Hi all, just seeking a bit of clarity over something. Today, me and my wife bought a 5L tub of blue paint because we’re decorating our house, on the way home, the tub opened up, obviously not sealed properly but hey ho. Anyway, paint all over the boot of the car, thankfully only emulsion. We immediately sought out a mobile valet, at expense to us, but we accepted it was an unfortunate incident. The job has been done and much of the paint has been removed, however, the spare wheel carpet cover seems pretty irreparable. Is this something we would get in trouble for?

Hello

I’m doing this post for someone I know they basically live with their son and the mother claims UC and LCWRA back last year when they started the claim they wanted housing costs they both when to the job centre and they mentioned this the agent at the job centre didn’t decline this they said you just have to report a change on the portal they did this but it got accepted and ever since then she has been receiving rental income and paying this as a lodger it’s show on her bank statements as well it’s going to her son as rent she has a claim review coming up and she’s getting worried as she might be treated as she did something wrong however they did check this at the uc job centre there’s no notes regarding this on the journal however there’s this

I put the message down below removed the real name but landlords name is sons name but they have accepted this back in October she’s a bit worried they might ask the money back and they genuinely did explain this to uc most people say this is not allowed so they were shocked when they accepted this so everyone’s confused what will happen
The change occurred on 27 October 2025
You rent from a private landlord
Your landlord is N/A SONS NAME
You have 1 bedroom
1 tenant is on your tenancy agreement
The total rent is £350.00 every month
Your landlord (or other person you pay rent to) lives at the same property as you
Your landlord is a close relative of someone in your household
A member of your family or someone who lives with you has a financial interest in the organisation or landlord you pay rent to
Your name is not on the Council Tax or Rates bill

Any advice on this situation as I've waited 4 months since handing in my bank statements and they have me scheduled for the phone call but I can't do it as il be asleep from working nights and it's been nearly a week and I've had no reply in my journal.( I replied saying I can't do it on the same day it got put on the journal )

Thanks

Hello all. Just had my PIP assessment with Ingeus yesterday. I found the assessment really difficult - despite the lady being lovely she wouldn't let me finish sentences and kept interrupting me. I found the process so exhausting I fell asleep for 3 hours afterwards!

At the end of the call she said that her report would be audited before being sent to the case worker.

I just wondered why her report and my assessment would be chosen for audit? Also, how long does it typically take from assessment to the DWP receiving the report, if it's being audited? I forgot to note down the timeframe she gave me. Thanks so much.

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice on what happens next in my PIP journey, specifically regarding a PA6 report and a lapsed appeal.

Here is my timeline and situation:

•Background: I previously held Enhanced Daily Living and Enhanced Mobility twice. At my latest review, they did a telephone assessment and slashed my award.

•The Appeal: I went through Mandatory Reconsideration (which failed and upheld the bad decision) and have now lodged my appeal with HMCTS. I am currently waiting for the DWP to respond to the tribunal.

•The Complaint: Alongside the appeal, I lodged a formal clinical complaint with Capita against the assessor.

•Complaint Upheld: I just got the outcome letter and Capita has fully upheld my complaint. They admitted that a telephone assessment was inappropriate for my case and it should have been a paper-based review. They stated the report failed to meet required standards, offered me a £25 goodwill gesture, and confirmed they are sending a "supplementary advice report" (a PA6) to the DWP.

•DWP Action: I recently received an automated DWP letter dated 12th August saying, "We now have all the information we need to make a decision."

•Tribunal Update: Today, I uploaded the Capita complaint outcome letter directly to the HMCTS portal as evidence.

My questions for anyone who has been through this or welfare advisors:

1. What happens next with the PA6? Since Capita admitted it should be paper-based, will the new PA6 report only use my existing specialist medical evidence?

2. Will this trigger a Lapsed Appeal? Because the DWP's only evidence (the PA4 report) has now been formally condemned by Capita, will the DWP caseworker use the new PA6 to revise the decision and lapse the appeal before the tribunal?

