PIP. Home assesment & partner attending

Hello all, apologies if this has been posted already. I tied myself up in IT knots just now.

I'm on higher rate DLA, both care & mobility. I've recently returned my application for PIP. I've recieved a letter from Capita this morning that I'm to have a face to face assesment, they've set the venue at my home, without me specifically requesting this. I ok with this, in fact I feel it's a good sign. And I'm more than happy I don't have to travel to & negotiate a differerent venue, who knows where. I'm in rural Wales.

My other half however is a bit spun out by it, she gets much more anxious over these type of things than me. Does she need to sit in on the interview, or can she just hover? She's so worried that she may say the wrong thing, she'll work herself up into a high state of anxiety over the next 2 weeks (to the day).

But if we know that it'll be much better if she does sit in it'll give us time to work out the best strategy to help her cope.

Any suggestions will be gratefully recieved.

Hi Couchie

I think the best way to deal with is to treat the assessment as though the assessor is an expected visitor to your home (even if not a very welcome one!)

Your wife doesn't have to sit in with you, although it is better if you have someone with you to confirm (or otherwise) that the assessor has understood your needs and is not misinterpreting what he/she is being told. If your wife can see herself in this role, it might make it little bit easier for her to cope with. Your wife will also be able to take responsibility for you, in that she will be able to see if you are getting tired, or need a break.

Really she will not have to say anything, since it is you who is being assessed; she is there to make sure you are ok - nothing more, so please ask her not to worry. She is there to look after you - something she does on a daily basis.

Perhaps other mods will have a different approach; you know what will work best for you both. I hope it isn't anything like as bad as you expect!! Good luck

Shelam

Thank you, so she won't be asked anything direct? I was wondering how the would handle any examination. Will I be expected to lay down to be examined & the like, being at home kinda limits what I can do in 1 room. I'll be goodif she's around to keep an eye on me. I think she's just worried about going over the top with the careing thing.

Hello again.

Just a quick update.

Assesment over, she has just left the building. The assesor was very pleasent, a cross between buisness like & informal. After the intro's & refusing the offer of a beverage she showed me her id & copied down mine. Then got straight down to the job in hand. Although she went through all the descriptors that were in the application they weren't in the same order. In fact it was more like a conversation based around my disabilities.

But, as it says in your pip advice, I was very carefull to mention the "buts" along the way. So say like, I can sometimes put my socks on but only after a bit of a struggle & rolling around on the bed a lot, & only after a reasonable nights sleep without to much pain.

My partner sat in on the assesment & we have to say, we're glad she did. She added to the process & mentioned a few things from her perspective I wouldn't have thought of.

As far as any physical check, she got me to attempt some head & arm movement, realised I couldn't stand without any support & decided to go no further. She made a point of saying to me that she wrote I couldn't go any further & not wouldn't. A big difference.

As long as her report is along the same vein as the face to face, I am happy that it went as well as it could. So now just to wait & see.

Thank you so much for your input so far. Both to the advice contained on this site & also to the forum.

I will let you all know any news as soon as I recieve it.

Thanks again,
Chris.

couchie wrote: Hello again.

Just a quick update.

Assesment over, she has just left the building. The assesor was very pleasent, a cross between buisness like & informal. After the intro's & refusing the offer of a beverage she showed me her id & copied down mine. Then got straight down to the job in hand. Although she went through all the descriptors that were in the application they weren't in the same order. In fact it was more like a conversation based around my disabilities.

But, as it says in your pip advice, I was very carefull to mention the "buts" along the way. So say like, I can sometimes put my socks on but only after a bit of a struggle & rolling around on the bed a lot, & only after a reasonable nights sleep without to much pain.

My partner sat in on the assesment & we have to say, we're glad she did. She added to the process & mentioned a few things from her perspective I wouldn't have thought of.

As far as any physical check, she got me to attempt some head & arm movement, realised I couldn't stand without any support & decided to go no further. She made a point of saying to me that she wrote I couldn't go any further & not wouldn't. A big difference.

As long as her report is along the same vein as the face to face, I am happy that it went as well as it could. So now just to wait & see.

Thank you so much for your input so far. Both to the advice contained on this site & also to the forum.

I will let you all know any news as soon as I recieve it.

Thanks again,
Chris.

Hi C,

Thanks for taking the time to post this and for your kind words !!

You could give it a week or so, then ring the PIP Helpline for an update.

PIP helpline :
Telephone: 0345 850 3322
Textphone: 0345 601 6677
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Whilst on the phone, you could request copy of your PA 4 Medical Report compiled by the Assessor at your F2F.

Some members have managed to obtain it before receiving a decision, some have had to wait until after.

Wishing you a positive outcome !!

You should Bookmark/Favourite this page in your Internet Browser now. That way you can return to this topic easily to pose any further queries that you may have by replying to the topic.

See : This Topic also !

Thanks in anticipation of your future co-operation in keeping all your PIP related queries to this topic !

bro58