DLA to PIP
“Thanks so much to this website for the guides and the forum. Got my brown envelope yesterday and awarded enhanced rate for both till 2026. Couldn't have filled out the form without all your help. Thanks again and good luck to everyone currently going through this.”
We seem to be having a Christmas server slowdown which we’re trying to get fixed. So we do apologise if the site is currently very slow or crashed altogether when you visit.
Dear Reader,
We’d like to start this brief newsletter by wishing you a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
And by thanking you for your fantastic support over yet another year.
Astonishingly, 2017 will be our 15th year of running the Benefits and Work website.
We’ve seen a lot of other very worthwhile sites and organisations disappear over that time. We know we are very fortunate that our members continue to save us from the same fate.
We also consider ourselves very lucky to receive so many messages of thanks and to get so many good news stories from you.
As always, we don’t know what the coming year will bring. Many people are still waiting for their DLA to PIP assessments and there are changes on the way for ESA.
In addition, we have yet another new prime minister and another new secretary of state for work and pensions with another new set of bright ideas about how to ‘fix’ the welfare state and move sick and disabled claimants into work.
Who knows what misguided ‘reforms’ they will attempt to introduce, based not on evidence but on prejudice and misconceptions?
One thing we do know, however, is that we intend to still be here, providing you with the best information we possibly can, this time next year.
So, whatever happens, you don’t have to face the coming twelve months alone.
If you’d like to leave a Christmas message for our fantastic moderators, the rest of the team and your fellow Benefits and Work readers, we’d love to hear from you.
FORUM CHRISTMAS CLOSING
Our tiny, but truly amazing, team of moderators will be taking a very well deserved break over Christmas.
The forum will be closing after the evening session on Friday 23 December and reopening on the afternoon of Tuesday 3 January.
It won’t be possible to post during the forum closure.
We know that many of you will miss being able to post, but the moderators do desperately need a break after a year that’s seen a record number of enquiries.
If anyone out there feels they have the skills and knowledge to offer a helping hand on the forum in the New Year, then please do get in touch. We can offer you regular supervision and support and the chance to make a positive difference to people’s lives.
PIP RENEWAL FEEDBACK WANTED
We’d like to hear from people who have been through the new PIP renewal process involving the shorter PIP Award Review (AR1) form. This is the form that asks you whether each activity has got:
- Easier
- Harder
- No change
We’re getting reports from members who indicated on the form that there had been no change in their ability to carry out activities. However, they were then required to attend a face-to-face assessment at which the health professional did not have a copy of their most recent PIP 2 ‘How your disability affects you’ form.
This means that the health professional is making an assessment with no written evidence from the claimant to refer to at all. The whole process rests solely on the questions that the HP chooses to ask.
So we’d really like to hear about your experiences, if you’ve completed the PIP Award Review form.
Did you say there had been any changes?
Did you have to attend a face-to-face assessment?
What was the outcome of your renewal?
You can respond by posting a comment or emailing us. More details here.
We’ll be back with the next newsletter in the New Year.
Until then, once again, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
Good luck,
Steve Donnison
Brown letter day and great news
“Received the brown letter today, DLA to PIP. Heart started pounding as I opened it. Instant relief when I read the first page. Enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility, ongoing period. Thanks to B&W for the brilliant guides which were a godsend.”
BOOST YOUR PIP AND ESA CHANCES - 20% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP – OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT SATURDAY.
LAST NEWSLETTER UNTIL 18 JANUARY.
ESA Support Group
“I would like to thank benefits and work for the brilliant advice I have received and from members. I have received ESA and have been put in the support group”
Give yourself the best possible chance of getting the right ESA, PIP or DLA decision, whether you’re making a claim, renewing an existing award or asking for a reconsideration or appeal.
Subscribe now and get instant access to all our guides.
If you’re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community before midnight on Friday and you can get 20% off the cost of your annual subscription.
Just type the following code into the coupon box when you pay: 64463
Claimants and carers get an annual subscription for £15.96, down from £19.95. Professionals get an annual subscription for £77.60, down from £97.00.
Offer ends midnight Saturday
GOOD NEWS FROM THE FORUM
As always, many thanks to everyone who takes the trouble to post in the forum or email us with news of your success. We know it’s many readers favourite, and most encouraging, bit of the newsletter.
ESA Support Group
“Firstly, a big thanks to [the mods] and all the team at Benefits and Work - you do a wonderful job. I contacted the DWP for an update and the adviser said I had been put in the ESA Support Group for at least 12 months. I had no medical, but the Health Assessment Team contacted my GP who completed the report. I am delighted.”
DLA to PIP
“Would just like to say a big thank you to this site. Having subscribed & read through the guides we filled my wife's PIP form in & then attended the assessment. Brown envelope arrived yesterday & she was awarded the same as she had been on DLA. Without the guides we would not have been so thorough filling the forms in & gathering the evidence. For anyone just starting out on this journey read the guides then stand back & thoroughly examine your daily routine before putting pen to paper. You may surprise yourself just how much you take for granted & would otherwise not have written down. Money well spent. Thank you again.”
DLA to PIP success
“A big thank you to Benefits and Work for all the information provided to help with, in our case, the DLA to PIP journey. It really has been very helpful - it is our opinion, that although there is help out there - with Welfare Benefits and Rights and Citizens Advice to actually get an appointment or speak to anyone, to get that much needed help - is a nightmare. Our appointment which we received was 3 days before the paperwork had to be sent back to DWP!!!! So we felt quite dis-heartened until we used this site to find out information. My husband was awarded enhanced mobility and standard for daily care. Thank you very much.”
