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Face-to-face assessments and appointees
- Wendy Woo
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1 day 20 hours ago #306929 by Wendy Woo
Face-to-face assessments and appointees was created by Wendy Woo
Hello again,
Thank you so much, BIS, for answering my query about appointees and telephone assessments last week and I agree with everything you say – I felt this was the way it should work all along. Now I’m afraid I have another query – I hope you can bear with me (I may be over-thinking this).
Does anyone know how this should work with face-to-face assessments? My son’s first assessment for PIP (on transfer from DLA) was face-to-face as that was the way they were being done then, and the assessment company (IAS) insisted he must be present, so I assumed he must be present for his second assessment too, although this was a telephone assessment. (Neither went well.)
His next assessment is not due until 2028/29, by which time the whole system may well have changed anyway, but the government did say they would be returning to face-to-face assessments, so I wonder what this would mean for appointees?
I’ve found a couple of recent posts on the forum in which David quotes from the WCA handbook which states that, while appointees must be present or the assessment cannot go ahead, the interview should predominantly be between the HCP and the claimant where possible. This indicates that the assessment company was right and that the claimant must be present. But is it the same for PIP?
I know I’m getting ahead of myself, especially as his next assessment is so far off, but I’m also worried it may not be me who is responsible for his care by then, so I’m trying to document anything I can that may be useful to anybody else (probably his brother) who is trying to help him.
I’ve been advised to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney, but I’ve also been told the DWP don’t recognise them, so you need to be an appointee too.
I would be grateful for any information or to hear anybody else’s experience of this.
Best wishes,
Wendy
Thank you so much, BIS, for answering my query about appointees and telephone assessments last week and I agree with everything you say – I felt this was the way it should work all along. Now I’m afraid I have another query – I hope you can bear with me (I may be over-thinking this).
Does anyone know how this should work with face-to-face assessments? My son’s first assessment for PIP (on transfer from DLA) was face-to-face as that was the way they were being done then, and the assessment company (IAS) insisted he must be present, so I assumed he must be present for his second assessment too, although this was a telephone assessment. (Neither went well.)
His next assessment is not due until 2028/29, by which time the whole system may well have changed anyway, but the government did say they would be returning to face-to-face assessments, so I wonder what this would mean for appointees?
I’ve found a couple of recent posts on the forum in which David quotes from the WCA handbook which states that, while appointees must be present or the assessment cannot go ahead, the interview should predominantly be between the HCP and the claimant where possible. This indicates that the assessment company was right and that the claimant must be present. But is it the same for PIP?
I know I’m getting ahead of myself, especially as his next assessment is so far off, but I’m also worried it may not be me who is responsible for his care by then, so I’m trying to document anything I can that may be useful to anybody else (probably his brother) who is trying to help him.
I’ve been advised to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney, but I’ve also been told the DWP don’t recognise them, so you need to be an appointee too.
I would be grateful for any information or to hear anybody else’s experience of this.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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- BIS
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11 hours 29 minutes ago #307023 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Face-to-face assessments and appointees
Hi Wendy Woo
I normally would tell people not to worry so far ahead, but I understand why you're trying to think these things through and bee prepared for when his brother may have to take over the appointee role.
Face-to-face interviews. The government wants to introduce more of these in the future, but whether they will have the staff to undertake them is anyone's guess. Remember - even if they are introduced, a claimant (or appointee) can make a request for the assessment type to be changed.
The WCA handbook says the interview should predominantly be between the HCP and the claimant, where possible. As an appointee, I would never agree to expose the claimant to the assessment without a fight. (whichever benefit it's for). If someone questioned it -I would say that it was not possible for any number of valid reasons such as 'they cannot give a good account of themselves, it's discriminatory, they will give the answer they think you want etc etc.
Whoever fills in the next PIP form, they should make a request for the DWP to carry out a paper-based assessment. Don't say it's because he can't take part in a telephone assessment - because it wouldn't be him anyway - it would be the appointee. If they come back and say it has to be a telephone assessment, you say that is fine and that his appointee will be carrying it out. If it's a face to face then you tell them the appointee will be attending. Always go back to the appointee paperwork and the fact you have been appointed to represent your son (and that includes assessments). If you give them an inch they will take half a mile. When it comes to it, your other son needs to protect his brother if he has taken over your role. Never underestimate the nature of the DWP to tie up vulnerable people in knots.
A relative of mine was told she had to take her son to a PIP tribunal. She explained she was an appointee and they insisted in case the tribunal chair wanted to speak to him. So she complied, but left her son outside and explained to the panel that he was there but it would be extremely distressing for him to go into a room with four strangers and hear them talking about him. The chair was appalled he was even there and said they didn't need to speak him, and she left having won the Tribunal.
Tell your son to keep the membership here if he has to take over from you - so he can come and ask questions. Hopefully there will always be someone who can help.
BIS
I normally would tell people not to worry so far ahead, but I understand why you're trying to think these things through and bee prepared for when his brother may have to take over the appointee role.
Face-to-face interviews. The government wants to introduce more of these in the future, but whether they will have the staff to undertake them is anyone's guess. Remember - even if they are introduced, a claimant (or appointee) can make a request for the assessment type to be changed.
The WCA handbook says the interview should predominantly be between the HCP and the claimant, where possible. As an appointee, I would never agree to expose the claimant to the assessment without a fight. (whichever benefit it's for). If someone questioned it -I would say that it was not possible for any number of valid reasons such as 'they cannot give a good account of themselves, it's discriminatory, they will give the answer they think you want etc etc.
Whoever fills in the next PIP form, they should make a request for the DWP to carry out a paper-based assessment. Don't say it's because he can't take part in a telephone assessment - because it wouldn't be him anyway - it would be the appointee. If they come back and say it has to be a telephone assessment, you say that is fine and that his appointee will be carrying it out. If it's a face to face then you tell them the appointee will be attending. Always go back to the appointee paperwork and the fact you have been appointed to represent your son (and that includes assessments). If you give them an inch they will take half a mile. When it comes to it, your other son needs to protect his brother if he has taken over your role. Never underestimate the nature of the DWP to tie up vulnerable people in knots.
A relative of mine was told she had to take her son to a PIP tribunal. She explained she was an appointee and they insisted in case the tribunal chair wanted to speak to him. So she complied, but left her son outside and explained to the panel that he was there but it would be extremely distressing for him to go into a room with four strangers and hear them talking about him. The chair was appalled he was even there and said they didn't need to speak him, and she left having won the Tribunal.
Tell your son to keep the membership here if he has to take over from you - so he can come and ask questions. Hopefully there will always be someone who can help.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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