DWPhelp Rules

After nearly a year of waiting I've been given a date for a "telephone consultation" for my PIP review. Will this be an assessment like I did face to face for the original claim (which I had to take to a tribunal)?

When I filled out the form I made sure to describe everything in full again and made it very clear that nothing has changed. I wasn't able to send any new evidence because there's nothing to give... nothing I tried with the doctor worked, anxiety groups dried up and Mind ran out of courses I could go on. All I can do is describe how I feel and what I do.

I have contacted a disability charity but I don't really see what they could do with that.

Like the first time around I'll look over the points system and what I told them but does anyone have any thoughts on anything I can do to help myself?

Sorry if this isn’t allowed here. This is the closest subreddit I could find.

I hate being on benefits. I feel worthless, and people on social media tell me “I’m perfectly capable of working” when they don’t know my struggles. I’m bullied for being on disability benefits. I feel like I’m being dehumanised.

I want to be able to own a home one day, but I can’t because I’m not employed.

I want to work, but I fear I won’t be able to handle it. I want to try working but I worry that it would cause my benefits (my only income to survive) to be taken off me.

I feel so useless. I’m not helping no one being stuck on benefits. All because I have awful mental health.

I get UC LCWRA as well as PIP. And I can’t even rent anywhere new, because everyone wants guarantors. I’m stuck in a flat that’s falling apart and the landlord won’t fix it. I feel so trapped.

I’m only 20m and I’ve been on benefits since I was 17. I hate it.

Does anyone sometimes feel like this and how do you deal with feeling this way?

I finally have my PIP tribunal tomorrow. I've waited well over a year for it. It's being done via online video, which I've no experience of, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me how long the hearings of this type usually last? I've previously had a phone tribunal but that was a long time ago and I was in a haze at the time. The whole thing is daunting and stress inducing enough, but having no idea how long I have to endure is making everything worse. Any help appreciated.

Hello!

I've been off work since early December and claiming ESA for a couple of months now.

I have a work capability assessment coming up and I need a little help understanding what happens from there.

I'm signed off with anxiety & depression, although I have been diagnosed with burnout. Since being signed off, I've found out I very likely have ADHD & autism, as well as recently being diagnosed with PTSD.

I'm worried that I'll be put in the work related activity group and I'll be kinda forced back into work before I'm ready. At this point in time, I can barely manage to go shopping without experiencing debilitating after effects, so the thought of having to actively look for and 'prepare for' work at this point is genuinely terrifying. I have no idea how long I'll be like this. I went out for my birthday and it took over a week to recover - I don't drink, and we played board games for 4 hours. It floored me.

Can someone clarify the difference between the groups in practice? What puts you in one group and not the other?

I can't seem to understand what it all means. I'm finding it difficult to understand basic information at the moment so I'm really confused and worried.

Thanks in advance 🙂

How do I apply for PIP if I am employed? Does being employed sort of go against me?

Extra info, because I’m not sure what you need:

I work 15 hrs a week (and hardly cope but keep my head above water)

I’m a mum to 2 young boys

Husband works full time

History of anxiety, phobia, postnatal issues, depression (most of which I believe were actually the adhd really)

for a bit of context I have had a fit note since the beginning of last month, I have been called numerous times by the health and disability assessment team at very inconvenient times, where i couldn’t answer the phone and i have missed every single one of them, so i haven’t been assessed for the limited capability for work, my fit note is due to end on the 16th and I am hoping to get another one and show them this as proof, but what do I do? I have put it in the journal and nobody seems fussed? I have also tried to call back but it just says ‘we will contact you if we need to’ they have recently stopped trying to call me, i’m really stuck, nobody is helping, thank you.

I got a cold call from a lovely PIP lady who called at a real inconvenient time whilst I was at work and I was running on an extremely tight schedule (as per usual) so I asked if she or someone else could call back the following Monday as I would be off work getting my root canal finished and stressing on how I will pay for a crown (dentists are really good salespeople btw).

