We have been receiving positive news over the last few weeks from groups about the claim process for the new benefit Personal Independence Payment(PIP).
In Wigan, part of the intial pilots, initally the first phonecall to make a claim and answer the non disability questions(PIP1 form) over the telephone took 45 minutes in one instance(slowness of the computers). Since then a local authority Welfare Benefits Specialist reports the process takes around 20 minutes.
In Oxford, a floating support worker says that claims were also taking 20 minutes and staff were reported to be very helpful offering to call the client back free of charge.
However, welfare rights staff in Wolverhampton have told us during PIP training that PIP2 forms are taking around 3 weeks to arrive.
We are waiting for news of the first decisions on PIP now.
click here for our Personal Independence Payment course.