r/DWPhelp

Omg please tell me this is normal !!!

I had my phone assessment this morning ADHD, autism harm OCD.

The man was very nice he was a paramedic and asked multiple questions everything from the form, to work, to school, going out etc but the call lasted 2 hours 7 minutes! I'm so confused as I wrote a lot of detail on my form.

My other half was with me and helped odd time by answering with me or prompting me etc.

What I'm worried about is he said the DWP receive the report and then might have further questions if they do he will give me a call back which likely would be 5-10 minutes --- is this normal? I asked him if that's common he said it's not but it will definitely be him who calls if they do.

I feel like I've massively messed up 😭

how many people on here have a job and also get PIP.
There's a lot of people who seem to think that if you work, especially in a professional job or careers you can't qualify.

What parts did you qualify under?

Did your job ever get used against you during the assessment?

I'm interested to see how common it is and hopefully show that having a job doesn't automatically mean you don't meet the PIP criteria.
Obviously only share what you're comfortable with.

Im so happy, this was my second attempt, the first attempt was last year and I got all 0s saying "you aren't on meds, you can walk x amount" and it was like she didn't even listen to me.

I have MPHD (multiple pituitary hormone deficiency) and a part of that is hypopituitarism and hyperthyroidism, corticoadrenal insufficiency, I can go into an adrenal crisis and need to be rushed to hospital. in an adrenal crisis I cant communicate, i cant move, i need someone with me.

Timeline

start process on 2nd march 2026

got the form a while later, sent it off the same day.

got the confirmation text on 23rd March

Health professional looking at claim text on 22nd April

Got a phone appointment with Connor (a registered nurse) on the 13th of May. he was so kind, we spoke for about 2 hours, he said he could tell im struggling to communicate due to brain fog. He said ill know in 6-8 weeks.

Got a text on 16th June saying theyve received the report and itll be around 8 weeks.

Got a text on Wednesday (1st July)saying i was awarded pip,

got the letter and backdated amount today (6th July).

The thing is, even though i received points for the standard part, (8 points total) some of the information was still incorrect, like the reading and understanding, i can read and understand but when im suffering from the chronic fatigue i cant take any information in, and that happens more than it doesn't at the minute.

Mixing with other people 0 points, even though it drains me for days afterwards so i dont mix with people.

i got 16 points for the mobility. and so im happy in total just slightly annoyed about some information still being incorrect, and also worried that in 2031 when I need to redo it they might use the incorrect information against me.

Im going to request a copy of the full report, but im so happy. ive already bought a lighter hoover because i can't use the one currently in the house, a cat litter cleaner because i struggle to do it, and Tupperware so i can make homemade and premade lunch ables when i am to fatigued to decide on food or make food. UGH i feel so relieved omg. I do completely hate the pip system though, its very much stopping so many people from getting the help needed in an attempt to stop people from scamming.

Hi, I just received my personal health assessment report which I'm assuming is the PA4 report that I requested. There is no scoring on it, it's basically just a report of my telephone assessment. Just wondering if this is normal 🤔

Hi there thanks for reading
I’ve just been flippantly diagnosed with FND and have foot drop so unable to walk properly
I’m self employed and unable to work due to this at the moment. I asked a doctor for a fit note who reluctantly gave me one after telling me to contact DWP first 🙄
I’ve applied and understand it’s 14 days, does it usually take that long if not longer, and if it’s accepted is it back dated from the note?
Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping someone who’s been through this can offer a bit of advice or share their experience because the waiting is really starting to get to me.

My timeline is -

• November 2025: Submitted my PIP application.

• Friday 19 June: Had my telephone assessment. The last text I received from the DWP was confirming they’d received my assessment report.

• Friday 26 June: I called the DWP to update my address. During the call I was told a decision had already been made and that the original decision letter had been sent to my old address on Thursday 25 June. They updated my address and said the letter would be reissued to my new address. I asked if they could tell me the decision, but they said they couldn’t as they weren’t my decision maker.

