I've had PIP for a few years. Originally I didn't get a much as I thought but by the end of the process I was too exhausted to fight an appeal. A year later I knew I would have won that appeal but its a lot to deal with when you're already low on everything.

This time I'm hoping to get more, but I know that's rare on a review, so I'm preparing to fight it.

What's the process?
When you get PIP they give you a rough idea of when it will be reviewed, mine was supposed to be 2025. Now here we are in 2026. They send you a text to say the review is coming. I'm going to change dates here because you know. So say I got the text on 10th Feb to tell me I'll be receiving the form, I then received it on 17th Feb. A week later! The form then says I have until 9th March to return the form to them (they need it by the 9th). So that is 20 days, minus 2 days postage, 18 days. Bearing in mind PIP can be awarded to anyone, those working, disabled, etc etc this 25 page form needs a massive time input

So people with families, jobs, and debilitating conditions all get just over 2 weeks to find a couple of days to complete the form. Realistically if you're going to get anywhere with them you need to get a citizens advice appointment. Here, current wait times are 2 weeks plus for a phone appointment and more for a face to face. You'll also need to contact your therapists for letters, get friends and family to write statements, etc. So drop everything people we're going in.

Worth bearing in mind you can ask for an extension, but you have to go through the PIP helpline of doom to get this. Mine is now extended so I have 4 and a half weeks to work on it. The CAB will also not book an appointment until you physically receive the form as they know it might be weeks after the first text from dwp.

Let's document the time spent on these phone calls (inc time spent on hold):

Initial calls CAB to ask for help and to book appointments 73 minutes.
Call to ask for extension from DWP 20 mins.

Final thoughts for now, because rest is required at this point so I have enough energy to wash my hair.

Let's just remember the DWP don't have to have such tight deadlines, they could give you a 3 month warning text then send it with a 2 month deadline. They clearly don't mind extending it, so why bother with the phone calls and militancy? Control I guess. But these reviews are going to people who are likely long term sick or disabled (you have to declare if your situation changes), it's just abusive in my opinion.