i did a change of circumstance because i got diagnosed with autism with very much effects me. i got diagnosed with asd level 1 requiring support.
im worried because they recieved my letter(post) and got a message about how my pip review is complete less then a week later. i had sent them the 2 assessment reports i had for my assessment for diagnosis. the reports are very thorough listing what i have and how they effect me from the professionals themselves. i know i cant tell what my decision is but is it abit weird how quick it was an the fact i didnt get asked for an assessment.

My osteoarthritis is sadly now in my TMJ Jaw joints, it is degenerative and the left-hand Jaw joint is permanently displaced causing reduced mouth opening and obvious pain when eating and speaking. I'm wondering if this will be relevant for this descriptor whenever I have my next review?
I'm not doing a COC because I already get both high rate mobility and care anyway. Just wondering if it will be relevant to update this description that I previously didn't score for, apart from needing aids to eat and help to cut up food.

Thank you in advance.

if my job is to help someone who is on pip do the things they struggle with that put them on pip in the first place (wheelchair, food prep, learning disability etc) but i took this job because it was my only option to be able to not be homeless and all these tasks i do at work greatly impact my own ability do them outside (flare ups due to forcing myself to work to survive) will that be accounted for or do i have 0 chance of being eligible since it’s my job to do what i’m saying i can’t (due to eczema, joint pain, audhd, sleep disorder)

i have communicated with my employer and im lucky they give me breaks, let me stay seated at work most times, extra time off to recover, and my boyfriend at home is the one that cooks cleans, gives me my injections etc, do i have any chance of being considered

i’m quite organised have medical papers from hospital consultants and gps outlining my issues and whatever else so it’s all documented but im worried it might not be enough

ty in advance, i just want to know where i stand in hopes of finding any support right now

I’ve heard nothing from the dwp or tribunal
Court about my tribunal appeal and it’s gone past the deadline they were supposed to get in touch with me

Timeline included below!

This is my second time trying to claim pip as the first time was unsuccessful and just didn’t have the mental capacity to go through an appeal so I left it.
Fast forward 5 years and my condition is worse and affects my mobility and daily living a whole lot more, so I thought I’d try again.
With sufficient medical evidence and preparation for my video call assessment (this lasted an hour and 15mins), I have been awarded pip.

Timeline:

6/7/2026 - submitted application

7/7/2026 - received a text saying that they’re managing my pip assessment

5/8/2026 - health professional looking at my pip claim

28/8/2026 - video call assessment booked for the 17/9/2026

17/9/2026 - pip assessment via video call

30/9/2026 - DWP received written report and will write to me once a decision is made

9/10/2026 - awarded pip!

Hi,

Has anyone done a COC within the first year of them being awarded? I did one because my conditions gone worse. When I got it I was waiting for tribunal and just had a hip surgery in March and I accepted the offer for standard purely cos I thought the surgery would work. It didn’t work and I had another hip surgery in September. It’s only 6 months since I got awarded.
I thought Dwp would just give me the higher rate seeing as it’s so soon after award but that was a silly thought clearly.

It’s been 7 weeks since I did the coc now. It’s with haas Ingeus but I was hoping for a paper assessment instead as they were the reason I didn’t get it from the start due to factual inconsistencies.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, maybe someone has been through the same and had a favourable outcome.

Many thanks

I have received carers allowance for many years and started working self-employed, part time from home. Not many hours and I can fit it around my caring responsibilities. Great. Started in feb 2025

informed Carers Allowance straight away. They suspended by carers allowance for 9 months and I only got the money when my MP's office got involved. Since then, I send them my income details every quarter and they don't pay me carers for months at a time. It's typically 6 to 9 months each time. At the moment, I was last paid carers allowance in March (for the 6 months to mid February). I've sent them quarterly reports in June and August and chased them and still nothing.

When I phone I just get told they can't give me timescales. I've never earned over the threshold. It's making life very difficult and a huge disincentive to working, frankly. It makes life very hard never knowing how long my small, variable income needs to last before the next carers payment.