It’s now Monday 6th July and I still haven’t received the letter, I haven’t had any further texts from the DWP and I haven’t received any payment. I’ve read so many different things online that I honestly don’t know what to believe anymore. Some people say no payment by now usually means a refusal, others say their payment took a week or two, some got a text and some never did. Note to add this is my second attempt (2022 was first time) and I didn’t appeal the first refusal.

I’m trying not to overthink it, but the uncertainty is causing me a lot of anxiety.

Has anyone had a similar timeline?
How long did it take for your letter to arrive?
Did you receive any further texts after the assessment?
Did your payment arrive before or after your letter?
Would you just keep waiting, or would you be contacting the DWP again?

I’m not asking anyone to predict my outcome, I’d just really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been through something similar and whether I need to brace myself for an appeal.

Thank you.

So I went to my first UC appointment and Im dreading going back.

Im 18f and just finished film college I realised I didnt like it tho and have been looking for a job for probably a year and a half. My dad said I should go on UC just for the money since I obviously need something but I feel the work side of it will be too much. I look for jobs constantly get rejected constantly and would like to know if anyone's actually gotten a job through them.

What makes my situation more difficult is Im in London but would like to work and live in Newcastle so Ive been looking for jobs there more than here. Can they get me a job up there? Because having a job in London although great would limit me being able to go for interviews in Newcastle. The whole building honestly made me feel so negative because I dont want to be on UC forever and looking for a job is daunting enough as well as I see my bf in Newcastle once a month which the visit will have to be shorter since the meetings are every week and the visits are important to me. I need the money and this is my last option really but idk it's just a lot.

My current work coach I have been seeing for quite some time now and it feels like every time I talk to them I feel worse as a person coming away from it. I understand their feedback and really do want to find work, yet they speak to me as if I am not human and worse than them, even asking me if I have some 'cash in hand' thing they don't know about. I've struggled with mental health in the past but never had any medical diagnosis for it since the only time I went to the hospital for it was during a transitional period where I couldn't be tested as an adult but it would take to long to be tested as a child, long story short they pretty much shrugged it off and I've not wanted to try get tested again.

Because of this I haven't put it in my journal or anything on the website that I have poor mental health, but every time I speak to my work coach I feel like it gets worse, ie thoughts of suicide and even self harm. I respect their feedback, but I really don't like my work coach and just wonder if there is a way to speak to someone else that is more understanding and kind. I just started the restart scheme and feel like they are much kinder, yet I still have weekly meetings with both and I am then also expected to show a large amount of applications that aren't done on easy sites when there also simply isn't even enough out there without indeed/simply hired etc...

Overall I am just losing my will to come in and do my tasks everyday cause my work coach treats me like I am not even human. Despite the fact I really want to work, especially so I don't have to see them ever again.

Returned my appeal last week including a supporting statement to the in-accuracy’s reported by the assessor and doctors notes. How long roughly am I going to have to wait for a response?

Does anyone know who to contact to ask about your tribunal? I’ve tried contacting the local charity that my representative is from but it’s been a month since I’ve emailed and I’ve had no response and their phone line doesn’t seem to be working (it just says when they’ll be open even if I’m calling during that time.)

I’ve tried calling HMCTS but it was an automated reply saying the wait is around 7 months but it’s been over a year since my appeal started and I haven’t heard anything since the DWP sent their response.

I also know of people that started their appeals after me that have had theirs completed already. I’m not sure whether to just keep waiting but I’ve been forgotten about with referrals more than I’ve been remembered so it’s got me a little on edge.

It just seems impossible to figure out how to contact anyone that can help me with this.

i just moved home a month ago (first month rent due upon moving in, second rent was due a few days ago)

i reported the change to uc the day i signed the agreement, i sent the evidence off to them, someone looked at it and asked me some clarifying questions and when i had a uc call, the work coach said it would likely be backdated to july.
so my cotenant paid my rent half for the past 2 payments, assuming i can pay them back in july.

JUST got my rent statement and its just my standard allowance, no rent for the past 2 lots that i was entitled for. (it was within my assessment period)

so my cotenant is out of pocket like a grand, he has bills coming up soon, the next months rent will be inbetween Uc payments too, so we cant even afford to wait for a backpayment in august. Like we need cash urgently because we were relying on this backpayment to pay my cotenant back.

i called uc helpline and he said he cant do anything but i should write something in my journal and just hope for the best.

