PIP phone assesment

Hi all,

Just looking for a few tips/advice and making sure theres nothing I've not thought of as I am getting a bit panicked

So, background: I applied for PIP back in march (on basis of autism, ADHD, MH issues, nd potential sensory processing disorde but still on a waiting list for that), I've been sending in what I could evidence wise but as I have been in and out of treatment, passed beween services, and on waiting lists what I've been able to send has been a bit "bitty". I was under the IAPT when I applied for PIP, then I was referred to the early intervention team, who in turn refered me to CMHT. I got a CMHT care corodinator and started on the 6 week formulation assment with her, then she changed jobs so I got a new CC who then quit, and then I had to wairt 2 months to get a new one who I started seeing last week... so the usualy 6 week process to the forumlation meeting has taken like 3 months for me... the meeting is going to be mid septemeber, so until then I don't have a full team or know what treatment I will be having or even knowledge of things like diagnosis... I've also been waiting for a psych med review for 3 months so am still on the ones precrbed by my GP which don't work
Also the CAB did my form for me over the phone and I don't have a copy as they sent it in as well

I'm, not moaning btw, I get that they are short staffed and underfunded, I'm just trying to give some back ground to explain why I am concerned

Anyway... yesterday I got a text saying my PIP phone assesment will be at 9am on the 1st of September. And to put it simply, I am panicking

I've gone through the guides, and i've started to make notes. I asked for it to be recorder on a letter back in April, but not sure if it will be as they haven't said anything other than a time/date. I have also just realised that my phone doesn't have a speaker phone option...

So my current thinking is if I get a list of the descripters and make bullet points after each one to make sure I mention the right points, and to look through the evidence I sent so I know vaugely what they are expecting... but i am worried about the fact that I not only dont have a copy of the form, but i never even saw it after it was filled out... I am terrified of saying something that contradicts things, esspecially as in the last 6 months a lot has changed.

Oh and also I can't find anyone to be with me for the call...

basically despite having since March I feel vastly under prepared for this... so if anyone can give me any tips or advice or even just an idea of what happens/is asked during he assesment thart would be great. I am getting so wroriied that I am in danger of either losing the ability to focus on it at all or slipping into hyperfication, neither of which is great....

TLDR: I think i have totally messed up my assesment prep, I dont have a copy of my form, noone to do the call with me, no speaker phone option, and I am freaking out. Things have changed since I applied, and I don't know what my treatment will be until after the assesment because of waiting lists and staff changes.
Any tips or advice would be great.

thanks, I've looked at the guide but I think my brain is struggling to take in the information at the moment. I will look again though


I have heard rumours that they are doing video calls with some people, do you know if this is true? Just wondering as I would find that far easier, it's not officially diagnosed as yet (waiting lists are several years) but it's likely that I have an auditory processing disorder, due to this I find it very hard to understand people when I can't see their mouth... on top of this I have auditory hallusinations which tend to get distracting, or even distressing, during phonecalls.
I explained this in a letter that I sent several months ago but as I've not had the sensory assesment yet I don't have a whole lot of evidence for that... and as still wating on the CMHT to have their meeting I am low on evidence on that front too. So I guess they just defaulted to a phonecall regardless. Wondering if it's worth my writing to them again while I still have time for it to get there, obviously a phonecall would be better but as I say I kind of struggle with them...

Dear Hazel, being married to a person with Asperger's and possibly similar myself, I recognise several things in your post. The best tip I have ever read for anyone dealing with people "on the spectrum" is, 'Remember, predictability = stability'. So, you are disturbed because this call is unpredictable. However it is obvious to me from your post that you are intelligent and literate whatever your differences and challenges.
I feel that a good way to deal with this is 2 things:
1] call them now to confirm/restate that you have asked for a recording.
2] When the call comes, stay in control as far as possible, this way there is less unpredictability to send you into a panic. Insist [if necessary] the assessor listens while you explain that you never saw the form, that you will answer their questions as best you can, but if there is any discrepancy they must go by your answers now and not what is on the form as you were not given sight of it.
Lastly, again evident from your post and my knowledge of neurodiverse family & friends. You/we tend to give lengthy answers because we want to get it right, we want to give max accurate detail, and we are not good at judging how-much answer is too-much answer for the person asking. So you may possibly find that the assessor does a lot of trying to cut you short or seeming/being impatient. [Because they are essentially on piece rate and clock watching because they have got other clients' appointments to follow] If this happens, again try to keep control. Break off from the answer they were cutting off, and explain to them that it is part of your condition to be longwinded, and that they will make you distressed if they keep hurrying you. With it being recorded, if they carry on rushing and do not get all your answers properly, you will have the evidence to deal with this at the next stage.
48 hours after the call phone for a copy of the PA4 assessment report, or immediately if you get a text sooner to say DWP have received it. Be prepared then to write in ASAP if it does not fully do you justice. [That is pre-decision and not an MR]
Best wishes,
Denby

Thanks both for your replies. I found the assesments secion in the guides and I have written out bullet points for each of the questions mentioned and also for each descriptor. Feeling a bit more prepared now.

You are corect Denby, I am not great at being concise and I am also often unable to continue with a task/answer if I am interupted so that is something I am concerned about. My plan is to point this out as early as I can in the hope that it will prevent issues, but we will see.

I sent in some last minute evidence today and in there I had a letter restating my request for the assesment to be recorder, but I am going to try to call them tomorrow as well to be on the safe side. I can usually manage one phonecall a week without panicing so hopefully I can get it done, as long as I am not on hold for too long as that gives my brain time to start overthinking and panicing.

If I am honest I am fully expecting to have to go to appeal. But I am still going to do my best to get things across to them and you never know I might be lucky with the assesor/decision maker