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PIP Telephone Assessment Worries
- jamesredbox
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11 months 4 weeks ago #285027 by jamesredbox
PIP Telephone Assessment Worries was created by jamesredbox
I completed the form to update my PIP back in January of this year, which was last awarded in 2017. Now I have been given a telephone appointment regarding PIP and I'm generally worried.
At the start of 2017 I had an in-person interview/ assessment and my main worry is just that a telephone interview cannot be as reliable. I was awarded PIP high rate for care and low for mobility. I have some fear that I'm going to get a phone questionnaire from someone who is just not qualified or insightful enough.
Can you give me any reassurance and general tips please?
At the start of 2017 I had an in-person interview/ assessment and my main worry is just that a telephone interview cannot be as reliable. I was awarded PIP high rate for care and low for mobility. I have some fear that I'm going to get a phone questionnaire from someone who is just not qualified or insightful enough.
Can you give me any reassurance and general tips please?
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- BIS
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11 months 4 weeks ago #285038 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP Telephone Assessment Worries
Hi jamesredbox
Many of the assessors who conducted face-to-face assessments are the same ones who now do telephone assessments. The assessors have to be qualified to carry out these assessments. Unfortunately, the fact is, that whatever the qualifications of the person conducting the assessment, and whether they see you face to face or speak over the phone, there is always a risk that they may not consider your disabilities and the impact in the way you do. It comes down to personal choice. Plenty of people are relieved that they don't have to see an assessor face to face, and plenty of people like you think it may put you at a disadvantage. I believe that a lot of it comes down to luck and the particular assessor a claimant has, and that, unfortunately is something you have no control over.
If you would prefer a face-to-face assessment, you can always contact the assessment services and ask them to change the type. Not many face-to-face assessments are being done, but certainly, one of our members felt as you did and had theirs changed from a telephone to a face-to-face assessment recently.
If you go ahead with the telephone assessment, they cannot observe you, and it is possible that they miss things that you think they should observe.
If you want to know the sort of questions they are going to ask, you should look at the Guide to PIP claims and Reviews. The information you require is from page 128.
BIS
Many of the assessors who conducted face-to-face assessments are the same ones who now do telephone assessments. The assessors have to be qualified to carry out these assessments. Unfortunately, the fact is, that whatever the qualifications of the person conducting the assessment, and whether they see you face to face or speak over the phone, there is always a risk that they may not consider your disabilities and the impact in the way you do. It comes down to personal choice. Plenty of people are relieved that they don't have to see an assessor face to face, and plenty of people like you think it may put you at a disadvantage. I believe that a lot of it comes down to luck and the particular assessor a claimant has, and that, unfortunately is something you have no control over.
If you would prefer a face-to-face assessment, you can always contact the assessment services and ask them to change the type. Not many face-to-face assessments are being done, but certainly, one of our members felt as you did and had theirs changed from a telephone to a face-to-face assessment recently.
If you go ahead with the telephone assessment, they cannot observe you, and it is possible that they miss things that you think they should observe.
If you want to know the sort of questions they are going to ask, you should look at the Guide to PIP claims and Reviews. The information you require is from page 128.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Chocolady
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11 months 4 weeks ago #285053 by Chocolady
Replied by Chocolady on topic PIP Telephone Assessment Worries
I felt very much like you. My assessment was a weird experience but ultimately had a good outcome. If anything I had to correct the assessor many times as she seemed to want to over blow my conditions and almost make them worse (dont know if this was an attempt to catch me out or something weird you never know with dwp). I had no idea of the outcome from that experience. I would just say give it your best shot, make some notes, read what BIS says and dont panic. Dont try and say you can do stuff you cant and provide as much info as you can which Im sure you have already.
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- jamesredbox
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11 months 3 weeks ago #285143 by jamesredbox
Replied by jamesredbox on topic PIP Telephone Assessment Worries
The telephone assessment part of the PIP guide is from page 108 right - just to be clear.
Whilst i appreciate that every assessor is an individual, I do think that its imperative to encourage people in this forum that your guides really do help and work successfully. I can vouch for myself that they do going on my previous claim when I used your guide to write my claim form. That time I had an in-person assessment but I think its also important to point out that if we properly prepare for our phone assessment, the odds are in our favour. Yes, the assessors can overlook or simply make mistakes but if we have an up-to-date sheet or two of points to make clear to them its definitely going to work in our favour. Its our job to make them understand - if we just remain quiet too much then its not going to help.
So my own view on this is to prepare notes of how your condition affects you now and how it might have changed since a year ago (I am using a year as a guide as I sent my form back nearly a year ago)...
I really think its very important to be positive and highlight how we have it in our power to give the assessor a full and even expanded view of how our mental health (or physical) condition affects us, in detail, over the phone. It is possible if you have patience and prepare some effective notes - which of course your guide is a HUGE help with.
Best wishes for now!
Whilst i appreciate that every assessor is an individual, I do think that its imperative to encourage people in this forum that your guides really do help and work successfully. I can vouch for myself that they do going on my previous claim when I used your guide to write my claim form. That time I had an in-person assessment but I think its also important to point out that if we properly prepare for our phone assessment, the odds are in our favour. Yes, the assessors can overlook or simply make mistakes but if we have an up-to-date sheet or two of points to make clear to them its definitely going to work in our favour. Its our job to make them understand - if we just remain quiet too much then its not going to help.
So my own view on this is to prepare notes of how your condition affects you now and how it might have changed since a year ago (I am using a year as a guide as I sent my form back nearly a year ago)...
I really think its very important to be positive and highlight how we have it in our power to give the assessor a full and even expanded view of how our mental health (or physical) condition affects us, in detail, over the phone. It is possible if you have patience and prepare some effective notes - which of course your guide is a HUGE help with.
Best wishes for now!
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