PIP assessment by phone - what to expect?

[itsgettingwierd]

So ds is transferring from DLA to pip as 16 now.

I'm his appointee and this was agreed when he was turning 16 and he's requested it for PIP too.

Phone assessment is tomorrow and I've been told to allow an hour.

What will they ask?

Obviously the form is pages and pages long and I sent 89 pages of supporting documents! So I'm wondering what else they want to know?

[bizzey]

Also ...if you dont mind me asking ..
Can you remember how long it took from sending your application to getting the phone assessment?
I sent ds's form off 10 weeks ago .
Still not heard anything.
Thanks

[bizzey]

@itsgettingwierd..hi op ..just wondering if you have heard anything yet ?

[mineofuselessinformation]

OP fingers crossed 🤞 for you that what you saw is what you'll get - in that the assessor was knowledgeable enough to understand and report accordingly.

[Chewingle]

Lengthy
Dull

But completely all above board, kind, polite and respectful.
No issue here whatsoever.

[itsgettingwierd]

6-8 weeks he said.

But I know people who've waited 3 and others who have waited 10.

So I'll just wait.

Parsley I've done DLA forms so many times I didn't feel unconfident in being able to answer. It is what it is and he can do what he can do (or can't!) it was more I'd heard so many horror stories of the face to face assessments I was worried it would feel adversarial or I'd feel attacked but the guy was lovely.

[bizzey]

Just catching up .
Glad it went well and assessor understood
HSP .So many professionals don't.
You must be exhausted!

Fingers crossed for a good out come .
Did they give you an idea when you will hear ?

[Parsley1234]

I work for DWP I tell all my claimants who apply for PIP to go through CAB who have dedicated trained professionals who will ensure correct replies to each question

[itsgettingwierd]

[quote MothralovesGojira]@itsgettingwierd
That does sound really positive and I'm glad that you've been allocated a knowledgeable assessor - our one never stated her qualifications and was extremely surprised to find out that without insulin a type 1 diabetic dies (I kid you not!). Hopefully, your son will get a good decision and I wish you luck.[/quote]
That's scary it's bordering on negligence to have people assessing who have no actual clue.

I'm not sure if I was lucky to get someone who actually gets his condition or it was design. But at least it's someone who knows the ins and outs physically!

[MothralovesGojira]

@itsgettingwierd
That does sound really positive and I'm glad that you've been allocated a knowledgeable assessor - our one never stated her qualifications and was extremely surprised to find out that without insulin a type 1 diabetic dies (I kid you not!). Hopefully, your son will get a good decision and I wish you luck.

[MadeForThis]

It sounds positive. Hope all goes well.

[EventuallyDeleted]

That all sounds very positive. Ours was nice too, the assessor mentioned that one of her children had one of the same conditions as mine. Her report was fair and accurate too, I hope yours is.

[itsgettingwierd]

Will add he was lovely. Didn't fire questions at me. Asked me about things slowly and clearly.

Ds didn't speak except to say hello so quietly he couldn't hear him, to tell him he swims and when he asked if he was walking the only route he goes alone (to college which is end of our road!) what would happen if "you met a roadblock, couldn't get past or had to go a different route etc" and before he'd finished Ds blurted out in a panicked rush "I'd go back home or college wherever I'd come from" 🤣

Other times ds nodded and I had to tell him he's nodding.

Even the questions where they try and 'catch you out' as people have explained it to me he asked very simply. Eg can he manage maths and budgeting and I was able to explain he can do sums but explain the severe problems with executive functioning etc and planning. His ehcp is so specific (thanks to covid I actually practically wrote his change from school to college one as they needed it done so quickly due to falling behind).

And things like he has a lift pass at college as too tiring to use stairs up to 12 times a day.

I have no idea of the outcomes because obviously the autism side of it he isn't qualified in but the diagnosis itself requires you to struggle with certain things so I doubt you can deny their existence beyond mandatory reconsideration!

[itsgettingwierd]

@bizzey

Wow this thread is invaluable !.
I am going to be in the same position in a few weeks time so am going to get prepared now .

Itsgettingwierd thank you for starting this thread .
I clicked it due to the PIP part ..but the when I saw the HSP I was shocked.
My dad had it (he has passed away now ..not cured) and so does my brother.
It is not something that comes up regularly.
Really hope the assesment goes ok.
Stay strong x

Well my assessor was a physio and actually used HSP (which only those in the know about condition use this abbreviation!) which hopefully helped.

Especially because he knows what I said is the condition and how it affects him.

