10/02/2026
i there
I would like to say a huge thank you to Melanie for assisting me in applying to the DWP for a PIP reassessment, due to a change of circumstances.
I attended your drop-in clinic in early March last year for advice on how to go about this. Having been awarded standard rates of PIP in 2015, for an ongoing period, I had been informed that I would probably be due for reassessment in 2025. Approximately 2-3 years ago my health deteriorated a lot, especially my mobility, and I have had to have more and more help as time has passed. I knew that I needed to let DWP know, but I was too nervous to do it. I heard about Fightback4Justice through social media and decided to contact you for advice. I hadn't been contacted by DWP for a mandatory reassessment up until then, but decided that enough was enough, and I needed to request a reassessment myself.
On arriving at your offices, I was greeted by Melanie, who made me feel so welcome and explained all about Fightback and the services you offer. We had a long chat about my illnesses and disability and she said I should definitely apply for a reassessment and she was sure that I would be awarded enhanced levels of PIP, because of how much my health had deteriorated. I came away feeling so much better about it all and contacted DWP to request the forms, having agreed with Melanie that I would like to use your form completion service and, with Melanie's help, take a lot of stress away from the application.
On 6th June 2025, I had received the forms, so I attended an appointment with Melanie, and we worked our way through the forms at my own pace. Melanie was amazing and knew exactly how to word every answer in order to explain exactly how and why my disabilities affected my everyday life in a way that I would never have been able to explain or even thought of. Once the forms were completed, I was given a copy for my own use and a copy to send to DWP, along with a list of other information that needed to be enclosed.
I told Melanie how much i appreciated what she had done for me and came away feeling like an enormous weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
I sent the forms off to DWP on 16th June, and received a text a couple of days later to say they had arrived.
In early November, I was curious as I hadn't heard anything more from DWP, so I decided to ring them to see if there was any news on my case. After 4 lengthy phone calls, speaking to different people who were so unhelpful, on the 5th attempt I was finally informed that "the forms were with the DWP assessors, and I should hear from them shortly."
A month later I still hadn't heard anything so I rang again. This time the guy I spoke to was very apologetic and gave me the telephone number for the company that were going to carry out my assessment. On contacting them, I was informed by a lovely lady that "they had not received my forms, and told me to ring DWP back and complain, as it was obvious that the forms were still in their system." I did this and within a few hours I received a text from the company of assessors to say they had finally received the forms and would be in touch shortly.
I was then contacted to say a telephone assessment would take place on 20th January. The telephone assessment was over an hour long and somewhat stressful, but I felt that I had given all the correct information and thought to myself "If they don't award me the enhanced levels after all this, I will be in touch with Melanie and Fightback again, to help me fight their decision."
I received a text later in the day to say DWP had received the assessors report and I asked them to send me a copy.
On Monday 2nd February I rang DWP to ask if a decision had been made. The first guy I spoke to was saying that a decision hadn't yet been made, but I insisted that, as this had been going on for almost 8 months, I wished to speak to my case worker. He said "She won't tell you anything different" but I insisted, and he put me through to her.
She informed me that a decision HAD been made. I had been awarded Enhanced levels on both Daily Living and Mobility components for an indefinite period, which she said is usually for at least 10 years, then there would just be a soft review.
I cannot believe that I got so stressed about applying for a reassessment and would urge anyone who is genuinely suffering with their disability and definitely needs help, to firstly contact Fightback4Justice and then contact DWP to start the application process.
I would like to thank everyone at Fightback for all you do to help people like myself, who would be totally lost in the process of dealing with benefits claims etc, and the anxiety that comes with it. You really are an amazing team and are very much appreciated.
Finally, to Melanie, I award you FIVE GOLD STARS 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟! I am sooooo grateful for everything you have done to make this process go so smoothly. Your empathy, professionalism, encouragement and the way you go above and beyond for your clients is first class and I can't thank you enough for everything you've done to help me in the past few months. I will definitely be in touch in the future if I need help with anything and will certainly be recommending yourself and Fightback to anyone needing help and advice who are stressing about benefit claims.
Keep up the excellent work.
Warm regards and many thanks again