We will have no money as my cotenants living money was used for my rent, he cant reslly put much more on a credit card, and my standard allowance isnt enough to do anything worth while to help me or him.

what can i do urgently? This is in england

I had to move out around last November essentially because my dad was drug crazed lunatic who beat me.
Since then I’ve had to work and obviously run my own flat. However, even since before I moved out I’ve had really bad trouble with sleep and depression for obvious reasons and I’ve kinda just tried to power through it but it’s never worked and I’ve always been too exhausted and miserable to keep doing the job. Not even I feel like the job is too hard I just become a kinda husk. I’ve at times shut down and zoned out because I’m extremely tired and become very randomly suicidal.
So I’m constantly out of jobs and have tried going to the doctors for help. They’ve pretty much continuously ignored me and just referred me to someone who refers me to someone who says they can’t help. The sleep issue they recently (about a week) ago prescribed antihistamines for sleep which don’t really seem to work and just make me wake up from the little sleep i do get feeling absolutely terrible. Anyway, my main thing is telling UC and PIP is daunting to me cause i’ve heard stories of how they can be. Like they won’t accept that Ive tried to get help but its not gone anywhere. And i think about things like when i started with it all they asked me if i have any mental or physical issues but i said no even though ive had them for years cause i was embarrassed to feel like i was doing some kinda sympathy thing. Prideful i guess. I don’t know if this post is understandable but regular UC payments are simply not enough to survive on and although I really do try i just can’t get into work or keep at it so i need some kinda financial help and i really am stuck on what to do. Im 19 single male since i know those are factors in UC.

Has anyone ever received their pip assessment back with factual errors. It says I have no mental health conditions but I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist for OCD, ADHD, depression and anxiety. It say I can prepare food unaided when I said I cannot prepare food unless my partner does it. It also says I have no medical input for fainting, but I am diagnosed by a cardiologist with POTs, which I provided them with. I also scored 0 on everything?

I understand scoring may not always be what you think. But to claim I don’t have diagnoses that I actually have, and have been formally diagnosed with by medical professionals ? Any advice would be appreciated.

Hello, just to give some background

I a few weeks back was diagnosed with Extreme Anxiety and Agoraphobia, i was on the call with the CMHT for over an hour as i explained my issues and listened to her tell me what she would do to help

I got a fit note and uploaded it to my universal credit account - i am claiming universal credit and have been for a few months before my diagnosis, so this was accepted and they booked me in another appointment the day after my current fit note ends

Because my fit note was for longer than 4 weeks it automatically triggered the Wca50 form where they assess if i am capable for work

i was nervous as hell but finally filled it out tonight detailing my issues and i attached my home visit summary letter from the GP detailing my diagnosis and my medication, attached another 2 sheets of A4 explaining my issues and how they effect me/stop me from working in more detail than the boxes in the form would allow

I also attached a copy of my letter from the Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) which the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) nurse who diagnosed me referred me too, the letter states i am on the waiting list for an appointment which can take approx 20 weeks

I am just really nervous as tomorrow when i send it away i know i am going to be extremely anxious and worry endlessly until i get a result back from them

I am just wondering if it is likely given my evidence, being on medication and awaiting an appointment with the CPN that i get awarded LCWRA, has anyone else been in the same boat with regards to applying for it with Anxiety and Agoraphobia and what was the outcome, i am super worried despite my evidence and diagnosis that they will somehow say it isn't enough

Sorry for rambling i am just looking for advice

Hi,

So I have an appointment tomorrow for a PIP assent over the phone. I’m autistic and would like to know how the assessment will go, what kind of things they ask and how long it normally lasts. I know it’ll probably be different for everyone but I’d like to get my bearings a bit more.

Thank you ☺️

Hello,

I received a text earlier asking me to update my details. The text stated that if I didn't update my details within the next couple of weeks, my UC would be stopped. Is this automated?

The only thing that has changed is the amount that is in my bank account. I have £400 less in my account than I did last year. I have under £3k in my account. I've put the amount that I currently have in my bank account, which is what I was asked to do on the UC website.

