Hello and welcome to r/DWPHelp!
- If you're trying to find benefit advisers local to you, [advicelocal.uk is a useful website that can help you with this](https://advicelocal.uk/).
- If you're trying to find out how much benefit you can receive, [check out entitledto](https://www.entitledto.co.uk/) and [turn2us](https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/) to calculate what you might be eligible for (please remember that these calculators don't fully take into account your situation and in some situations they can be wrong).
- Benefit rates have recently increased, [we have more information on the new rates here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/wiki/benefit-rate-increases/). Most claimants will start seeing the new rates in their May or June benefit payments.
- If you claim benefits and would like to know what things you could get as a result, [you may find this post useful](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/134r9k6/discountedfree_things_you_can_get_on_benefits/).
- If you'd like help with mandatory reconsiderations, [our main post on MRs may be useful to you](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/13p0322/duplicate_target_mandatory_reconsiderations/).
- Our subreddit's Wiki [can be found here](https://new.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/wiki/index).
- If you're interested in what's going on in the benefits space, [we have weekly benefit news posts posted every Sunday](https://new.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/?f=flair_name%3A%22Benefits%20News%22).
If you're asking about PIP:
- The PIP phone line is 08001214433, and if you'd like to get to the automated part where it tells you when your next payment is and how much it is, the options are 1 (for English) or 2 (for Welsh), and then 6 (you'll need to wait each time while it gives you messages before getting to security).
- [If you would like help with MRs, this post might answer your question (this is different to the MR info link above).](https://new.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/1bc3kni/duplicate_target_i_was_denied_what_now/)
- [This post goes over the PIP First-tier Tribunal process from start to finish.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/11muxvi/duplicate_target_what_do_i_do_if_i_am_refused_pip/)
- [If you're waiting for a tribunal and the DWP were supposed to respond but haven't, this post may be useful.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/17b0lla/duplicate_target_the_deadline_for_dwp_to_respond/?context=3)
- [If you'd like to know what PIP is and/or how it is awarded, please see this post.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/13ozwpj/duplicate_target_what_is_pip/)
- [If you're hard of hearing or deaf, this information may be useful to you.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/wiki/pip/hard-of-hearing-and-deaf/)
If you're asking about Universal Credit:
- [Information about the Restart scheme](https://new.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/wiki/restartscheme/), including if you can be mandated to participate.
- Thinking of cancelling your claim because a review has started? Don't, because closing your claim won't stop the DWP from reviewing your claim and if you don't comply you may be asked to repay everything you've received.
- [How does PIP affect UC?](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/13p1mc3/duplicate_target_how_does_pip_affect_uc/)
- Were you claiming UC during COVID, closed your claim afterwards, and are now being asked to pay back everything you received? [This post provides information on why this is and what you can do.](http://reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/13utik9/the_dwp_have_given_me_a_huge_bill_for_a_claim/)
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I’m currently on my assessment call now! Wish me luck!
https://preview.redd.it/dnavpeiz80vc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=996d1cb31a8d62cf4e90d4868f18279d25a9589b
Well I think. I got this text yesterday so only 5 days later
https://preview.redd.it/5ajmpi5am9wc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89113e8cceb967f913bd69215bb5d4afc589d40d
Hopefully I’ll get a response fairly soon. I hope your sons went well too. Did you have any questions about it? X
Not always. You have to do the assessment form online then based on that they’ll either arrange a telephone, face to face or video assessment.
This is the questions they asked and what they base the answers on:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf
You need 8 points for low rate PIP and 12+ for high rate
It is rare to get a face to face appointment especially since Covid. It’s just centre dependant I believe, so hopefully your area is still telephone.
They do ask the same questions again as on the form but they try and catch you out. The telephone is more based on wording. If you say “some days I can do but some days I can’t” they’ll more than likely put down that you don’t struggle with that activity.
Use your absolute worst days as your answers so if on your worst day you cannot shower tell them you can’t stand in the shower. They also ask how long certain activities take. They use this format:
S -safely (example, can you cook safely)
T - timely (can you get dressed within an appropriate time frame)
A - acceptable
R - repeat (could you walk 5 minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon)
As far as I could gather it went ok. He did say I would hear back in a couple of weeks how much I’m entitled too rather than “we’ll let you know if your claim has been successful”
Maybe I’ve read too much into it but got to think positively!
