benefit stopping due to ATOS backlog (PIP review)

Hi
So I have a client who had been awarded PIP up until 17/03/2017.

She received renewal form mid January and was sent back and received by PIP beginning of February.

Due to the amount of PIP reviews being sent out ready for the end of the migration period, ATOS are now drowning and have a huge backlog.

My client had a strange amount paid in to her account today and on phoning PIP they told her that her claim ended on 17/03.  On challenging this PIP told her there was nothing they can do as they are waiting for ATOS to do the assessment.  In the meantime her benefit stops.

I have called ATOS who tell me her assessment is “pending a date”

I am trying to escalate this and waiting managers call back (who apparently is going to tell me the same as the adviser did)

Has anyone come across this and ideas for immediate escalation?  She lives in Hampshire with a PO postcode

many thanks

Hi,

I have had this exact same issue today. I have a client who was previously terminally ill asked to make a new claim 14 weeks before the end of their claim. The claim hasn’t been assessed yet so a decision is way off. Their money ended a few months ago. For a client who has been used to this income and still has ongoing affects of their condition this is alarming. Their motability car remains with them for the time being which is one good thing.

I am going to send this as a social policy issue internally- it’s only mentioned briefly in the CPAG welfare benefits book 2017/18 on page 762!

The only real chance of moving matters on rapidly , is to get the Local MP involved, especially given the hardship it is causing.

Are they not doing the planned interventions 12 months prior to the award expiring in ATOS areas?

Capita cover my area and have sent the client a letter stating they need a face to face but given no date. This was back in January.