Right to benefit would have been denied

Our client is 68 and lives alone in social housing.  English is his second language and his income is from benefits.  He has multiple health problems: heart, diabetes, asthma and depression. 

He was receiving Disability Living Allowance (care and mobility) until June 2019 when it was stopped.  DWP asked him to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP).  For reasons related to his personal circumstances, he didn’t claim immediately but telephoned for a form in September.  On behalf of the client our adviser chased the form which arrived in October. 

PIP claim  

He made the claim and we chased progress through many delays until the benefit was finally granted in May this year.  This wasn’t the end of the story, however.  An error in the letter meant the client wouldn’t receive any benefit until September 2020 instead of September 2019!  We contacted the decision–maker and got this corrected.  

The happy outcome was PIP paid immediately at £330 a month with backdating to September 2019 worth £2670.  

How we helped 

• chasing DWP claim form  
• assisting client with completion 
• chasing progress of claim
• spotting error in DWP claim letter, enabling it to be rectified 

Without our intervention the client may not have received the benefit to which he was entitled.  It was particularly valuable during COVID-19 when communications have been difficult. 

Check our full information on Personal Independence Payment here.