones, and that I have set things on fire before or wasted a bunch of ingredients or even pre-made food because of my condition, and they told me to try poaching an egg (???).

there were other comments that were made but they were all in similar vein, including comments from the DWP representative who spoke so quickly and in a confusing manner, I couldn't keep track. additionally, despite the hearing being made "accessible" for me by extending it to an entire afternoon instead of the usual 45 mins (or whatever it normally is), it felt very rushed like they were trying to get through it as quickly as possible, which lead to a lot of panic and confusion on my part.

I guess what I'd like to ask is: if I challenge the tribunal's decision, are there any services that can help represent me?

my academic mentor has tried looking up some information for me, but the service is either very expensive (£2-3k) or an organisation will only help you if they've been involved from the very start. I have trouble advocating for myself and I have severe anxiety, so when met with an already hostile environment I don't do very well, to say the least. i wanted to assign my partner as my appointee but the process was so convoluted I couldn't figure out how to apply for that or how long it was gonna take. is it even worth trying to appeal the appeal? should I just make a new claim with the help of a representative and lose all this time?

for reference, the conditions I have are: CPTSD, OCD, generalized anxiety disorder, chronic depression, agoraphobia, selective mutism, Autism (on waiting list), ADHD (on waiting list) and dyslexia/dyscalculia (pending diagnosis). all of these are supported by some kind of paperwork or several and affect my daily life deeply.

any advice is appreciated. thanks for reading.

I called up to see if my case was still with someone and the advisor said a decision has been made but they can't advise me what it is and I have to wait for the letter - I haven't had a text to say I've been awarded, I take it that's probably a firm no? Just looking for something to keep me not in the balance, I can deal with rejection more than I can not knowing.

TIA.

So opted for tribunal to be carried out without my presence as can’t face that

Today had a letter come through saying your hearing did not go ahead! Adjournment notice was sent to me, saying it will have to be a face to face hearing. Noting the complex history of the case it is not suitable to be dealt with on the papers

Has this happened to anyone?

Can I still withdraw this as id rather not go face to face

Thanks

Hiya! Sorry for formatting if it’s weird. I was just wondering if we were allowed to use the DWP’s response as evidence for an appeal? In the response I received, DWP have acknowledged my difficulties (then simultaneously said “no”.) so I have circled what they have identified as evidence. Would this be useful in the appeal, or moot? Thanks!

Previously I have been under the mental health team for depression but now I have been referred to the memory clinic and had a brain scan showing some changes. I don't have a dementia diagnosis although it says diagnosis - memory problems under investigation

how do DWP / Pip view memory clinic letters please? previously they tried to take me off PIP saying there was no evidence of cognitive impairment. they tried to say this was because ethyl felt I could tell them my medical history and tell them simple questions such as that I has had a previous assessment? So I am worried they will try the same again.

Please can someone hopefully give me some understanding… I put in a claim 19 weeks ago and they said they will have made a decision by week 20. I have received a message of Dla saying we tried to call you today about your child’s Dla claim but couldn’t contact you we will try again on Monday.. I called up to see what it was about and the decision maker has not put any notes apart from will try to call again no answer. The first woman on the phone said to me after me saying oh it’s proberly bad news she said ah well it’s not bad news so I said I have been accepted and she didant say yes but in code basically told me yes!!! I got put though to somone else who told me no desition has been made and it’s against policy for the other person to tell me. She was very firm and knocked my confidence me thinking I now haven’t been accepted and I have to wait till Monday. Why would they try to contact me. And what is the likely hood of this woman telling me I’ve been accepted without a desition being made. Thankyou