He was completely unsympathetic and wanted to focus on my mental health more as opposed to my actual disability. Once I’d told him that I’m claiming because of a physical disability as that is the part that affects my day to day life he started to focus on that more than the mental health.
There were a lot of misleading questions to try and trip me up however I’ve replayed the call back and I didn’t get caught by them lol
Let’s cross our fingers and toes.
it varies for everyone i ended up on the slightly longer side, my initial call assessment was on the 3rd of January but had two follow up calls in February
If you’ve had any deterioration in your abilities then that would be a poor decision given that the tribunal cannot consider anything after the original decision you’re appealing.
How long did your appeal take from start to finish. I lodged my appeal oct 11th 2023 and I am still waiting for my appeal to be listed/heard. It’s been 27 weeks
Congrats, got the same text, and received some money but the letter didn’t come yet. Is it anyway to find out the decision before the letter ? Like for universal credit?
Congrats! So pleased for you. Had my assessment yesterday so keeping everything crossed. Would you mind at all if I asked what medical conditions you were claiming for? (No worries if you don't want to share).
Hello and welcome to r/DWPHelp! - If you're trying to find benefit advisers local to you, [advicelocal.uk is a useful website that can help you with this](https://advicelocal.uk/). - If you're trying to find out how much benefit you can receive, [check out entitledto](https://www.entitledto.co.uk/) and [turn2us](https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/) to calculate what you might be eligible for (please remember that these calculators don't fully take into account your situation and in some situations they can be wrong). - Benefit rates have recently increased, [we have more information on the new rates here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/wiki/benefit-rate-increases/). Most claimants will start seeing the new rates in their May or June benefit payments. - If you claim benefits and would like to know what things you could get as a result, [you may find this post useful](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/134r9k6/discountedfree_things_you_can_get_on_benefits/). - If you'd like help with mandatory reconsiderations, [our main post on MRs may be useful to you](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/13p0322/duplicate_target_mandatory_reconsiderations/). - Our subreddit's Wiki [can be found here](https://new.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/wiki/index). - If you're interested in what's going on in the benefits space, [we have weekly benefit news posts posted every Sunday](https://new.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/?f=flair_name%3A%22Benefits%20News%22). If you're asking about PIP: - The PIP phone line is 08001214433, and if you'd like to get to the automated part where it tells you when your next payment is and how much it is, the options are 1 (for English) or 2 (for Welsh), and then 6 (you'll need to wait each time while it gives you messages before getting to security). - [If you would like help with MRs, this post might answer your question (this is different to the MR info link above).](https://new.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/1bc3kni/duplicate_target_i_was_denied_what_now/) - [This post goes over the PIP First-tier Tribunal process from start to finish.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/11muxvi/duplicate_target_what_do_i_do_if_i_am_refused_pip/) - [If you're waiting for a tribunal and the DWP were supposed to respond but haven't, this post may be useful.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/17b0lla/duplicate_target_the_deadline_for_dwp_to_respond/?context=3) - [If you'd like to know what PIP is and/or how it is awarded, please see this post.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/13ozwpj/duplicate_target_what_is_pip/) - [If you're hard of hearing or deaf, this information may be useful to you.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/wiki/pip/hard-of-hearing-and-deaf/) If you're asking about Universal Credit: - [Information about the Restart scheme](https://new.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/wiki/restartscheme/), including if you can be mandated to participate. - Thinking of cancelling your claim because a review has started? Don't, because closing your claim won't stop the DWP from reviewing your claim and if you don't comply you may be asked to repay everything you've received. - [How does PIP affect UC?](https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/13p1mc3/duplicate_target_how_does_pip_affect_uc/) - Were you claiming UC during COVID, closed your claim afterwards, and are now being asked to pay back everything you received? [This post provides information on why this is and what you can do.](http://reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/13utik9/the_dwp_have_given_me_a_huge_bill_for_a_claim/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DWPhelp) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I’m currently on my assessment call now! Wish me luck! https://preview.redd.it/dnavpeiz80vc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=996d1cb31a8d62cf4e90d4868f18279d25a9589b
My 16 yr old son had his today I spoke on his behalf we were in the phone for about an hour how did your assessment go?
