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Video assessment became telephone assessment

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1 year 1 month ago #283482 by Yorkiegal73
Just as I was entering the waiting room for my video assessment she called me instead, which totally threw me. I'd set up my phone to audio record the video but it didn't work for an incoming phone call so I have no copy.
The assessor was an rgn with no mental health training.
I have a complex mental health disorder including personality disorder. She will have had no understanding of how that can make me appear. I tend to want to please authority figures and will have seemed very chatty on the phone, not depressed and anxious. She also couldn't see the pain I was in due to my long covid.

Do I have any right to complain that the nature of the assessment was changed?
I rang the pip line and they are sending me the assessor report.
If there are mistakes in it should I wait until mandatory reconsideration or can I let them know before they make their decision?

I know there are lots of things I forgot to tell her. She made me feel rushed and kept trying to put words in my mouth.

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1 year 1 month ago #283514 by BIS
Hi Yorkiegal73

You can complain anytime you want about the change in video assessment, but you might want to wait until the whole process is over. I can understand your disappointment that you were unable to record.

With PIP, it is assumed that all assessors have passed the requisite training and can assess anyone for PIP. Many of course would disagree with this, but I think most claimants find their assessor doesn't have much or any experience of their particular medical conditions and difficulties. It's one of the very unsatisfactory aspects of the process. It doesn't help you, but many people have complained assessors have said they were not in pain when they were sat in front of the assessor crying!

If when you get the report, you're not happy with it, you have a very small window to write to the Decision Maker challenging it. It will be the same address as on your PIP letter from the DWP. Only go for things that will potentially award you extra points. Don't focus on things like spelling mistakes (as irritating as they can be). You also say that you reserve the right to put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration after receiving the decision letter. Anyway, I hope it won't come to that.

BIS

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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