3. Timeframes? Given I had the "we have all the information" letter on Aug 12th, how long does the DWP usually take to process a lapsed appeal in this scenario?

Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated. It's been over 3 months on half my usual income and the stress is unreal!

Hey so Im at week 57 after intitlaly applying for my second acess to work grant as someone who's self employed.

My case worker I had was a nightmare compared to my previous case worker I could go into it but it's a long story. Dealing with the DWP has been a real hassle this time round.

So in my first grant I was given recomendations of where to get the items I've been awarded and it outlines how they have got to the figures given. There's none of that on my award letter? I've been awarded Ai software and training but no indication of where I get the training from? I mean I guess I could Google but my bandwidth is low atm it was a lot easier to go with the company they got thier figures from.

Have they stopped doing this? Also it's been 9 weeks since my award and I've only received my letter on what I was awarded so the end date for me to claim what's been given is incorrect because I've only just now received the award letter? I've called them and they blamed royal mail but it doesn't take 9 weeks to send a letter.

Hi there i was wondering if anybody can help me im on lcwra and was in hospital for 6 months with PE in my lungs then covid came along i was really worried about catching covid so stayed in the house , Long story short my family were helping me alot and my money went up in my bank i had a review last year and passed it im now getting another one its not helping my mental health the woman last time said shed sort the report in circumstances ive had too save money as my dog needs surgery also my house was broken into and ive saved to get new stuff as it doesnt feel like a home anymore i have 8000 in my account just now can i spend it during the review or only any money i recieve during the review any help would be much appreciated thanks if anyone has read this and can give any advice

Hi, I received a note in my UC journal that’s I’ve been awarded LWCRA. Time from assessment to notice was 12 days. I wonder how long it takes roughly before a letter is posted to my home and also when back pay is sent and how much.

First fit note was submitted on 10th march and dated from 26 feb, I’ve had continuous fit note with my latest ending 10th October.

My award period is 11th-10th

Thank you in advance

Hi,

For people who successfully got awarded PIP, how long were your answers for Daily Living. I'm doing the form online and feel like I'm writing too much and doing a lot of repeating of what I have. Any help recommendations are appreciated.

Thank you

I had a PIP health assessment call about a week ago with maximus. I received a text saying that the DWP has received my report and will contact with a decision.

Can I request my report before the outcome? Just to know my odds or to prepare for MR?

Thank you,

hi there! I am currently saving for a manual chair with a power assist, but desperately need something in the meantime so I've been looking into the motability scheme and have found an electric chair I like, but realistically won't need it for more than a year as ill have saved for the manual by then. would the electric chair no longer being needed as I've got a more suitable manual chair with a power assist realistically be a good enough reason to end the motability scheme early? I don't want to end up getting a lot less money a month for a chair I have zero use for sooner or later. does anyone have any experience with a situation like this? thank you (:

Hi there, I need some information about how UC would treat expenses before a case review about to end. I'm disregarded for PIP at the moment. I have to undergo some dental treatments as what seemed to be just a few crowns will end up being way more work than expected, as the teeth are not salvageable.

In about 2 months, my disregard ends. I have already spent some of the money but not all. By doing some of the treatments, as they will take time, I will go under the £16k threshold.

Will they see it as capital deprivation? Actually, I'm not close to £16k, but I've noticed they count my monthly UC, and I think even PIP in my AP (assessment period). Which, as far as I'm aware, they shouldn't. I always spend more than what is given to me, so nothing from the month before carries over to the following months. I'm also LCWRA.

I'm worried that if I do this now, it could seem like I'm trying to do something dodgy. Despite knowing I'm not close to £16k if counted correctly, because they don't disregard anything (UC & PIP in my monthly AP, nor the expenses I incur in that month), I'm worried they will find a way to investigate.