She said someone will definitely call on Monday except no one called and now I’m panicking that I’ll get a call whilst I’m at work again and I can’t talk or after I somehow pay a lot of money I don’t have for my crown ( I didn’t get accepted for finance from the dentist) so I’m currently really stressed about it which will trigger a lot of issues. Plus, I still don’t know if I’ve been accepted or not so I just need a decision soon before I can properly plan my life.

I also applied beginning of March so I’m not expecting to get a decision straight away but I feel like I messed up a really good opportunity to get an answer as soon as.

So I guess I’m just asking anyone that has asked for a reschedule call, how long it took to get back to you?

So after a miserable 4 months of unemployment, I have now accepted an offer of employment!

However I live in a somewhat awkward area which is 20 minutes off from the sites location.

I am aware of the FSF but have never queried further. Would the job center be able to pay for my travel, clothes?

Given that on some evenings where the finishes will be late, and no public transportation operating at this time, would I be able to ask for funds for a taxi should I be able to provide a copy of my schedule?

I applied in September 2021 and at the Tribunal went from 0 points to Enhanced Daily and Basic Mobility.

Last month was prompted to start a new claim by DWP because my award is due to expire in August.

Unfortunately, today due to a panic attack had to end the assessment on the 20th minute and ask for it to be rescheduled.

Now that I've been through it I could see through how the assessor was trying to trick me.

He realised I have a dog and decided to talk ask me about the dog for 10 min. I protested that this had nothing to do with my claim but he said it does. He didn't even ask any questions about my condition. The assessment felt like dog ownership assessment. Surely it is not right.

I am not even claiming the 12th Descriptor for Walking.

I received a bad panic attack because I sensed his malicious intent to try and score me with 0 points again just because I can take care after my dog and walk it...

I am feeling very low the whole day. I feel that DWP may end my award before August if they conclude I'm no longer eligible.

The uncertainty is killing me. The prospect of having to go through a Tribunal process again and live with no support until then is very daunting.

If they fail me in the new claim, would this terminate my Tribunal award, which was awarded up until August?

Hi,

I’ve got PIP including the higher mobility element and I need my blue badge But it’s been three weeks and they still haven’t sent the award letter just the new amounts letter (which doesn’t show my points).

I tried to call but had to go to bed with a severe headache/feeling incredibly unwell from the hold music. Does anyone have any knowledge of ways I can get it resent/find out my actual scores for the blue badge form?

NGL it’s fairly infuriating that the system can’t just pull it through given I did the entire PIP form online and they are both .gov.uk sites. I’m debating trying to write in but there are so many addresses too.

I started the process at the start of November and according to my council if I get form one done now (with the numbers) I might get my blue badge by late July/early August.

I doubt I can apply for Motability yet either and it took my friend two years and counting to get his car replaced.

Sorry for the rant. Basically any tips other than begging a friend to sit on hold for me greatly appreciated. I’m currently raging at the guy who rang me about my payment and told me they recommend waiting til you’ve received your letter to get a copy of your assessment and implied it was easy to do at a later date.

Looking for some help. I transferred to UC from Tax Credits last year. I didn't realise I had to wait for a migration letter but that's another story. When I made my initial UC claim I declared all my mental health conditions, but at that point I was working full time. I receive Scottish Disability post pip migration. Previously was on ESA but decided I wanted to try and go full time

After a rocky 12 months I've hit the point where I've had to take time off sick. I'm trying to establish if I can go back on reduced hours with a supporting sick line and potentially qualify for some additional UC. If I'm reading things correctly there is no limited capacity work allowance.

I'd like to go back 15/20 hours at the end of the month, I work from home.

I'm so.confused and stressed as I still need to pay the bills but I can't get any clear guidance through journal.

I receive student loan and UC made my changes a bit late meaning I got overpaid one month. I’ve had this issue before so no issue paying it back, I know they take an amount every month.

So I was paid £1662 when I should have got around £400 ish so my overpayment was £1233. Again all fine. I’ve paid around £500 off already.