ESA Result
“Just wanted to say a massive thank you for your help regarding my recent application for ESA... I am a bit late in letting you know but after having had my medical on 24th October, and fully expecting to be flung back on JSA pronto, I got a letter which shocked me... I had been placed into the support group… Thanks again… I wouldn't have known what to put on my form if it wasn't for your informative guides.”
PIP awarded after mandatory reconsideration
“Fantastic news today we won our manditory consideration for pip today from zero on both elements to standerd on daily livind and enhanced on mobility hubby originally had low care an high mobility on dla and its more for standerd in pip thanks to benefits an work for all the tips so happy can get a new car now merry xmas to all”
PIP success
“So glad I joined just had the brown envelope Enhanced for care and Standard for mobility for 6 years, I'm over the moon your guide helped me so much Thanks”
DLA to PIP success
“I received the PIP forms and looked at them with trepidation. I just didn't know were to start. A search on the internet found this brilliant website. I was then asked to attend a face to face and I was dreading it . The interview was 80 mins long. I'd asked for a copy of the report so I could see if I agreed with the assessor. Today the dreaded brown envelope arrived and I was over the moon to see I'd been granted enhanced on both mobility and care for 6 yrs thanks to this brilliant web site. Best money I've ever spent. A big Thank You to you all”
Tribunal success
“i won!! - i am astounded. the judge actually told me straight away in the room - after the questions and before they even had a chance to talk about what i had said . . . i feel really weird because i was ready for a fight and i didnt have to..i am SO SO SO grateful to the wise words and encouragement from the people on this site - and also for all the information in your booklets…i would not have done this without you, i would have just turned away obediently in silence…INCREDIBLE”
DLA to PIP success
“Received my PIP decision today, standard rate for both care and mobility…Thanks to this site for all the support and invaluable information which without I wouldn't of known where to start. Keep up the excellent work”
ESA Support Group success
“I was placed in the Support group in 2013 when my Incapacity Benefit changed to ESA. On July 8th 2016 I completed and returned my ESA review form and this morning, almost 6 months later, I received notification that I had been placed in the Support Group once again which is fantastic news”
PIP award
“I would like to say a huge thank you for the pip guide it was a lifesaver. I have been in receipt of indefinite award since 2009 where I had to go through an appeal which I found so invasive and stressful I was awarded low care and high rate mobility indefinitely after atos had reported I didn't qualify for any dla I only won the appeal due to the guide on here.I had deteriorated greatly in 2013 but refused to contact dla to claim increase in care award as vowed I wouldn't put myself through that experience again.Brown envelope arrived as I knew it would eventually to claim for pip my friend and I followed the guide compilled my evidence sent it off I received a call from a nurse who was very nice asked 3 questions advised I didn't need face to face examination I was shocked to say the least only 3 weeks later I have a brown envelope I felt too sick to open it my friend read it to me awards are enhanced for both care and mobility the award is on going.I can't thank you enough i have recommended numerous people over the years who have also found it to be a life line.”
Awarded PIP – over the moon
“Hi all, firstly thank you everyone on the site for all the info, help guides and knowledge. As the title suggests I got Enhanced Rate Mobility and Standard Rate Daily Living ( I was on HRM and MRC DLA) for an ongoing period, with them contacting me after 28 Sept 2020…Again many many thanks to all on the site. Couldn't have done it without you”
PIP award
“I had my PIP assessment on 15th November this year. I got the dreaded brown envelope this morning. They have given me the standard rate personal car and enhanced rate mobility. This award lasts until 2020. I am made up with this as I expected a real battle with them.”
ESA Tribunal won
“I accompanied my sister yesterday to a Tribunal. The DWP initially assessed her as fit to work. We then went through mandatory reconsideration and they told me, on the phone, nothing in writing, that they agreed she should have ESA but in the WR group. We appealed this and yesterday the Tribunal agreed and have placed her in the support group where she belongs. The whole process has taken nearly a year - far too long and stressful. But I would have not been able to do any of this without the help of this site and your fantastic guides so a massive THANK YOU from my sister and me.”
Grateful for B&W
“'Tis true, this is not a question but an expression of gratitude for all your help. Do not underestimate the value of your service, especially in relieving anxiety of those seeking help.”
Won Tribunal
“Hi. Well great news. I won my Tribunal. What a load of anxiety and stress. I attended my first tribunal only to be told I didn't have enough evidence therefore they would recommend call me after they have written to my GP for further evidence. My GP sent them all my history dating back to when I was born. That should be enough lol. I attended the 2nd tribunal and won. Woop woop”
ESA Support Group
“Well to say im over the moon is an understatement reassement of esa . brown envelope recieved today, was shakin as im sure others have . i have been placed back in the support group without ftf”
PIP success
“I received my outcome today and I have been awarded Enhanced rate for both care and mobility. I couldn't have done it without your very helpful guides. I can now sleep at night and am letting others know how useful these guides are. Many thanks”
BOOST YOUR PIP AND ESA CHANCES - 20% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP – OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT SATURDAY.
LAST NEWSLETTER UNTIL 18 JANUARY.
Give yourself the best possible chance of getting the right ESA, PIP or DLA decision, whether you’re making a claim, renewing an existing award or asking for a reconsideration or appeal.
Subscribe now and get instant access to all our guides.
If you’re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community before midnight on Friday and you can get 20% off the cost of your annual subscription.
Just type the following code into the coupon box when you pay: 64463
Claimants and carers get an annual subscription for £15.96, down from £19.95. Professionals get an annual subscription for £77.60, down from £97.00.
Offer ends midnight Saturday
Good luck,
The Office Team
Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd
Company registration No. 5962666