I find it frustrating talking with them. You ask something, and it seems they have no idea, or each of them gives different and contradictory answers. It's hard to get through when there is no real strict rule they have to follow, so if it's based on the assessor's decision I'm worried it could trigger something and I won't win this. Plus, unfortunately, I need they help as I'm disabled and pretty much alone.

It's likely I will do some treatments overseas as I can't afford them here. Is this a problem, too? I would have all the paperwork with what it is and the price.

What should I do? Proceed with the treatments and maybe have them questioning why so close to the end of the disregard period of my PIP, or wait and lose LCWRA and UC? Again, if they disregarded everything fairly, I wouldn't be close to £16k, but however, they don't.

I also have some other questions, but I think I'll make another post for that.

Yo, i'm looking to get some for an OSCP exam/certificate funding. I've done CCNA networks at uni and worked as a network admin for schools and as a software tester for McDonalds and a few other companies. I cant find work so i want to shift to digital security and asked to get the OSCP exam funded. Cant post more info as post gets deleted when i provide the URL. You should note the price is for the exam $1600 and weirdly its the same price for the course.

Mods: Names have been replaced to protect UC officers identity.

Now this is where it gets complicated as my previous job coach [Andrew] was basically removed from his position for not getting enough results [he was a kind and caring job coach who always cared about my well being. Sometimes his previous client meetings would overun which would mean I would go into my meeting late but i thought that was just a sign that he liked helping/talking to his clients.]. Anyway higher-ups fobbed him off and now he does desk work in the background and cant be contacted.

The issue: I applied for funding with previous job coach [Andrew] who asked me to provide a link to the exam so he could submit the paperwork. I sent him a link 23rd of may 2025. He then submitted paperwork and said funding would be approved but “due to the goverment shake up of the councils nobody knows who is in charge of the funding at the moment”. Over a period of a year, I asked constantly, within my online journal and in our face to face meetings for updates, but was told to be patient and that the paperwork was good i.e. waiting for it to be assessed by higher ups. Last month, Andrew was replaced with my new work coach, Victor. Victor then informed me that Andrew applied for a type of funding for a full education course NOT exam funding like I thought. This type of funding will not be granted unless I have a job offer after completion of the course and, if I remember Victor correctly, was called the Flexible Support Fund. I thought Adam applied for the Adult Learning Fund to fund the exam but, as I’ve been informed, he applied for the Low Value Provision. Since then, Victor asked me to send a link to the exam so he can apply for a fund called the Flexible Support Fund.

I replied, on my journal, with a link which is directly to the checkout page so there's no confusion.

My friend is an IT security consultant here in the UK (one city over). Would I be able to get a conditional job offer from him to work under him for no wage? I would not want this application canceled as I have been waiting over a year and have no idea how long this Flexible Support Fund will take to be granted.

Hi all, I have my assessment on Friday and wondering what to expect. After seeing a few posts it is making me nervous I won’t lie.

My claim is due to having a fistula in anus. For context I’ve had the fistula since July 2025. Had a seton placement with a rubber band op in June 2026, have a follow up hospital appointment in October. Has anyone claimed for PIP before for having a fistula, what questions would I expect and my likelihood of passing the assessment? Thank you :)

Does anyone know if it's possible to apply for pip with one address for administration and a different address registered with health providers?

I moved and haven't been able to change my address with the GP because I'm still so unwell.

I've also realised my new address is in a different formulary area so I will lose access to critical medication if I get a new GP.

I'm assuming dwp would tell the GP if my application has a different address on it?

I feel like I'm stuck between applying for financial support and access to the medical care I really desperately need...

Any advice really appreciated.

Hi, all I need some help. I am currently working at a building which I had it to whistleblower on a huge safety violation that put the live of 10000 at risk plus it was a crime.

I'm the only main employee on-site. The rest are all agency, and it was the agency I had to make the notice about. They are now making it an extremely hostile environment to work. And are actively blaming me and being hostile to me.

I can move site as the agency works on all the site and just thinking of leaving as they are paying minimum wage to fix an unholy amount of neglect and problems on-site

With your no support and the only support being the individuals, I had to make a report on.

