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assessors telephone attitude
- wilton
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4 years 8 months ago #250390 by wilton
assessors telephone attitude was created by wilton
A colleague had her pip assessment this week and found it extremely upsetting.The assessor introduced herself as the person who will carry out the assessment and was doing it from home as she is on lock down.She then went on to inform my colleague she would be assessed on the questions asked today and she was unaware of her conditions as she had not seen her pip claim forms.My colleague asked if this was normal and was instructed it is what it is.After answering various questions my colleague informed the assessor that she had been hospitalised the previous week suffering 4 cracked ribs and whiplash after a fall on the stairs caused by one of her original conditions which is deterioration of eyesight.She was informed this did not matter as its not on her original claim.She was then asked to describe the swellings on her hands due to rheumatoid arthritis so was informed that photographic evidence had been sent in with pip forms.The assessor informed my colleague that is a waist of time photographic evidence is worthless as it only comes out in black and white so she had to describe what her hands look like.She then missed out any questions on planning and following a journey which were on original pip claim forms.There were numerous other things not asked but my colleague just wanted to request why but was told they would go back to them but never did.Are any of the assessors statements about not seeing original pip forms,photographic evidence being worthless and recent accident not evident normal.
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- Gordon
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4 years 8 months ago #250391 by Gordon
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Replied by Gordon on topic assessors telephone attitude
Ginger
There is some truth to what the assessor has said.
First, PIP assessors and Decision Makers can only consider limitations that the claimant has suffered for at least three months so the injuries from her recent fall would not be something that could be considered but the condition that caused the accident might be another matter depending, for example, on how recently their eyesight has deteriorated, that said, this should have been something documented on their claim form.
All forms and evidence are scanned when received by the DWP, it is possible that the scanning is done in black and white and this may mean that the information on photographs is not as clear as it might be in colour.
Lastly, the form, there is no reason why the assessor should not have access to the claimant's form and attached evidence, it is part of the information "passed" to the Assessment Provider by the DWP.
Gordon
There is some truth to what the assessor has said.
First, PIP assessors and Decision Makers can only consider limitations that the claimant has suffered for at least three months so the injuries from her recent fall would not be something that could be considered but the condition that caused the accident might be another matter depending, for example, on how recently their eyesight has deteriorated, that said, this should have been something documented on their claim form.
All forms and evidence are scanned when received by the DWP, it is possible that the scanning is done in black and white and this may mean that the information on photographs is not as clear as it might be in colour.
Lastly, the form, there is no reason why the assessor should not have access to the claimant's form and attached evidence, it is part of the information "passed" to the Assessment Provider by the DWP.
Gordon
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- wilton
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4 years 8 months ago #250398 by wilton
Replied by wilton on topic assessors telephone attitude
Thanks Gordon the conditions which led to my colleagues recent accident were explained on the original claim form so was an existing condition that caused the accident but the assessor did say she did not have access to the original claim forms which seems strange to me also.I understand the photographic situation but not the fact that no questions were asked regarding planning and following a journey which were evident on the original pip claim form.It seems to me the assessor did not have the original pip form to look at as she stated at the beginning of the assessment but do not know why.Would any of this be of any help if needing to go to appeal
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4 years 8 months ago #250403 by BIS
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Replied by BIS on topic assessors telephone attitude
Hi Ginger
I have known assessors not to ask certain questions because they think they already have sufficient evidence. However, in your colleague's case, that is hard to argue if the assessor did not have access to the claim form. It's relevant information for an appeal if necessary, but there would be an MR before any appeal and I'd be tempted to make a complaint if when the decision comes through you colleagues has been disadvantaged in any way.
BIS
I have known assessors not to ask certain questions because they think they already have sufficient evidence. However, in your colleague's case, that is hard to argue if the assessor did not have access to the claim form. It's relevant information for an appeal if necessary, but there would be an MR before any appeal and I'd be tempted to make a complaint if when the decision comes through you colleagues has been disadvantaged in any way.
BIS
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