Since this, I’ve been entitled to PIP which changed my student entitlement and means there’s now a part of my loan that UC can’t take into account meaning I’ve been underpaid by them for 4 months by £1130. They sent this straight to the debt management team.

Now when I work it all out and on my payments tab on UC, I should have got £968 on the month I was overpaid and got £1662. It means my overpayment was actually just under £700 not the original £1233. As I’ve already paid £500 off, there should only be £200ish left to recover. I queried with UC and they told me to call the debt management who told me I have £700 left that I owe them and that my overpayment on their end is still £1233. They told me I have to get UC to send a revised overpayment to them because they can’t do anything without that.

I’ve asked UC but they haven’t replied to me yet and I don’t know what’s happening with it. Does anyone know if they can revise the overpayment or will I have to challenge this officially?

I have just had my first payment on new style ESA, after a very nice claimant commitment interview.

There are two things I don't yet understand.

1: I make music and last year I did some work that I will get something like royalties for. It's paid to my manager monthly and they pay me whenever they can be arsed (long story) so I have no schedule.

It's well under the weekly limit if averaged, but it's irregular. I can probably get it paid weekly which would help, but how do i declare it as it's not actually work I am doing now? it was a year ago.

2: Am I actually officially on ESA if I'm in the assessment phase? I ask as i'd like to explore council tax discounts, and also I'll qualify for a free eye test.

Thank you for all you do here.

I want to cancel my UC claim. I've been in hospital but am getting discharged so no longer need it.

What's the best way to go about closing the claim with minimum hassle? Is it through the journal? Will I be bombarded with lots of annoying questions?

Thanks

So I've thankfully found a new role and I'm currently going through the process of signing contracts, background check, references etc..

I'm due to start on Monday 15th and have notified my Restart advisor via phone and my work coach yesterday via my journal. I asked my work coach via my journal to discharge me from the Restart scheme and to notify me if I was still required to attend my appointment this Friday. She came back and stated I needed to notify my Restart advisor which I replied that I had last week. I still haven't received a further response.

I also spoke with an advisor yesterday on the phone with regards to receiving support with travel for the first month of the role. She sent an email across to my job centre explaining the start date and my need to get the application process started for the Flexible Support Fund. Today I chased on my journal and was told that on my appointment on Friday I should bring proof of my offer for a job to get things rolling.

​

1. Are claimants still expected to attend interviews once a job has been offered and contracts signed?
2. Is it my responsibility to oversee my release from the Restart scheme despite me notifying my work coach? I've been ignoring the constant calls from the Restart advisor. He's was only with me for 4 weeks as my previous one was promoted and did nothing to support my job search.
3. Given that I've provided information of my start on Monday at 9am should my work coach and the job centre not be looking to support me to ensure I'm prepared in advance? I'm concerned that it won't be ready for Monday.

I have been under a private neurologist now for a few months for my epilepsy. I am now prescribed cannabis, but it's reached the point where I need to pay for my yearly 2 hour appointment. This costs £300.

I rang up and asked for an advance because if I can't get the money together my prescription will stop being dispensed. They did refuse the loan.

At this point, I really could do with the money. They have given me the money for the cannabis vaporiser on advance before, so I'm not sure what the issue is?

It's a yearly appointment so it's not like it's a bill

Anyone got any ideas of where this kind of falls? I know it is a bit unique

As in the title, I applied for ADP just over a year ago, it was refused. At the time i didn't ask for a re-determination as I wasn't in a good place. I have been told I cannot appeal as I did not request a re-determination.

The fact is that my physical issues have worsened, can I submit a new application?

Hi,,

I've got a work roach telling me he can manadate me onto the Restart scheme yet I have only been out of work for 13 weeks.

The restart DWP legislation says no claimant can be mandated before 9 months.

Does anyone know if they can link previous claims, what is the linking period?, I was working for 3 months between my old claim and my new claim.

The linking period use to be 31 days but can't find any info on it.

