Left in Limbo: Endless wait for crucial DWP PIP review decisions contributes to decline in health and wellbeing
As months drag on, vulnerable people are left in a state of anxiety, fearing the loss of vital lifelines amid a broken benefits system.
Waiting can be unbearable. Ask anyone who has ever had to anticipate news that could change the course of their life. They will tell you that the not knowing is the worst part. For those of us living with disabilities, the wait for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) review decision is not just frustrating – it is downright torturous. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has had my completed review forms since late January, and here I am in August, still in limbo.
For the fortunate enough never to have been caught in the PIP system’s snare, let me paint a picture of what this experience is like. Imagine receiving an ominous brown envelope demanding immediate attention, with instructions to return the forms within 14 days or risk having your essential benefit cut off. For many, these benefits are a lifeline. Each time an envelope drops through the door, your heart skips a beat. Is it brown? Have they changed the colour? The dread of not knowing whether today, will be the day, you are summoned for an assessment or worse told that a decision has been made and you are no longer eligible is a constant suffocating presence.
I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) I have a progressive form of the condition. This means I will not get better, but my quality of life will diminish, hopefully slowly. (I will not know as it has control not me).
Since I completed those review forms in January my eyesight has worsened to the point, that I am unable to drive which understandably is deeply frustrating for me as I am more reliant on other people to assist me constantly. Yet here I am, months later. Still waiting for that brown envelope, living with the daily stress of uncertainty. The few updates I do receive from DWP are sparse and far between, doing little to ease my anxiety.
The system is designed, it seems, to break you down. It is not just about the waiting, is is about the fear of the unknown. The fear is that despite submitting all the required medical evidence and diligently filling out the forms, the outcome of your review could still be unjust, possibly resulting in a reduction or loss of the very benefit that keeps you afloat. This fear is not unfounded. Many who have gone through PIP assessments will tell you that the reports often bear little resemblance to what was actually discussed with the assessor.
Take my own experience, for instance. I went from receiving high rate for both mobility and care under the old Disability Living Allowance (DLA) scheme. In fact I was on an indefinite award meaning it was recognised I would not get better and my condition was severe enough to be eligible. However, when applying for PIP I was given standard rate for care, despite my situation deteriorating. I appealed the decision, but even then, the tribunal’s reasoning defied logic. They recognised the seriousness of my condition but decided that waking up completely paralysed did not count towards the descriptors offered by DWP. Yes, you read that right – waking up paralysed did not count.
So, here I am again, biting the bullet and attempting to see if my current and future uncurable, painful, cruel health issues may finally be recognised as needing the higher level of support. But the waiting… Oh, the waiting. It is like waiting for vital exam results, except you do not know when they will arrive. It could be tomorrow, next month or even next year. But once those results do come in, there is always the looming threat you may need to resit the exam at any time. The result may even be snatched away and you could find yourself back at square one.
For those who rely on their PIP to maintain a fragment of independence, the stakes are incredibly high. Many use their mobility component to lease a vehicle or wheelchair through the charity Motability. These vehicles are not a luxury, they are necessities. They enable people to get to work, attend medical appointments and most importantly participate in society. The care component is often used to pay for therapies or assistance with daily tasks and is crucial for maintaining a basic quality of life.
Without the support, the ripple effect is devastating. The financial strain of living with a disability is already immense, with countless expenses piling up, often far beyond what the average person would ever consider. Losing even a portion of PIP can tip the balance from just managing to a spiral into despair and isolation.
The system, as it stands, is cruel. It forces disabled people into a never-ending cycle of fear and uncertainty, leaving us to wonder if today will be the day we lose our independence, our dignity or both. I still await my brown envelope, dreading what it might contain. The fact that so many of us live with this constant, crushing anxiety is a damning indictment of a system that is supposed to support us, not break us.
For more information about Personal Independence Payment go to www.gov.uk/pip
MS Society offer help and support for people claiming benefits - www.mssociety.org.uk/living-with-ms/financial-help/brief-guide-to-benefits/personal-independence-payment
Disability Assist support disabled people in Kent to lead a more independent life: www.disabilityassist.org.uk/
#disability #mssociety #PIP #DWP #benefits