B&W New Bulketin re PIP “ Light Touch” Review Process

I am writing this to seek the opinions both of the panel and other B&W members about the new review for AR1 for PIP reviews.

My first instinct when reading your email was to think that I believe none of this. By which I mean I don’t believe the DWP will behave as stated and I don’t trust them.

So, what to do when the time comes?

I know you will say that it is too soon to comment.

But would you and other members agree that when receiving one of these forms, and assuming health situation and needs are unchanged, then it is very wise, nay vital, that you get a letter from your first health professional (who ideally may have written a letter or report as part of first claim), confirming:

Situation as per letter of xxxxx is unchanged ( or worse, giving facts)
Medication or prescriptions are the same (or more, with details)
A restated opinion that patient’s condition is unlikely to change or improve.

I think this is wise. The risk of sending a form back without this is that if DWP sends a letter to such a professional asking for up to date information, without that advance letter, misunderstandings or poor emphasis can occur. Many claimants may not have recently seen professionals due to the Covid pandemic…

I don’t trust the DWP because it is quite possible that, re this “light touch” process, they may have in place procedures (which they are not obliged to publish) whereby a sample of forms claiming no change are sent to assessors for review & possible re-assessment.

At least with an up to date letter, the claimant is almost ready.

The only alternative I can think of is to cover all bases and treat the new AR1 as just a new application. But that is difficult because the detailed parameters re main PIP claim form are not present on this new form. So do you pile in with the detail as you would do with a new claim?

What do people think? Do we have anything to lose by at least doing as I suggest and getting a doctor’s letter, once that form arrives?

Thank you

A

I think that this is a tricky one and the first groups of PIPers are going to be testing the water for the rest of us, in a similar fashion to when it was first introduced. It's difficult to know what the DWP will really want as opposed to what they say they want. Also it is so difficult to see a GP with an illness let alone get a letter. Like yourself, I am unsure and do not trust the DWP but I have several years left to run (if I live long enough) so things may have settled by then or got worse.

I would always treat any PIP Review as a first claim and sed them everything again anyway both historical and updated evidence so as to cover all bases. I think the new light touch form is the AR 2 not AR 1 but nevertheless, I would always treat it as I would an initial claim with as much supporting evidence as possible. I always ask my GP and/or any hospital professionals who treat me to copy me into their correspondence to each other as and when it occurs after appointments. That way, when review time comes I always have evidence of what's been happening between reviews/ It's a practise that has stood me in good stead so far.

I would be really grateful if someone from the panel could respond to my query as any DWP innovation can be quite concerning.
Thank you.

A