Looking at the way things are at the moment it could be six months or more, the company who carry out the medicals ATOS who don't give ATOS are in all sorts of trouble, they have ceased doing work assessments for the cya and people have been left in the lurch unfortunately so please don't hold your breathe so to speak .
There are a few good websites around that might give you good advice and maybe answer some of your questions, I'm very sure you'll get told what they are by the good folk on hear and as I'm having serious memory probs I'll leave it to them.
I applied for PIP before Christmas and called the DWP and ATOS about it on Friday as I was getting fed up with waiting- apparently it can take up to 21 weeks before you get an appointment for an assessment interview! I asked if there was anything I could do to speed up the process but they said there wasn't. I now wish I'd applied for it much earlier but not sure if that would have made a difference. Would be interested to hear other people's experiences and how soon others got called to the medical assessment after applying for PIP.
I wish I had the knowledge I`ve gained from this site last year when I first applied for DLA. I now know I was turned down because I just didn't give them enough info on the form. thank you for your reply Fran I do hope you hear something soon.
hi Folks, I applied 14October 2014 and finally had my assessment appointment on Monday, the 31st March - 24 weeks total. This seems to be the length of time they are taking - it is of course unacceptable but I don't think there is anything we can do about it..... I did call on various occasions to enquire as to the progress of my claim and continually got the response 'you are on the waiting list for an appointment for an assessment' which I thought was a slightly odd way of phrasing it. On the 12th March I phoned following an appointment with the rheumatologist to be told I had an appointment booked.
I dithered about applying for a year before I finally bit the bullet, I wish I had done it so much sooner than I did!
I went to the CAB to have them help me fill out the form but unfortunately I was the first PIP applicant they had seen so they couldn't be terribly helpful.
Hi Tom, the lady I saw 'seemed' to understand RA and so I thought the interview went very well. Unfortunately it seems she doesn't understand RA and has made strange assumptions. In the interview we talked about medications and what I actually manage at home and out and about. I would make sure you explain the fatigue that comes with RA and not assume your interviewer knows this. Mine saw me struggle on crutches for 8 metres and extrapolated this to say I can manage up to 50metres, my husband had helped me bath & washed and brushed my hair - she claimed I was 'well kept' and therefore did not need assistance, despite me telling her my husband had done these things. She asked me to 'pinch', just once, and concluded therefore that I could easily manage to chop vegetables. So, I would ensure you make it clear whether actions become increasingly difficult upon repetition.
I haven't yet received my award notice, I asked for a copy of the assessor a report and have spoken to the DWP about it as she has in fact contradicted herself within it, and confused left from right.
So pleased you have done the deed! C A B may be able to help, but don't forget the NRAS booklet on applying for PIP. You can ring the helpline and/or look online nras.org.uk.
Don't forget that if you are granted an award, it will be backdated to the date that you applied, so at least you won't miss out!
I applied for PIP 9th September by phone, filled in the form with the help of the NRAS book. ATOS interview January 15th. Award notice March 27th. At least the payment was backdated from the first call. Payment awarded till 2017. So about 6 months. Good luck x
I was asked about what I had written on the form, so re read it all before you go for the medical, we talked about how I could do specific things, preparing food, taking nutrition,managing therapy or monitoring health conditions, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing, communicating verbally, reading and understanding signs, symbols and words, engaging face to face with people and making budgeting decisions. This is for the daily living component.
She watched me walk, get in and out of the chair, examined my joints a bit like a hospital appointment. She was very nice and made me think a lot more about what I can't do as I tend to just struggle on and cope and think I'm ok.
I didn't get the mobility part as I can move more than 50 meters but no more than 200 metres, which scored 4 points and you need 8 to get it.
Hope that helps, let me know if you need any other details x
Hi 2plus2, my examination sounded much like yours but I didn't have much swelling on the day... Typical!! Did you have much "visible" evidence to show them on the day? It just makes me wonder how they make their decision because as we know RA can be and is very invisible.
Thanks Tom, Yes, you have to re-apply but not sure if everyone gets a medical. Good luck with yours, I hope you get it and it will be backdated if you do x
We have a publication which you can download from our website on "How to Claim Personal Independence Payment" which explains what happens. I have put the link to it below:
Hi Tom yes everyone who is on DLA is going to be asked to apply for the PIP by the end of 2018 no one will be on DLA. Problem is this PIP isn't as easy to get unlike the DLA which you got and kept it for a long time. Depending on what you put in the form in the post depends on weather you get the PIP as outcome to the answers on the form or they still send to see you. For instance on applying for DLA years ago you would be considered bad enough if you couldn't walk anymore than 20 yards without severe pain, ive heard under the PIP they have reduced this to 10 yards.
Our grand daughter who has multiple sclerosis, who is trying to do the right thing and struggle to work still has twice been refused PIP. Hope you have good success with your claim
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People with RA losing higher rate mobility component in DLA to PIP reassessments 
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