[Zander]

Hi

I am in same situation. I was waiting for prices to be more affordable since q2 2023. Then I think it was maybe q1 or q2 2024 when prices fell and i had saved enough, i logged into mobility website and was told not eligible. Confused I realised I had fallen to this 12month remaining rule. I was now within 11 or 10 months remaining.  I have a long term incurable auto-immune disease

Annoyed I called DWP and was given false hope as advisor stated I was within review period and they would send a form. I queried backlog and how my form would get reviewed promptly in order to apply for 1st car under scheme. I was told to call up once submitted and hopefully someone would be able to look at my review. This was a lie.

I called up and told of backlog and the treatment of new claims and changes as a priority and that only end of life claims could be made a priority. I would simply have to wait and if once within a month of my end date I would get an auto extension.

I wrote to MP regarding potentially missing out on an affordable car and the £750 NVP due to DWP backlog and mobility policy which allows current members to renew with less but not new applicants. The DWP eventually replied to the MP enquiry

“Due to unprecedented numbers of new applications and our capacity to complete them in good time, we have had to take the decision to concentrate our efforts on processing claims from people who are not currently in receipt of the benefit, along with those who have told us that their needs have changed.
We will regularly review the situation and can assure you that every action is being taken to ensure that the awards of people who are waiting for their claim to be reviewed will not go out of payment. We will continue to extend their awards until we can make a decision on their ongoing entitlement.
We are extending PIP award end dates for up to 12 months and these extensions are being applied approximately 35 days before an award ends.
During this extension period we may review the award, and the claimant may be referred for an assessment and/or a decision made. We will keep in touch with our claimants about the progress of their claim, they do not need to call us unless their needs change.

Mr** has now reached the end of the DWP complaints process. If *** is not happy with our final response, he can complain to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE).

So basically because of the backlog I had lost out of both the affordable AP of the car I needed which is has now increased and the £750 NP. Im partly to blame for not realising the under 12 month rule.

[Author]

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