New PIP Claim

Just to let you know that my sister has now been sent an appointment for an assessment. The last time she was automatically given ESA for three years in the support group and her condition is worse now but obviously she is worried with all the things you read about these assessments.

It is local but on the 1st Floor - she cannot use stairs and is claustrophobic so will not go in a lift - not sure what we do about that.

Can we ask for the assessment to be recorded?

Hi Beechesgirl,

You can contact the assessment provider to point out that your sister cannot access the usual interview rooms. Might it be possible to use a ground-floor room?

You should request recording of the interview while you are on the phone but also get a letter in the post as quickly as you can as this has to be arranged in advance.

I phoned the appointments helpline for my sister....they have changed the appointment to another centre a week later with ground floor access but it is much further away from her home....apparently the nearest though! Asked for the assessment to be recorded...they said that wasn't a problem so hopefully will now get this sorted.

I will do that for her thanks Gordon.

Today she received the details of her face-to-face for PIP Claim. It is with Atos and they are coming to her home, which is much better for her. Don't understand why one can do it but the other can't? The only down side to that is that the second assessment is just two days after the first...that is going to be hard for her but at least they will both be over.

Will let everyone know how she gets on.

A quick update - my sister had her f2f home assessment for PIP yesterday with Atos. Really nice lady - asked mostly about health problems, medication and what she can and cannot do. A short physical exam at the end just asking her to do a number of things but made clear that she wasn't to attempt them if it would cause pain or distress. Apart from the physical exam she was asking questions from a laptop and typing answers into it. Didn't ask to see doctors letters, meds or anything like that - she said she already had the info from the questionnaire.

My sister is relieved that at least that part is over - her ESA f2f was postponed by them until the end of November - possibly because she asked for it to be recorded?

How long is the wait to hear the result of the PIP assessment? We are thinking a couple of months?