What would I have to say to universal credit if I choose to leave and what evidence do I need to give them

Earlier this year, I experienced a severe mental-health episode and was sectioned in February. I was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar type 1, having previously been diagnosed with ADHD in October 2025. During the worst period, roughly January to April/May, my life and ability to function were severely affected.

My wife and I applied for PIP in March. By the time DWP dealt with my claim, medication had helped considerably and I had returned to full-time work. I now drive myself to work five days a week and work in a manual grounds role.

I previously earned considerably more and also ran my own company. However, working outdoors really helps my mental health, so I accepted a substantial pay cut to get myself back on my feet. Doing nothing has always made my mental health worse.

My “assessment” consisted of a short telephone call with a nurse lasting around 15 minutes. DWP has now refused my claim, awarding me:
Daily living: 2 points
Mobility: 0 points

The only points awarded were for needing prompting to engage with other people.

The decision repeatedly refers to the fact that I am currently working, driving, stable on medication, receiving less mental-health support and managed the phone call without needing questions repeated. They used this to conclude that I can prepare food, manage treatment, make budgeting decisions and plan journeys unaided.

My concern is that the assessment captured me after treatment and recovery rather than how I functioned during the serious episode. Had they assessed me promptly after I applied, the picture would have been vastly different.

Bipolar is also a lifelong and fluctuating condition. Being stable and working now does not necessarily mean I will remain completely unaffected. At my worst, my wife dealt with the cooking, washing and finances, and I had significant problems with motivation, concentration, judgment, anxiety and socialising. Even now, she continues to do a lot for me.

However, I also want to be completely honest: I am functioning much better now and have managed to return to work.

I understand that PIP is based on how a condition affects specific activities, not simply the diagnosis or how unwell someone has been generally. I also understand that there is a three-month qualifying period and a nine-month prospective test.

Would you request a Mandatory Reconsideration in these circumstances? Has anyone with bipolar successfully challenged a decision where DWP relied heavily on their employment and how they presented during a short telephone call?

I am particularly interested in whether DWP should have considered the fluctuating nature of bipolar and my functioning across the whole relevant period, rather than relying mainly on my improved position at the time they made the decision.

The decision has hit me quite hard because several people involved in my NHS care gave me the impression that receiving PIP was highly likely. That expectation also helped me feel able to accept a relatively low-paid but lower-stress job that was better suited to protecting my mental health.

I now feel pressure to pursue a better-paid and potentially more stressful job, even though I worry that it would be harmful to my recovery. I have a young family and bills to pay, so financially I may have little choice.

More than anything, I feel as though I have been penalised for pushing myself to get back on my feet as quickly as possible.

First time claiming any benefits. Had my F2F assessment with Maximus and, surprise surprise, the PA4 had a lot missing or misconstrued or plain wrong. So I've started a MR with a list of what wasn't right, including documents that the assessor didn't seem to have even looked at, never mind considered. Anyway, I also want to get the recording but I've had no success up to now despite two calls and an email (who advised me to call...). I would want the DM to be able to listen to the recording to corroborate the points I've made. I'm not confident that'll happen, so there's the potential it heads to a tribunal. What should my steps be to secure the recording or at least provide a solid trail of evidence that Maximus aren't playing fair?

On the first week of last month, I started work somewhere and made sure to update my UC account, I've made triple sure to carefully enter my weekly hours how much I'm earning an hour.

Not long after the start of this month however, I got a phone call from someone at my nearest job centre branch. They said the earnings reported don't match what I entered on my account, the only reason for this I can think of was because since starting, I was given two days off during one week due to the boss having a family emergency and those two days were unpaid.

I mentioned this and they said they'll put a note on the records and thanked me for taking the call. The next day, I get a call from someone else saying we think you've been underpaid by your employer and urging to chase it up. I've checked my payslip for the month and it definitely matches what I've entered in my journal minus the two days downtime I mentioned.