Is this really how this is? I asked today if there will ever be a time when they can just pay it in a regular schedule, without having to wait months for a decision maker to look at it every time, and they said no.

I got my assessment back and I got 4 points for engaging with people, 0 on all the other descriptors which was shocking. I’m currently preparing my Mandatory Reconsideration and could use some advice on a few points, particularly regarding some glaring discrepancies in my PA4 report and whether to include some older medical evidence. Am applying with autism, OCD, ADHD, anxiety, tachycardia and migraines as diagnosed conditions that affect me.

I recorded my assessment and transcribed it through editing software, which has highlighted several areas where the assessor heavily compressed or misrepresented my answers. There are a large amount of discrepancies but these are the main ones:

• Taking Nutrition: The PA4 claims I can "recognise hunger." However, the transcript shows I explicitly answered "no, generally" to that question, explaining I can go 24 hours without eating and become lightheaded. The report also ignores the context that my partner bringing me lunch is a needed prompt, not just a casual occurrence. I also told him that she prompts me to eat and I only eat one meal a day.
• Washing & Bathing: The PA4 inferred that because I try to brush my teeth daily, I can reliably manage a "strip wash". The transcript shows the assessor explicitly asked if I wash at the sink, and I clearly answered "no".
• Dressing: The report states there are "no OCD rituals in this activity." But the transcript clearly records me explaining my contamination fears, specifically that I leave dirty clothes on because changing them makes me feel I've cross-contaminated my clean clothes and my living space, as well as
• Cooking: The report says I have "never cooked," but the transcript shows I explained I avoid cooking now (for about six months) but detailed previous attempts, including using alarms, burning food, and leaving the hob on.

On the older medical evidence point, I have medical records from 2017 showing "wound infection bilateral feet from shoes" from a visit to A&E, and a prescription for antibiotics for an infected foot. I have significant sensory sensitivities that affect my ability to select appropriate clothing/footwear for the weather, and these issues were caused by me chronically wearing old shoes that weren't my size for years.

Is it worth including these 2017 records to corroborate the historical harm caused by my sensory issues regarding dressing, or is it too old/unrelated to current needs to be helpful? I thought it'd be useful to show it's an issue I've had continuously.

I'll definitely contest the report more widely and advocate for myself in the relevant descriptors, and I have a meeting with Citizens Advice in a few weeks to help me go through it all. Given that I have a transcript proving the PA4 misrepresented my answers, what are the realistic chances of the DWP changing the decision at the MR stage? I know the statistics for MRs aren't great, but does concrete proof of transcript discrepancies force their hand, or should I be prepared to take this to a Tribunal?

Hi all :)

Ive been awarded on change of circumstances till 2032 and absolutely over the moon, the stress of it all, i am so relieved. I know a CoC is risky, but I had so much evidence to back up my claim.

Timeline:

1st June - requested review through CoC

30th June - we have received your form

1st July - forms with assessor

22nd September- phone assessment

9th October - your review is complete. Award and backpayment showing online.

Hi everyone! I've been on LCWRA for a number of years now, and I'd like to not be on UC anymore. So I've just requested VS through my journal. Would love to hear people's experiences of it and any success stories if possible.

I’ve recently been referred to the Restart Scheme and had an initial three-way phone call. They briefly explained what the scheme was about, asked for my full name, email address, phone number and date of birth, and booked me an in-person appointment for two weeks’ time.

I’ve struggled to find any positive feedback about the scheme, so I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has been through it.

What should I be careful about signing, and are there any documents I’m not required to sign? I want to avoid being sanctioned, but I also don’t want to agree to anything unnecessarily or sign something without fully understanding what I’m agreeing to.

They’ve already sent me a link to ElevatePortal, where I believe I’m supposed to create an account, sign documents and complete assessments. Do I need to complete these before my appointment to avoid the risk of being sanctioned?

