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?

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!

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.

It sounds positive. Hope all goes well.

@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 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!

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

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 ?

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.

Lengthy
Dull

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

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.

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

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