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thanks to Nigel Wicks Welfare Benefits Officer at Southdown Housing for this- 

Dear all,

Over the past few months, we have all read updates on unacceptable delays in the PIP process so I thought I would share a story too.

One of my clients applied for PIP which was received 26/02/2014. Recently, she contacted PIP to find out what was happening. PIP passed the client back to Atos.

On contacting Atos, she was advised that her claim had been withdrawn by DWP and only resubmitted on 01/05/2014 and as at the back of the queue again and would have to wait another 6 -12 months.

Not happy with this, the client again contacted DWP who advised her to call Atos back and ask for her claim to be moved up the queue. This as we all know has no chance of happening!!

At this point, I got involved and provided support to the client. Om my involvement, we actually discovered the claim had been withdrawn twice by DWP. Both withdrawals saying for reasons: ‘waiting further evidence’.

After composing a long email/letter of complaint and informing DWP and Atos that this was being reported to the clients MP and DWP Litigation, things moved very quickly indeed.

The outcome so far;
• PIP claim was moved back to the original place in the queue;
• Paper based assessment undertaken; and
• File sent back to DWP for a decision.

All of this within less than 1 week of complaining and advising both DWP and Atos that a complaint was on it’s way to her MP and, DWP Litigation Division.

The reason for sharing this with you all? Complaining does work and ask questions. This claim was withdrawn without consulting the client and without the client’s knowledge. No one new what ‘waiting further evidence’ meant and not one person would take responsibility. Make waves, complain and tell you MP. It works. Unlike the process Atos and DWP use for PIP assessments.

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