Any advice much appreciated...

I got lcwra award letter the 17th of March I handed my first sick line on December 13th and get paid again on the first of May. Will I get my lcwra first payment then

My partner has JUST gotten off of the phone with the tribunal, she was originally lower rate daily living and that was it. They’ve given her higher in both rates!! She’s bawling her eyes out in tears. This was incredibly daunting and scary for her, but I’m so proud.

I was a representative, not an appointee and was told I couldn’t speak for her so we took a break to see if we could adjourn but she decided to give it a go. In the end, it was worth it. Thank you everyone for the advice I’ve been reading up on the last few days, it helped! Backdating to the date of the original decision so she’s coming in to a fair bit of money (I’m sure you guys could work it out lol)

She can finally sit back and relax… it’s all over.

Hello all,

I have been claiming Universal Credit for 3 months now, due to me and my Fiance losing our jobs.

My Fiance has landed a new job which will be plenty to support us both, I would like to close my claim as the mental stress it causes me to go in once a week is not worth the 200 something I get a month.

How do I go around doing this?

For context: I (24M) have recently received an ASD diagnosis. I have been signed on with UC since Aug 2023 and was diagnosed in Mar 2024; I have made the Job Centre aware of my disability.

I don't find that my autism makes me unable to work completely; I have worked on-and-off since I was 16 at a number of places and found that actually the routine of a stable job is helpful for me in some cases.

However, one type of job that is seemingly impossible for me is retail and customer service roles. I have a total of three years experience in it and I just end up burnt out, suicidal, and quitting every single time due to the social interaction and irregular work schedule. (Not to mention these places are often busy, loud, and lit with fluorescents.)

I have explained to multiple work coaches these restrictions but it's seemingly being dismissed because I am on week 14 of my claim and should be looking for "any job". I appreciate the position I am in, but I've applied to over 110 jobs at this point, so it's not like I'm not looking or trying.

With this in mind, would I need to apply for a fit note if I am otherwise able to work but cannot work retail? TIA.

Just found out review result, went from 23 points to 0, im going to do mandatory reconsidaration but it is baffling.

My reasons for pip are autism and a balance disorder, both of which are unchanging life long issues.

I got pip initially after a MR so looks like they have just repeated what they did last time

I had my assessment for PIP on the 17th Jan this year and today I call them to ask what is going on. They tell me that they sent out a letter stating that I’m not entitled on the 27th January. I never received this. The person I spoke to on the phone kept referring to 2022 which confused me, because I started this application in 2023. He said that despite the evidence I submitted for this claim, they are using “earlier” submitted evidence? I am so confused. I don’t recall making a claim in 2022. I will apparently receive this decision letter to appeal it withjn 2 weeks but i'm so confused. What a waste of time.

Hey everyone, I applied for PIP for various reasons in Jan and had my video assessment on 9th of Feb bc I can't leave the house. Since then, I had this random phonecall from someone at DWP checking my details and then just hanging up - did anyone else have this? After that I have had radio silence from them so tried calling and each time I rang, an automated message would say "A letter outlining how much benefit you will receive will be sent to you by the end of April" so I thought nothing of it and assumed that would be the case. I wanted to double check it wasn't an error so called again today and that message is gone. Trying to get through to their phone line is a nightmare as well! Did anyone else experiencing this?

Thanks!

So basically I won my Tribunal about 4 weeks ago. I've got a back payment of £7200. I rang up for an update to see when I am likely to receive it. They said it currently with DWP Debt management. I explained I've got arrears outstanding at the moment that I'm being pressed for. Mainly from my landlord. Pip then told me I could contact DWP Debt management and ask them to speed up the process if I wanted to try that.

Anyway whilst speaking with them they've informed me they plan on taking £2200 from my back payment for outstanding DWP arrears consisting of Overpaid Tax Credits, Budgeting Advance and a Universal Credit Advance.

The thing is I am already paying these off through my universal credit payments. I was under the impression they wouldn't take full payment for all these arrears if I was already paying it through UC.