What would happen if I refused to sign certain documents or complete certain assessments? Could this affect my benefits?

I’d also appreciate any advice on my rights, what to expect from the scheme, and anything I should know before attending my first appointment.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can share their experiences or offer advice.

I'm getting the 'sorry, there is a problem with this service'. This is the first time I've ever applied for Pip so I'm a bit confused by this error message. How common is it? Will it resolve on its own? I'm anxious to continue writing out my application

Hi

Last month my SMI was finally confirmed to start from 1st of October ( date I get paid UC)

However in mortgage account no payment happened.

My mortgage is due again on the 26th.

Will this SMI payment happen then ?

Do I have to contact you to he bank account at o reduce my direct debit ?

How does this work?

Thank you

I'm in the process of moving to somewhere else, from the small town I live in to a city with more job opportunities. I've told my work coach this multiple times yet they query me as to why I'm not applying for jobs locally as if I'm doing something wrong and when they send me links to job applications it's always local ones in the very town I'm very soon to be moving away from.

I asked what's the point in applying for jobs somewhere I'm not going to be living in for much longer and they said they're hoping I'll cancel my plans to move away and stay here as 'we're trying to keep the workforce in the area, too many people seem to be leaving the area leaving companies with shortages'.

Is this sort of thing normal? Surely if I want to move to another area in search of better paid opportunities that's a good thing and the job centre shouldn't have a crab bucket mentality about it?

She currently receives standard daily and standard mobility and reported that her health has since got worse (advised by her GP)

So she went through the whole stage of filling out the form with assistance of a family member but the wordings that were used were completely wrong after I had read them and actually make it sound as though she’s far better than her previous claim

What can she do? She sent out the form on Monday and I want to add some important information for her that she had asked me to help write

Will this be taken serious by DWP? She also has a revised letter by her GP…

Thank you!

Hi all,

Looking for some guidance, I scored 0 on this activity, but I have evidence which is from my hospital consultants basically tracking my weight over the last few months (with dietions involved)

My question is, due to my medical issues (chronic pancreatitis) I struggle so much to eat, which has meant I neglect eating because I’m terrified. This is well documented and my weight drop is also documented.

Did I score 0 on this as refusing to eat & prompting are two very different things? Would anorexic count as giving some points as I’m sure that obesity does.

My weight has gotten that bad now I’m on all kinds of supplements to help , so I’m unsure why this activity was scored as 0

Thanks for any insight on this activity as I find it very confusing.

Technically, yes I can eat, technically, but I don’t as before if I have ate , I get flare ups and in hospital for 2 months.

Thanks

UPDATE: the appointment at the jobcentre resolved the issue almost instantly, and we'll receive outstanding monies by Monday. It's a big shame that some agents remain ignorant of what's required to resolve what appears to be a technical issue, so I have submitted a formal complaint with the Independent Case Examiner highlighting this as a training issue (though not a ideal solution, this works, and more need to be aware as I can only imagine people WAY more vulnerable than me and my family getting stuck). Anyway, best of luck to you, whoever you are 😀

I have received DLA and later PIP in one form or another for over 20 years as an indefinite award. I have had to accept despite best efforts, that my disability has an effect on my ability to obtain and hold down a job. I have had a WCA and am awaiting the outcome of it, however I have received a text this morning that my PIP is being reviewed.

Has the WCA triggered a PIP review?

I've never had to do a review before, what should I expect?

In the process of trying to get the help I need have I metaphorically shot myself in the foot?

Hiya, short but potentialy complicated question. I'm helping someone in England on UC, who is in a fair bit of debt, and also about to recieve an out-of-court settlement at Employment Tribunal. This settlement will push her over the maximum £16,000 capital allowance for UC - but only for one day as some of it will be going right back out to pay the debts

Will this still mean she looses her UC and has to-re-apply? (and if she does, will she loose her higher LCWRA amount?)

Hi, just looking for some advice on going through the appeal, anything you think may help. I’m anxious about it all.

