DWPhelp Rules

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.

Unless you’re physically disabled, they just don’t care. They gaslit me with the report. Saying I can do a bunch of things, when I clearly cant without severe distress. Im autistic and I cant use public transport by myself. They said i can. I can’t go food shopping myself. I cant even open the door to the postman most days.

I can’t make sense of what is likely to happen with PIP under this new government and don’t want to get sucked into the fear-mongering tactics used by the papers.

I’m wondering, if they were to make drastic changes (I’ve heard a lot of speculation on Reddit about cutting it for those who are employed and/or moving the threshold for eligibility), how would this affect people with a 10 year award? Have changes like this happened before and how were they managed for people already claiming?

I suppose I’m wondering if an individual has a motability car and payments, if they were full time employed and the rules changed, would they really stop the payments and take the car off you? I can’t imagine that happening but maybe I’m naive ?

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!!

So I received a text saying the decision on my review had been made and I'd receive a letter in 2 weeks. But I got impatient and called the automated line to check my next payment and it says my payment will be £618.71. I was on standard for both before and was receiving £405, can anyone confirm if this means my review went well? I'm still in disbelief after how much fighting I had to do to get my award in the first place.

I can't seem to make any of the award amounts add up to £618 so I'm confused on what awards I got, anyone know?
Last question, if my award did increase, will I be backdated from when I sent my review forms in last November?

Thank you to anyone taking the time to answer!

My friend has switched from Income Support to UC under transitional protection, I've been doing the paperwork for them as they're very sick right now. I filled in the UC50, and they received it back on 7th Oct, on 23rd Oct they got a letter saying they'd been assessed and awarded LCWRA, that was it, no phone or physical assessment. Obviously we're pleased, but it is it usually that quick? It almost feels concerning somehow even though it's the result we wanted. Is there any way to find out how long it's likely to be for?

Edit: they weren't on Income Support as sick, but as a carer, so hadn't previously been assessed for sickness.

Me again, So my daughter’s PIP was successful and payments are to be made on the 15th, we are due a payment from DLA on the 8th would we still get this as a last payment? Or with PIP be sorted now will it now just be that? Because we are not owed any backdated money off them as we where still getting DLA but if we don’t get that payment we will be missing a month does that make sense 🙃

Oh dear, it has started.

“An appointment is being arranged for you to attend the job centre to verify your ID as part of the universal credit review . Someone will be in touch soon.

When attending your appointment please bring the following: 1 form of photographic ID, such as passport or driving license, if you do not have this please bring:

Your bank card, along with a letter with your name and address. This letter must be one of the following: • Council tax bill • Hospital letter • Doctors letter

Please also take one of the following: • Birth certificate • Travel Pass • Divorce certificate • HMRC letter • Tenancy agreement

If you have any questions, please send us a journal message

Kind Regards, Alex.”

Why are they asking me to come into the job centre though? I got LCWRA because of severe mobility issues.

I am not about to loose my LCWRA am I?

Hi all, just wondering what the current wait average is to know your review is taking place…for instance, my husband was awarded enhanced PIP for 3 years and his award is due to end in 9 months, but we still haven’t been contacted by DWP about whether he will be reviewed before the award period ends.

It would be interesting to know whether this is normal for others

Hi. Yesterday I was asked for 4 months of bank statements for review on the 14th which is the first time which I understand is quite routine for them to do so but, today I've also received an email that I have to attend an appointment at my local office on the 5th which has made me nervous as any appointments I have had in the past have been over the phone since having the job which I started at 4 years ago.

I work 30 hours on minimum wage, I don't receive a lot from UC but it certainly helps but should I be concerned the fact that they've asked for bank statements and a call into the office? I don't believe I have as I have less than £6000 and my claim has not changed apart from an increase in my rent payments.

I'm sorry if this is a generic question but any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi I migrated over from esa support group, and disabled child tax credits. I verified online they offered me a advance benefit transfer not new claim advance. And the amount was 900 my entitlement is around 2230. I took it thinking it would give me another once things was verified. I paid my rent yesterday £750 which leaves me pretty worse off now the left over amount isn't enough till December. Why have i only been offered 900 :( feel a bit stressed is a understatement cos get pip next week but that's supposed to be for things I need for my disability not to survive from till December:( is there any other help I can get from anywhere that anybody knows off. Will this mean I can't get any other loans from them? Thank you

Hi all hope someone can give me some advice I use a screen reader on Windows. I received my first LCW-UC50 in early April I spoke to my WC in person and I was told filling in the online PDF version and supplying supporting evidence would be fine. I sent the PDF form after printing it back to Capita-HASS which is my local provider in late April and heard nothing until the 24th of October where they sent me another blank LCW-UC50 with a month to get it back to them. I rang them yesterday and they booked me a phone appointment on Monday the 4th anytime between 09:00 and 12:00 to fill in the form over the phone. The problem is it will take me an age to dictate all my answers as I need to hear and memorise a few words before dictating them over the phone. My wife's English isn't brilliant so I've got know one available who could read my responses quickly.

I'm just wondering if anyone has dictated answers over the phone and how they found it. I've got a lot of detailed responses for each question with 4 pages of supporting evidence which I've had help typing up so there is a lot of information. If they had some sort of online system it would make life so much easier for people like myself in this position. They asked me my NI number and had all my basic UC info in front of them they could see I'd sent them a printout of my answers in late April but DWP sent them my file again so they sent out another blank LCW-UC50 by post.

I'm putting 3 monthly FIT notes onto my journal which isn't an issue.

Thanks all.

Hi Everyone hope you’re well.

I was expecting my payment statement to be ready on October 28th, with payment to be made on November 1st. However, I don’t see the statement listed under “View Statements,” and I also haven’t received payment as of November 1st. I’ve always been paid on the 1st of each month, and I haven’t received any notice about any changes. Even if no payment is due, my statement usually shows £0, but this month there’s no statement at all.

Why is this happening !!

Thanks