05.08.2021
PIP – Personal Independence Payment - must be the most used abbreviation at Ashford Place! In the last few months, the key issue is that application forms for renewals and new claims were not received by DWP despite us posting them - see explanation below -. Unfortunately for our clients PIP decided to stop payment when renewal and new application forms have not been received at the given date of return. This affects some clients who are relying on this fund either to top up their rent and some clients that are receiving lower rate on Employment and Support Allowance use this fund to boost their payment.
And the reason?............................. DWP have just found out two weeks ago that they have a problem with their post i.e., receiving post, so new forms are being sent out to fill while payments for renewals clients are reinstated pending receiving their form and making a decision. Seeing one client on PIP could take at least ninety minutes for a new form and one hour for renewals that has a ‘change of circumstances’ such as health issues. There are many successes despite the challenges and clients are always very grateful. One example is TD’s renewal form was sent off in due time, but DWP did not receive the form and her benefit was stopped. She raised this with us after one month of not receiving payment from PIP. We called them and were told that she had not sent back her renewal form. We called a week later to find out if they had received the form and we were told that they have problem with their post. We told them that TD is going through financial hardship, and we would appreciate it if her payment can be re-instated while they resolve the post problem, they agreed, and TD PIP was reinstated the second day.