PIP Review - Would I be allowed to use advocacy help if/when DWP call me?

Last appointment with my mental health team, they were agreeing I should have an advocate to support me verbally, for many issues, but also agreed would be important if DWP call me on phone for my PIP review.

But I have had problems getting advocacy for a long time, not even sure when I get one, and if they would be willing to understand my issues then help me for this phone call.

Mental health team have been nice enough to make a note explaining this, but would DWP accept this unclear situation?

Seems if that call happens, it's unplanned in a 7 day time frame - would DWP allow me to plan advocacy help for that phone call if it can take more than 7 days to arrange advocate appointment?

Hi AVMSurvivor

You are allowed to have someone to support you on your call. How much they are allowed to speak for you depends a bit on the assessor you get.

It isn't the DWP you will be dealing with for your assessment - it will be whichever of the assessment services covers the area in which you live. You can always cancel the first appointment and go for one that gives you more time to make your arrangments = but you can only do that once and obviously this is problematic if your advocate can't make the time.

Your other option is to explain the difficulties in finding support and asking them to do a paper-based assessment. They may or may not agree to this.

BIS