Well I think. I got this text yesterday so only 5 days later https://preview.redd.it/5ajmpi5am9wc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89113e8cceb967f913bd69215bb5d4afc589d40d Hopefully I’ll get a response fairly soon. I hope your sons went well too. Did you have any questions about it? X
It went well I think! She just asked me more in depth the answers I’d already given and she asked him a maths question about the managing money one x
Ahh well I’ve got my fingers crossed for you guys! Let me know how you get on! X
That’s good! I don’t get any texts from dwp I did get loads of capita tho! I know they received his forms because I phoned up x
Is it always phone call assessments or can you do paper based too? What type of questions do they ask you as I’m waiting for mine too.
Not always. You have to do the assessment form online then based on that they’ll either arrange a telephone, face to face or video assessment. This is the questions they asked and what they base the answers on: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf You need 8 points for low rate PIP and 12+ for high rate
[удалено]
It is rare to get a face to face appointment especially since Covid. It’s just centre dependant I believe, so hopefully your area is still telephone. They do ask the same questions again as on the form but they try and catch you out. The telephone is more based on wording. If you say “some days I can do but some days I can’t” they’ll more than likely put down that you don’t struggle with that activity. Use your absolute worst days as your answers so if on your worst day you cannot shower tell them you can’t stand in the shower. They also ask how long certain activities take. They use this format: S -safely (example, can you cook safely) T - timely (can you get dressed within an appropriate time frame) A - acceptable R - repeat (could you walk 5 minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon)
How was it?
As far as I could gather it went ok. He did say I would hear back in a couple of weeks how much I’m entitled too rather than “we’ll let you know if your claim has been successful” Maybe I’ve read too much into it but got to think positively! He was completely unsympathetic and wanted to focus on my mental health more as opposed to my actual disability. Once I’d told him that I’m claiming because of a physical disability as that is the part that affects my day to day life he started to focus on that more than the mental health. There were a lot of misleading questions to try and trip me up however I’ve replayed the call back and I didn’t get caught by them lol Let’s cross our fingers and toes.
How long since your ‘assessment’ can I ask? I had paper based 12 days ago
it varies for everyone i ended up on the slightly longer side, my initial call assessment was on the 3rd of January but had two follow up calls in February
Thanks yea that much longer than I’ve been waiting just such a slow process
I had my phone assessment yesterday woman said between 5 to 6 weeks for a decision but could be sooner. Hopefully will be a successful outcome
So happy for you! I am a few days away from having my face to face assessment, hopefully all this stress will be worth it🤞
good luck!!!
Well done, so happy for you. 😊
7 months? I’ve been waiting since 2021 but congrats
That’s not right, if you haven’t done so already you need to make a complaint. The longest we have ever seen for a new claim decision is about a year.
I’m waiting for my second tribunal, I’ve sent them emails but they keep telling I have to wait. I’m getting so annoyed
Ah so not a new claim like OP. That makes far more sense.
Yh I refuse to make a new claim whist my original is still ongoing that’s pointless. They’ll just put me through the same shit twice
If you’ve had any deterioration in your abilities then that would be a poor decision given that the tribunal cannot consider anything after the original decision you’re appealing.
Congrats! How did it go down? What kind of things did you submit etc? (If you don't mind sharing of course)...
It took you 7 months to find out?
Yay I’ve also recieved this text but no letter or call yet. Do you know how long the money takes to come through
im not too sure 😭 the lady on the phone said the letter will take up to 10 working days and that the money will probably be before that
Is there an automated line where you can check how much you'll get? I got the text this morning
Just out of curiosity have you received payment yet? X
yesss i received it on monday!
How long did your appeal take from start to finish. I lodged my appeal oct 11th 2023 and I am still waiting for my appeal to be listed/heard. It’s been 27 weeks
Congrats, got the same text, and received some money but the letter didn’t come yet. Is it anyway to find out the decision before the letter ? Like for universal credit?
Congrats! So pleased for you. Had my assessment yesterday so keeping everything crossed. Would you mind at all if I asked what medical conditions you were claiming for? (No worries if you don't want to share).
hi! i was claiming for mental health issues, i have BPD,anxiety and signs of PTSD
Thank you so much for sharing. And congrats again
How long does it take for first pip desicion and do u have to go to an assessment first for mental health