Any advice would be appreciated.

My child was born recently in France with myself (full UK national) and her mother (French national).

I will be bringing the child to the UK and raising her by myself temporarily. I am registered as the father in France and her birth is registered there.

Would I be able to claim a single parent benefit and/or child allowance or would I have to find a way to register her birth here and then backdate?

Or can you please advise me with whatever helpful information you can?

Hi,

Originally had a face to face appointment today but it was changed to an early phone call appointment this morning.

How is that acceptable? The Jobcentre normally gives customers 24 hours warning.

I received a text message this morning with a number but the missed call wasn't that number but I checked my online portal and the appointment has been marked down as 'DNA' (Did Not Attend). (No received calls by phone since the missed call)

So obviously there has been no internal communication there amongst the advisors etc.

I shouldn't get into trouble for missing the telephone call??

I have been given an exit review appointment later on in the week,

I recently received help via the Flexible Support Fund to pay £370 towards a subscription for a professional training website. (It provides IT-related video courses related to the type of work I've been doing for 30+ years. Tech changes so fast, staying up to date is important to remain employable.)

I was able to negotiate a discount on the advertised price of about £75. I thought I'd done a good thing for the taxpayer, and immediately offered to pay this back when I presented the invoice to DWP. However, they now tell me that they can't accept repayment via either bank transfer or via deduction from my next UC payment. Which sounds like hogwash. They've certainly deducted from my UC before for other things. They want me to take time away from my job search to come down to the job centre in person to repay them in cash.

This is the type of doublethink and jobsworthiness I've come to expect from DWP. A similar thing happened about 10 years ago when I received similar help with costs for my first month back at work. Back then, they phoned me multiple times at work trying to arrange giving me cash in person. Which led to me getting fired in those first 2 weeks as it made it look like I wasn't completely focused on the job. The exact opposite of help.

What's so difficult about exchanging cash via bank transfers that it is apparently impossible for DWP to work that way? I will add that when they sent me this cash a few weeks ago, it was the same story of bullshit baffles brains. They phoned me up and asked for my bank details (which they must already have as they pay UC that way.) When I asked them to prove their identity by sending me a quick message via the UC portal, they nearly had a fit. "I've never been asked to prove my identity in 30 years working here!" I just stayed calm and said "I hope you can understand the need for this request, as anybody could phone me and ask for my bank details. And it only takes 30 seconds to send a secure message via the portal to prove who you are." They eventually gave in and did this, but it was like pulling teeth. Now returning £75 lousy quid is the same three ring circus.

Any suggestions for how I should phrase my request to DWP to return the £75 via bank transfer? Rather than my taking 2 hours out of my day to get a bus to the bank then to the JCP office, just to return money in cash that can easily be returned via the ways I described? I get the impression the person I'm talking to isn't too bright, and has an awkward personality to boot. Some DWP staff are lovely. This is one of the other ones. Is there some magic phrase I should be using to get her to wind her neck in and stop wasting both our time? Maybe involve my local MP?

Good morning, I would just like to ask about the disabled child element of universal credit, my son was awarded high rate care of child DLA in January 2020, I informed universal credit of the change.

No changes to any entitlement were made.

In August 2022, I was asked to redeclare the same child as their records still held middle rate, I did so.

No changes to entitlement were made.

It is my first and only universal credit claim, I had no idea there were different rates, otherwise I'd have been on the ball, however with work and caring for him, I just trusted that it was fine. It's only since late last year I've had to dig into it all due to fluctuation in awards even with no income. I did an entitlement calculator online and noted the different rates.

Am I right that we should have been entitled to the higher disabled child element of universal credit for the past 4 years?

What's the likelihood that I would not only receive it from now on but perhaps have any under payment back dated to either the start of the award or at least the notification in 2022 to make the changes?

I have queried in the journal but I am not holding out much hope and the information online is a little confusing.

Can anyone shed any light? Thank you.