I’ve just migrated from Tax Credit system to UC so am going through the UC hoops! I effectively have 2 terminal diseases - one extremely rare condition that is progressive and destroys internal organs but no available ‘treatment for’ (so far spleen & kidneys destroyed) so now have End Stage Renal Disease & I’m on dialysis every other day! My ‘work coach’ seems to understand my health issues & even though she determined my self employed status as ‘not gainful’ she is not pushing me into ‘work’ (which I couldn’t do as bed-bound most of the time). To determine which ‘work group’ I go into I was asked to fill out a UC50 Form & provide medical docs - sent those back Mon 14th - but so far they have not turned up & seem to be ‘lost’ in the UC system! My understanding is being on Dialysis @ having an untreatable progressive condition automatically counts for LCWRA - but even though I’ve asked that a number of times I was still told to do the UC50. Last convo with Work Coach via journal I asked what is happening with my case…. And she said it’s with the ‘Decision Maker’ - anyone know what that means? 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was expecting her to tell me to redo the form!?

I would need a tenancy agreement which I have but I also now apparently would need a proof of address which would be either a utility bill which wouldn’t be available until a month from living in my new address anyway. The other option they said was council tax but I just got off the phone and they said if moving I would have to open up a new account and then also get proof of address which could take at least 20 days

I don’t see how I would be able to get a proof of address inside of a month which means if would be after my assessment period and next payment date - Essentially meaning the first months rent I would have to pay for myself which isn’t feasible. I don’t remember this being a concern when I changed address last time

I had a different work coach which is why it happened but I can’t believe I was encouraged to apply to the place that has just let me go. I said “You are joking aren’t you they have just let me go I wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole” He just had a bemused smile on his face. I honestly hate going to the job centre sometimes.

Hello sorry I keep posting on here, just get really muddled and confused easily I'm doing my first ever claim for UC

• i have confirmed my identity

• I have completed everything to do online

• I have submitted a 3 month fit note to say I

can't work or look for work due to disabilities (this will be extended after as my condition is perminant and deteriorating)

• I met with someone at the jobcenter today

who has gone through everything with me and put down that I have no commitments due to not being able to work etc other than to have a phone call with a healthcare person on the 27th November (4 weeks away) He explained that I've already triggered the form to be sent for LCWRA which I need to fill in and return etc.

I just wanna know

• with all the information I've provided such as

fit note and I've got a call with a healthcare person on the 27th in 4 weeks (I know it won't be in my first payment) but how long from that point will it take to be able to get the additional LCWRA payments?

• what should I expect on this healthcare call?

I will have my carer with me to help but I get extremely anxious so it helps to know what to expect

• if I apply for an advance (I was told I could now) how long would it take to actually receive this?

I submitted my UC50 form on 17 October, well within the response window as the deadline was 8 November. Today, however, I received a letter stating that they haven't received it. I used recorded delivery and have confirmation of receipt, and all medical documents were clearly labelled with my National Insurance number. The only possible cause for a delay I can think of is the volume of documents I submitted—over 30 pages—which may be taking additional time to process and could have triggered this automatic notice.

I’ve posted a note in my journal about this, but is there anything else I should do?

I lost my job a month ago due to mental health problems. I took some time off as I can't function properly at the moment and she sacked me (that's a whole other thing), I was debating applying for UC at the time anyway as this was the second time in 2 months I'd taken time off. I started my application 16th Oct and waited for appt - only to realise yesterday that my partner hadn't completed one question 🤦‍♀️

Anyway, got that finished now and just going through everything else. But since I haven't worked for over a month now I've completely ran out of money. I know this stress/pressure is also on my partner, not just me. We pay 50/50 in the house (bills & food) and we usually just about get by, so without my contribution we're really starting to feel it. We have no savings. We're both in about £6k credit cards debt. I have no more lending options in that sense atm. I have (personal) bills going out Monday and next week (credit card bills etc) which I can't ask him for the money for because he can't afford to cover any of my bills. I also owe my friend money and I know they NEED it. My family are very poor so there's no one I can ask there. What do I do??