I'm on UC (LCWRA - support group) and I'm on New Style ESA (contribution based). The bulk of my income (just under £600 a month) is from ESA and I receive a monthly top up from UC of just over £220.

I have some questions...

1. Should I be concerned about a review? I've always been on various benefits since my teenage years due to ill health. I'm in the support group for both ESA and UC and I doubt I'll ever be able to work given my various health issues. I hope I don't have to go through the stress of a review because life is very difficult at the moment. This anxiety has occurred due to the text.

2. Do I only have to inform UC if my bank account is over £6k? Is it not necessary to inform them after every assessment period. Should I just update the amount when I'm prompted?

Thank you for your help.

​

I am currently unemployed and I have struggled to find work for two years. I've been living away from my parents but last year my dad was diagnosed with cancer and in February we discovered that it is terminal. My dad had signed a DNR and we were expecting only to have a couple of months with him so I ended up staying with family down south. I applied for sick notes so I wouldn't have to search for work whilst I was staying with him as I was having panic attacks pretty regularly. I have always struggled with my mental health and I am currently on PIP as I have autism and phobic anxiety. I have a capability to work assessment in person this week and I am freaking out about it. I have self harmed on my leg from stress as I don't want to say the wrong thing and have my universal credit taken away. I have less than two months left on the lease of my current place as my roommate's intend to move out so I will likely have to move back in with my family anyway and I'm not sure I will find work where I am in those two months. I'm not sure whether or not to explain my situation to the assessor on Thursday or if that will make my situation worse. I only need to be on universal credit for two more months if I am unable to find work in the time required. Do I say this to them? I have been good for applying for jobs up til February I have attended training sessions required of me by the job centre and participated in the Restart scheme although I did not find work in this time.

I got prescription glasses last year in February. My eyesight has got worse since then, I can't read writing on the tv even with my glasses on, I have to squint and it's blurry. So at the moment I can barely see. I know with Universal Credit eye tests are usually free every 2 years unless the prescription changes by a certain amount. How much does my prescription need to change to be eligible for a reduced cost on glasses? I have astigmatism so I already need to pay extra to get the anti-glare coating which isn't covered by Universal Credit so if I can get glasses cheaper it would be a massive help. I do get LCWRA and PIP if that's relevant

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some honest opinions from anyone who's been through a UC review or understands how they work.

My UC review started in February. I uploaded everything they requested in early March (way before the deadline), including bank statements and housing documents etc. To note I work full-time, rent privately and have 2 children.

I recently had a baby with my partner (2nd child). Before that, he was living elsewhere but had been helping me financially with preparing for the baby and household costs as I've moved into a larger property and general costs have increased. Since our baby was born, our circumstances have changed and he now lives with me and the children.

Because I wanted to make sure my claim was correct, I contacted UC myself during the review to explain that he had been financially supporting us and that our circumstances have changed. I asked whether I should now be making a joint claim because I wanted to make sure everything was correct and asked for guidance on what to do next.

Since then, I've received no guidance or updates. The only response I've had was when I asked to close my claim because I no longer believe I'd be entitled. They replied saying they couldn't close it because my claim is currently under review.

It's now been 5 months since the review started and apart from that one reply, I've heard nothing. No telephone appointment, no requests for further information and no indication of what stage the review is at.

My normal single claim has continued as I've had no response and the refusal to close it. I'm fully aware that an overpayment is probably on the cards, which i'm absolutely fine with and happy to sort and repay.

Has anyone experienced a review taking this long?

Does the length of the review usually mean anything or is it often just due to workload?

I'd really appreciate honest opinions from anyone who's been through something similar or who understands the review process.

Thanks.

If you report a change of circumstance like "unemployed" after SSP has ended and you have already signed a Claimant Commitment what happens?

Apparently my previous employer did not submit and SSP form... so it stalled the claim.... told to forget about it.

Just hope I won't be expecting another phonecall or it has triggered anything.. like a WFI.???. I applied on June 12th no payments yet.... also if your fit note runs out in a few days will they call you?, to chase up.. so confusing as spoken to different agents. not sure what is going on..