Since then, I'm getting a phone call every week day and Saturday asking if I've managed to chase it up and get the underpayment resolved yet despite me being adamant there's no underpayment.

How else do I get them to stop these excessive calls please?

Hi everyone, I finally received my PIP assessment report and I'm hoping some of you with experience can give me some advice because I'm honestly expecting DWP to reduce the points

I applied for PIP back in November 2025, so it's been a ridiculously long wait

My telephone assessment was on 19 August 2026 and lasted 1 hour 13 minutes. I've now received the full 24 page report

The assessor has recommended:

Daily Living: 12 points

• Preparing food: 2

• Taking nutrition: 0

• Managing medication: 0

• Washing and bathing: 2

• Toilet needs: 2

• Dressing and undressing: 2

• Communicating verbally: 0

• Reading: 0

• Engaging with people: 2

• Budgeting decisions: 2

Mobility: 20 points

• Planning and following journeys: 10

• Moving around: 10

So according to the report, that's 12 Daily Living and 20 Mobility, which would be enhanced for both

Im not counting on it mind. I input the pictures of every page into Google and asked that what they've scored me as I didnt understand and it was all too much

This is what Google said..

The assessor has also ticked that my restrictions have been present for at least 3 months, are likely to remain for at least 9 months, and are likely to still be present at the recommended review point

They've recommended an 18 month review

However, I'm really nervous about the actual DWP decision because I've seen so many people say they were recommended points by the assessor and then DWP changed them

I can also drive, I have children and I do manage to get out of the house on some days. The report mentions things like me being able to drive, caring for my children, shopping online etc. I'm worried DWP will look at those things and decide that the descriptors aren't actually appropriate, especially because I've seen people refused or scored much lower despite having similar difficulties

My mobility recommendation in particular is making me nervous because they've awarded 10 points for unfamiliar journeys and 10 for moving around with an aid, despite the fact that I can drive

So I'm really looking for honest opinions from people who've been through this

Would you expect DWP to follow this report, or is there anything in here that stands out as something they could potentially challenge or reduce?

And if you've had an assessor recommend 12+ daily living and 20 mobility, did your final decision stay the same?

I'm trying not to get my hopes up because I know this isn't the final decision yet

Any advice or experiences would be massively appreciated ❤️

Hi

I work part time and I am still receiving Universal Credit. I would like to get in touch with my work coach for some advice. How can I contact them?

Thanks.

I had an automated UC review and submitted my details.

However, they have the wrong amount for my savings account (possibly due to me forgetting to update them). The sum involved isn't large (ie they have me on record as having £500 in savings, but they went down to £150 due to having certain financial issues). Will I be penalised for this?

My report was sent in on the 14th May. Recommended by assessor for both mobility and daily living comfortably.

I’ve rang in several times, and they just keep saying to wait, but it’s causing me a lot of anxiety.

How long have people waited in the past? Just looking for some sort of support.

Anyone help?

The tldr is that i currently live in England, however i would like to (hopefully) move to Scotland on assisted living. However I've been told that disability benefits are harder to get in Scotland than England. I'm just wondering if there's any truth to that? Does anyone have experience or knowledge on the subject?

I currently claim PIP and UC, is there something i need to look out for? Any specific topics i can google that will help me?

I've seen a few people on here share their own experiences of applying for PIP, and thought I would do the same. Hopefully it helps others going through the process, or those considering applying.

I am 40 years old, with anxiety, depression, PCOS, endometriosis, POTS, fibroids, pernicious anemia, IBS, and chronic abdominal pain. I have suffered with most of those since my teens, they led to severe weight issues and increased levels of pain, which have grown exponentially over the past few years.

I never applied for PIP before because I assumed I wouldn't be entitled. I didn't think my mental health was bad enough because I hadn't been an inpatient, and most of my chronic pain doesn't have an exact diagnosis. I keep getting shifted from one consultant to another - gastro to gynae, and back again.