I'll have to wait 5 weeks for my first payment of UC, which won't be enough for a month to live on anyway, and by which point I'll be 2 months behind on my bills so it won't touch the sides. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. No point in doing an advance on uc because again I'll be in the same position...won't have enough. I can't see any options anywhere. I've already done the DAF fund twice in the last 2 months. I feel like I'm spinning out. It's crazy to me that I'm in such a desperate situation I'm having to ask the government for money but then they go "you'll have to wait 5 weeks" just for £260. I need to apply for limited work after that which I've heard you can't do until 30days of being on benefits, then how long til that comes in? How the the gov expect DISABLED people to live? Especially on £260 for months until they can "prove" they're too ill to work.

So my overall questions are

1. are there any other options? I private rent so there's potential I will either lose my house or get into insane debt missing months whilst I wait for money to come in
2. if I took out a shitty loan for 3k to keep me afloat (no unfortunately no intentions of paying it back), will DWP see this in my account? And will it go against my claim?

I just need a couple grand to get me by for now and since I'm already in a lot of debt I'm tempted, out of survival, to get one last thing then tell all my creditors I'm on uc now and can't afford to pay it all back and just deal with it from there.

3. does anyone have any better ideas? Or any other solutions?

Thanks

Hi everyone

I applied for access to work in June 2024. They said originally it’d be 24 weeks wait, it’s come up to that time so I called them and they said it’s more like a 36 week wait so I’ll still have to wait longer.

I also mentioned I’ve changed employers since then and they said I’d have to make a new application and join the waitlist from the beginning again of which there is currently a 7 month wait. This would put my total wait time to 13 months, to even be contacted by the service let alone have any support.

Is this correct and does anyone have any experience relating to changing jobs?

I am autistic (diagnosed) and hugely struggle with staying employed and avoiding sickness, hence applying for the scheme

TL;DR in advance: Is there anything I can do to afford basic things like food when UC is unfortunately taking quite a long time to process a mandatory reconsideration for a destitution status I know I am fully eligible for? I just graduated and have no income, am estranged, and am currently sick with a fit note from my GP. UC said there is nothing they can do to help (as my claim was falsely closed) nor anything they can advise except that I should wait and will be made aware once a decision has been made.

Hi all, I'll try not to vent too much in here but there's a lot of complicated emotions going on right now. I'd appreciate any sort of advise or even just some kind words as I have no one else to speak to about this.

I applied for UC in late August, submitted all required evidence through my jobcentre, provided my immigration status share code and had it be approved by staff, and had a handful of meetings with my work coach that went quite well since he was the loveliest person ever!

Shortly before a decisinon was due, I received a call from UC with no further preface or explanation, where the lady on the phone simply went through some basic settlement status questions with me (ones I had previously answered/filled forms out for with my jobcentre) and I repeated my previous answers to her, thinking it was just a way of ensuring nothing had changed since I had initially applied about a month prior and all. However, as soon as the call ended after a few minutes, I immediately got a notification saying my claim had been closed since I failed HRT. I'd have easily accepted this if it wasn't for the fact that, 1), I didn't know anything about HRT nor what the requirements for it were and was not informed about it at any point even though UC knew from the start that I was an EU national (and confirmed all of my details and my basic eligibility, as mentioned before), and, more importantly 2), it was an oversight on their behalf in the end, according to my jobcentre.

I received an explanation on my decision about two weeks after with an apology that they had forgotten to send it initially and I read through it all with the support of a member of staff at my jobcentre and, as it turned out, UC simply failed to ask me for appropriate evidence where they believed to have none and instead decided to close my claim without further notice. It made me upset and still is making me upset, of course, but I immediately asked for a mandatory reconsideration that has now been ongoing since late September.

I am aware that there are no timescales for mandatory reconsideration, but I specifically applied for AT Pre-Settled Destitution status (as I am unfortunately currently unable to work due to a flare-up of chronic health concerns) and provided all the needed evidence that, this time around at least, I was informed about in detail. The member of staff at my jobcentre helped me be as thorough with everything as possible and I even added more evidence than was explicitly asked for following her advice, along with a few short paragraphs detailing minutely how my evidence aligns with the requirement for the status that I was given.