I forgot to ask about his medical qualifications until the end and it made sense then! When explaining things like physio and lack of range of movement and needing support as he couldn't reach certain body parts to stretch them himself he was saying things like "yes, I understand"

Clearly he actually does and 🤞 that'll help!

[CeefBurry]

Hope all goes well.
In my experience, my pip assessor was absolutely lovely.
I was awarded PIP although it was a lengthy process ( around five
months).

[bizzey]

Wow this thread is invaluable !.
I am going to be in the same position in a few weeks time so am going to get prepared now .

Itsgettingwierd thank you for starting this thread .
I clicked it due to the PIP part ..but the when I saw the HSP I was shocked.
My dad had it (he has passed away now ..not cured) and so does my brother.
It is not something that comes up regularly.
Really hope the assesment goes ok.
Stay strong x

[MothralovesGojira]

Good luck! Hope it goes/went ok

[ChampagneHead]

No experience of this but it sounds like absolute torture! How can this be what you need to do to receive the assistance your son requires?!

Good luck OP. You sound completely prepared.

[2021isgoingtobeasshitas2020]

I agree with other posters..
I had one two years ago and she lied about my consultation.

They also make you fill out the forms and do not take the time to read the notes before consultation. I had to explain EVERYTHING again. She pissed me off so much I felt like asking her to leave.

She said I wasn't anxious when I said I had been up all night worrying about it.

She refused to look me in the eyes even during examination
I would advise, recording the consultation but you have to write and ask permission. I think they are crafty buggers.

[caringcarer]

I also Know an older person who got very upset because she had form in front of her to refer to when answering questions but assessor did not work through form in a sequential order but jumped to and fro on questions. If this happens do not get flustered. Make the assessor wait whilst you find the page with answer given on. If you have access to a printer/ photocopy it might be good to copy the whole form and then you will have all pages in front of you so won't have to shuffle to and fro through form. Highlight key points you want to make. Make it clear to assessor that every day is a bad day for your child and he needs your constant care to live his life.

[EventuallyDeleted]

Just keep saying "this applies at all times".

[itsgettingwierd]

So call in 10 minutes.

Make sure:

Record covertly!
Ask medical qualifications
Ask to clarify questions
Ask them to give me time to answer
Ask for copy of assessors report
Refer to medical documents as evidence

Expect him to be cured by the time the decision comes through

[itsgettingwierd]

Yes I don't actually get what they are getting at with good days.

Ds needs constant reminders and support for routines daily. He never wakes up unautistic (is that even a word?!) and able to manage a day without support!

Also his physical condition is degenerative so that'll never be better than it is and only gets more and more bad days.

[MothralovesGojira]

If the decision goes against you and they refuse PIP then DLA stops immediately as does Carers Allowance if you get it. We had to wait about 6 weeks for the decision and you have to submit a MR request within a month but as soon as you get a decision then ask for the assessors report if it's not been sent. The Decision Maker does fully outline the reasons for their decision so you can start work on your MR while awaiting the report. Our MR refusal came back in about 3 weeks.

The other thing to remember is that when answering the assessors questions always use the worst days as your examples. Start keeping a daily record/diary of the care you provide and how long things take to do. Be careful of questions asking about better days - if most days are the same then say so. Don't be drawn in to admitting some days are better and just say that you don't understand what they are getting at and ask for clarification.
Don't allow yourself be pressurised into providing quick answers and if you need time to think then say so and pull them up on rapidly changing the questions and insist on time to answer questions to your satisfaction. Also be careful of the personal questions - like " oh, what are you doing later? Are you all going out to enjoy the nice weather? " as this could end up on the report as 'stated that they have no problem going out for walks etc.
It all seems a bit outlandish but this is what we are going through with DD and the assessors report was almost like a text book example of gaslighting us with the DWP as your abuser! My main recommendation is to covertly record the assessment because if you tell them then they will refuse to proceed and record it as you refusing to cooperate. It will also help you to keep it straight in your own head. Even if you get an award then still request the assessor report to make sure that you have the full number of points so that you get the award your child needs and deserves.

[itsgettingwierd]

Didn't think of having EHCP and doctors reports to refer to. Although I can memorise the information from reports that's relevant!

[itsgettingwierd]

I've got the descriptions from gov page about what points to award for which to make sure I use the right language.

I'm also appointee for ds and will be using loud speakers for ds to hear and to record but I've told him he only has to answer if he's confident he can explain. He doesn't want to talk and I'm happy to say he isn't comfortable to do so and also point out face to face they'd have even less chance!