A benefit claimant has shared how they received life-changing news after being on hold with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for ten minutes.

The person stated that they first started getting a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) back in 2020.

The cash is designed to help people who struggle with day-to-day tasks due to health issues.

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In a post on Reddit, they added that their PIP was automatically extended during the coronavirus pandemic that year and was then assessed in 2023.

However, during this process, they were told that they no longer qualified for PIP even after going through mandatory reconsideration.

They then waited 21 months for a tribunal, which was held this week via a phone call which lasted around 45 minutes.

After a tense 10-minute wait on hold, they were told that they had been awarded an enhanced daily amount from February 2023 and standard mobility from March 2024.

For the 2025/26 tax year, the enhanced weekly rates for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are £110.40 for the daily living component and £77.05 for the mobility component.

This will last for six years and they do not need to be assessed for another three. The Reddit user described it as a ‘ Christmas miracle.’

They said: “I started receiving PIP in 2020, which got automatically extended due to covid. I had a reassessment that started in Feb 2023 which ultimately resulted in my award of 11 daily living points being revoked.

“I went through a mandatory reconsideration and still got 0. Today, after 21 months, I had my tribunal. It was via phone call and lasted about 45 minutes.

“During the phone call they basically went over the criteria which I did score points for before, and what my current situation is. They deliberated for about 10 minutes while I was on hold, and they then told me they have awarded me enhanced daily from Feb 2023 and standard mobility from March 2024.

“My award is a 6 year award, meaning I won’t have another reassessment for 3 years. I’m so relieved, this has been eating me up for almost 2 years. Thank you so much to everyone in this sub, whose posts and advice I’ve been reading every week. Christmas miracles do happen!”

In response, one person said: “Brilliant news . That’s a big weight off your shoulders.”

Another added: “I’m so happy for you. I can’t imagine how hard that has been on you, especially considering the amount of time it has dragged on for. Well done for persevering!”