My question is whether there is anything I could possibly do in terms of finances. I applied for destitution status for a reason after all, and I am out of savings and am struggling to even afford food. All UC has been advising me over the past month+ is to wait and that there was nothing they could do since my claim had (albeit falsely) been closed. I could ask for an advance payment once my claim is re-opened, but that, of course, will only be possible once a decision is made.

Any advise or kind words would be much appreciated <3 I have been considering speaking to my jobcentre or citizens advice but wanted to ask here first before I head anywhere, since I know they tend to be quite busy with all sorts of queries and I don't want to add any unnecessary load to the system.

I've had a look through the sub but not really found anything to answer this.

Sorry to potentially catastrophize but I've never done this before. I have an assessment phone call coming up which I'm guessing will be the deciding factor on whether i get PIP for my disability and pain condition.

My question is this, and I'm sorry if it's obvious or silly: if I'm awarded PIP, will i have to stop doing things i enjoy out in public? If i go camping with friends even if it leaves me in pain for a few days afterwards, will that bar me from PIP? If i want to go to a convention even though it triggers sciatica from having to stand or walk a lot?

If I'm having a good few days and want to do a colour run or something?

I've just had to give up my gym membership because every time i try to work out it makes my back worse. But if i want to rejoin and go swimming or try to do some machine weights am i putting my claim at risk?

Other than the gym the activities I've listed as examples aren't things i do more than once a year, but some could think that being able to do them (even if I'm in pain during or after) means that I'm not really all that disabled.

If I making winnings from betting on somewhere like betfair is this automatically notified to universal credit or the hmrc as income? Would they see me as earning and stop my claim?

Posting on behalf of a family member - I submitted a claim for LCWA at the end of June and the forms were received on the 1st July.

I hadn’t heard anything back from the claim, so I called Universal Credit on the 16th October and was told my claim had been recieved but closed on the same day, with no reason available.

They directed me to the Serco phone line who said they don’t have any details, so directed me back to Universal Credit.

I then spoke to UC who said they would escalate it to a case manager and I would receive a call by Friday at 6pm (this was on thursday) and since then have received no calls. I’ve repeated this process 3 times and have been told the exact same thing every time.

Now today, there’s been a note on my journal that says a case manager is not trained on the assessment and outcome of a work capability assessment, so can’t help.

Does anyone have advice on what to do next as it feels like they’re avoiding calling back, since it’s supposedly been referred to the case manager three times now with no help, and apparently they wouldn’t be able to help anyway even if they did call.

I currently work for Maximus doing PIP assessments. I am off sick at the moment and have put in a claim for PIP. I am wondering if Maximus/ my manager can legally go through my PIP form and evidence submitted? I’ve put a grievance against my manager (no fault of Maximus) and wondered if Maximus could access my file and use my medical evidence to say either I’m not fit for work or anything else to offset this grievance or try fire me. Sorry I know it is a strange question but I’m really panicking. I did ring Maximus up and they can’t pick who does my assessment (hopefully not my manager) and told me to contact DWP to delete my data after assessment which didn’t really help.

Anyone with legal knowledge or better knowledge of PIP process? For context, I don’t know much about the process as I did not get very far into training before being off sick.

Thanks!

My family receives a small amount of UC and we have 12000 in savings (all reported to UC and above board), (I am a carer for a disabled child and my husband works full time). I am trying to understand how much capital / savings to report on his next pay day (Nov 17), which coincides as the last day of our Assessment Period.

He is paid £4k a month, but obviously that money is for rent & bills etc in the coming month - apart from the £500 we are able to set aside each month in a Help to Buy ISA. Am I supposed to report the £12000 plus the the bank balance of which will be £4k on the 17th (because it is his pay day).

Or am I allowed to adjust the bank balance to £500 because that is how much we will actually have saved of the 4k by 17th December.

Obviously when we reach £16k savings our claim will end so I don't want to cause it to end early, nor do I want to continue receiving UC for further months if we are not entitled to it.

Thanks for your help in navigating this very complex system that I hope to see the back of soon!!