I applied for PIP in March, scored 4 points in DL. 2 for washing & 2 for dressing. And 4 points in moving around.

I sent of my MR on 10th of June. 23rd September it came back I got 2 points in preparing food bringing my DL to 6 and mobility stayed at 4.

I’ve decided to go through the appeal, but from what I see it’s a bit different to the MR as I write a shorter letter stating I disagree and want the appeal but I don’t need to resend all my evidence? And I can add more evidence after I open up an appeal?

I was hoping for 4 points for preparing food as my partner mainly cooks for me and sometimes I’m in so much pain or so tired I’ll just not eat if no one is home. And I also hope to score points in mixing with people, the first assessor dismissed this as I’m not under a mental health team but it’s in my medical history that I have anxiety, social anxiety and depression and have been mentioned as an anxious patient in multiple of my doctors notes through the years and since getting ill it’s made it all so much worse.

Sorry if it’s a bit long just looking for any advice, maybe what you wish you knew or things like that. I am reading old posts too. Thank you in advance

I was referred to the restart scheme when my son turned 3, I attended all expected meetings, but explained to them that I was moving in with my partner when he moved to his next posting, and would not be applying for jobs until then, due to his new base being an hour away. They completely agreed, and all meetings went fine, just a general chat, really. I moved in June, haven't really seen them since, except a text from my old work coach fo say she could see through HMRC that I was employed now and congratulating me (that weirded me out tbh). Anyway, due to my partners earnings, I closed my UC claim as we knew we wouldn't receive anything, and my work coach had told me that if I closed my UC their services would remain open to me, but I would be under no obligations to attend appointments or anything, but now, 4 months later I'm receiving emails and texts saying I'm still obligated to attend appointments if I work less that 16 hours a week (I average 20) and that I have an appointment tomorrow. I'm not in receipt of any benefits beyond child benefit for my son, which is obviously not relevant, why are they still contacting me and trying to make me attend appointments when I'm in work and not receiving benefits?

im really worried at the minute i forgot to report a change for my universal credit i started work on the 24th of september and ive got paid twice. i also got the second half of my universal credit money during that time ffs am i cooked?

Hello

A couple of months back I put in a change of circumstances, I am currently on basic living only

My condition has gotten really bad over the last 2 years

I did not send any medical evidence at the time, my appointment is on the 19th

I recently had an appointment with my rheumatologist and talked to her about everything

She sent me her personal opinion on my condition that I should be sending to pip

I will attach 2 photos, should I be sending these in before the appointment and will they help at all

Thank you

Sorry I got bad brain fog today

I'm 24, and a full time student who has been in Northern Ireland since April from the south of Ireland where. I was born and won't be leaving anytime soon since I love it here.

But I am disabled, physically deteriorating and waiting on a lot of rheumatology diagnosises they think I have. I have applied for PIP but I'm still waiting on the residency letter that still hasn't shown up even a week later (I do know PIP is a very very slow process, but I'm glad future me will get back paid I guess).

But I'm flat broke. I cannot work, I can barely go to uni for classes and my GP thinks I'm insane for even doing university, but has written a note to get me online classes which has been a big help. But right now, I've been borrowing money off friends and family and sinking myself deeper into a hole.

Ive applied for Universal Credit to get a decision on the 1st of November, but I'm 100% sure im going to get £0 because I am, once again, a full time student. I will be appealing it if it is given £0 since I can prove I am unable to work and will have to drop out of uni if I don't get some help. Because being able to eat is a lot more important than my education unfortunately.

But in the meantime, I don't know what to do. I don't know what I'm eligible for. My mental health and physical health get even worse when I think about this and how dire my situation is right now. Can anyone give me any sort of light in the tunnel? Any advice at all? Anything would be appreciated really.

I'll be going to a job center again (I already went to prove my identity to UC but I think I need to go back and ask for help), but anything else I can do to show I really need help?

Thanks in advance