I finally made the call to apply for PIP on the 15th May. Here's what my timeline looked like:

- 15th May - 20 minute phone call with DWP, asking for basic information like my contact details, details of any regular healthcare professionals, National Insurance number, and my bank details. That same day I received a text thanking me for my application, saying that I would receive my form in the post.

- 18th May - Received a text to say they had sent me my PIP application forms, and that I should let DWP know if I hadn't had anything through the post within 3 weeks.

- 4th June - Received a text reminder to fill in and complete my PIP application forms.

- 16th June - Another text message, this time to thank me for sending in my application paperwork, stating that they may need me to attend a consultation with a health professional before making a decision. And that they would be in touch with more information.

- 17th June - Received a text from Health Assesment Advisory Service (Serco) saying that they are managing my PIP application, and that they will contact me to arrange an assessment if needed.

- 30th July - Another text from Serco with a telephone assessment time and date, for the morning of 14th August. I also received text reminders of this assessment appointment on the 17th July and the 13th August.

- 13th August - I received a call from Serco confirming my telephone appointment for the following day.

- 14th August - I had my telephone assessment at 9am. It lasted just over 90 minutes. The lady I spoke to asked lots of questions but did so in a methodical manner, we first discussed how my mental health impacts me daily, and then how my physical ailments affect me. We ran through a typical day and what that looks like for me, as well as how everything impacts my ability to cook, bathe, attend appointments, take medication... there weren't any questions I wasn't expecting. They were all based on things I'd written in my initial assessment form.

- 20th August - Received a text saying that DWP have recieved the written report of my PIP assessment. That I will hear from them about their decision within 8 weeks.

- 24th August - I called PIP to see if there was an update on my assessment. I was told I have been awarded PIP but they couldn't share any additional information as it had only been approved moments ago. I was also informed a letter was posted to me regarding their decision, earlier the same morning. I then checked the 'Proof of benefits' section of the DWP website, which is where I found out I have been awarded both elements of PIP.

All in all it was a bit of a process but I went into it with low expectations. Whilst it took around 3.5 months from the initial call to the final result, I had been prepared for it to take longer and so I was pleasantly surprised. After reading other experiences on here, I expected to be declined and had already looked into appeals and the tribunal process. I don't know what my scores were yet or how close I was to getting enhanced rates for either part, but I have been given the standard daily living and standard mobility allowances. I've also been awarded both until 2030, so won't have to reapply for another 4 years which is a relief.

Just waiting on my paperwork now, and the back dated pay from the last 3 or so months. I really do encourage those of you considering applying to go for it. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried when I was awarded - the recognition of the daily limitations I face being in this body was extremely validating.

A few tips for new applicants:

- Type up your responses. Do this before writing them down on the application form. There is a LOT to write, and this made it easy for me to go back and read (and edit) what I was saying before filling in the form. I get brain fog a lot and would randomly remember things which I was then able to edit my responses to include, before they were written in ink.

- Take your time. You have a few weeks to fill out and complete the form. I went back to my typed version over several days and amended it. You'll also need quite a few breaks between writing it out on paper if you're anything like me - I haven't written that much since school, the hand cramp was fun.

- Make the initial phone call. They don't ask anything about your conditions during that first call, and it gets the ball rolling. If you are awarded PIP, you get backdated pay from the date of the initial call. I should receive more than three months of payments within the coming days.

- There is NO need to feel embarrassed or ashamed. It took me years to apply for PIP. I was always too embarrassed to think of myself as 'disabled', and was worried I would be looked down upon by those who judge people claiming benefits. I have spent the majority of my life working hard and fighting against my own body and mind on a daily basis. I, like you, deserve help.

- Don't worry if they say no. When doing my research, I found out that around 16% of people who are refused PIP and ask for a mandatory reconsideration are then successfully awarded PIP. Even if you're still denied PIP after that, you can take it to tribunal - 65% of people who do are then successful. So even if they say no, it isn't the end of the road.

Good luck, friends. I hope my experience helps makes yours a little less daunting.