PIP review - home appointment

I just received 'my home appointment' letter for a visit on 23rd August. However I will be away for a couple of weeks and I am not sure if I should ask for the appointment to be rescheduled. My trip is to a different country for consultation/treatments for my condition as here I've explored everything and outside UK they have other forms of treatments available that can help. I am concerned that if I give a reason for my lack of availability, trip/seeking medical help elsewhere etc it may have a negative effect on my PIP decision. Has anyone had similar situation and did it affect the PIP review decision?

Thank you, Jo

Hi Jo and Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

You are allowed to reschedule your assessment once and do not have to give a reason (however, depending on how long you are going to be out of the country, you might be obliged to notify DWP anyway). A second postponement would likely see your records returned to DWP and your case closed, so you should ensure you have your diary handy and can re-book a suitable appointment when you ring to cancel.


May I suggest that you bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future? This will allow you to return with further questions or comments about your PIP without having to start a new topic each time. We ask members to keep everything relating to the same claim in one topic as it helps us enormously - and I hope you will find it useful too

hello Mr Hurtyback:)

Thank you for your advice. I forgot to mention that initially, in early August, I received a letter to attend f2f in the centre that is far away from where I live - the whole trip would take min five hours, the trip one way is about two hours. I called to let them know that it is too far to travel with my condition and also that I was recovering from a surgery I had in early July and my doctor advised against any trips for 6 weeks. I was told they will arrange a home visit then. I did not mentioned my trip later this month to them as I thought I would be back by the time they confirm day and time for the home visit. So if we considered the f2f arranged for early August in the centre and the home visit for 23rd, this would count as my second reschedule if I were to let them know that I will be away for my home visit. Having said that in the letter that I received re home visit it says that I should let them know if I will not be at home for home appointment so they can see if they can offer me another time and date. They further say in their letter that it is important that I don't miss my appointment because they are only allowed to rearrange it once. These two pieces of advice given in the letter seem to be contradicting. I am inclined to cancel my trip/consultation and treatment that I already booked etc as I am worried that if I call and let them know I can't make the home visit they will end my claim. And since my condition got far worse over the year with no real prospects for improvement in the near future I feel I cannot afford to have my claim ended.

Any advice and/or thoughts on how to best proceed?

many thanks

Jo

hello Gordon,

Thank you for this. I can prove the first appointment exceeded 90 min travel rule but I do worry that despite the proof and the fact that I wish to postpone home visit due to prior medical arrangements /trip their decision will be unfavourable anyway.

Is there anything else that can be done?
Thank you very much

Jo