Struggling to cope PIP contact straight after UC application

[Lucybeary]

Hi everyone I'm wondering if you can tell me how I might be able to request to PIP that I push back my telephone assessment as I've had a text telling me it's in 2 weeks and this has come the day after me submitting my UC claim (after migration letter)

I'm currently really not coping too well with a number of things. I've been waking up very depressed in the morning. I'm trying to deal with that and then having all the migration stuff to deal with. I thought I was managing that and the anxiety, depression, and physical health problems but now I've got the pip assessment. I work as well and work's been really hard recently even though I am good at what I do there has been toxicity there from a few people which is making it hard for the rest of us.

I'm wondering how on earth I try and request a delay on my telephone appointment without sounding pathetic, I wish this had come a month or two later not weeks :-(

Honestly, don't delay it. Contact welfare rights, the cab, or any other organisation that can offer support to fill out the form. You need help here not time. It's a lot - I hope you are getting support from your GP too

Tbh, this is the best time to have your assessment. So they know how much you're struggling.

Have you got a friend, carer or support worker who can be with you?

God ignore me I read that incorrectly!!Its a phone assessment 🤦🏻‍♀️

Sorry. But as above, it's the best time to be doing it - I hope you can get some support

do not do this..,…go through with the appointment then it’s done

OldTinHat, no. No help. No support. Nothing.

I really do need some time. I have no energy. I don't cope well with change. I will struggle with work and everything else I have to hold together. I do seem to manage better with time, although even a month away, if they gave me that would still be hard, but it would let me pace myself a bit.

Thanks for your reply, sorry to sound negative

Thanks fizzymizzy and kitkat1523

I just have always coped with lots of warning and time because of having to pace myself. I don't cope with change and have extremely low energy because of my health, it's just really not a good time.

So you change the appointment ……they don’t like it but they will do it once…..then for whatever reason something happens and the next one is failed ( you are sick, you can’t connect on the day….whatever esle)…..and that’s it…..back to the drawing board…..not worth the risk…..I know a couple of people who swear blind that they weren’t phoned on the day…..DWP insists they were ……your word against theirs

What do you need the time for? You have 2 weeks before the call and you have already done the legwork by filling in the form. You have nothing to prepare because they will ask the leading questions, you know the answers already. Putting it off actually puts your award at risk, if it times out and you refuse to be assessed, you might just lose it

KitKat1523

I didn't know that it would be back to the drawing board if something else happened though i can't see that I would delay further, even if sick I would answer the phone. I would of thought that the phone would show a record of whether someone was called or not. But I take note of what you are saying it's a risk. I have a lot of fatigue though and just can't manage things being thrown on my path out of the blue to deal with. I'm beginning to think i'm autistic on top of other things, I could go downhill over such small change

Thanks I appreciate your support

I haven't filled in the form recently, they have contacted out of the blue. But that's not a problem, the answers are not the problem, it's change, I'm already worried about my UC migration and dealing with that. I don't know why I worry so much about things, even when I am told what to expect. I have ptsd, it's one of my problems and I seem to over react to things even if I logically see there's nothing to worry about. I'm full of adrenalin now just getting that message. I will try and calm down and think it through. Thanks for your support.

It sounds like if you prolong this it will not benefit you as it is likely to make you more anxious

thanks for answering me fizzymizzy, I am sitting here just being anxious so I'm no use at the moment and I don't want to waste your time but really appreciate your support. I'm just afraid other things will get neglected if I'm worrying about this and handling the change. Work is busy at the moment. I have a new home inspection to prep for and no energy to tidy the place among other things but those are two that immediately come to mind.

I had a text from UC asking me to go to my account to do a task and I've wasted an hour freaking out about that and then pip text on top of it.

I find my login details, go to UC and it's this tiny thing needed correcting and done in half a minute. Crazy :-/

I’m not sure how it would work re a telephone assessment, but when I was sent an ESA form at the same time as a PIP form, I telephoned the PIP number and explained it was not physically possible for me to complete it in time. The woman on the line was very nice and said I could have an extra month to complete it. I also spoke to my GP and was prescribed some diazepam for a couple of days, which reduced my anxiety. It’s much better if they know the situation you are in and what you are experiencing. It’s also worth contacting your GP too and requesting additional help for your current anxiety. This will also add to the evidence you need. You sound very overwhelmed with a huge amount going on and you are only human to be struggling with all of this. Sending hugs 🫂

It all sounds very hard. Do you think that moving the date will be of any real benefit to you?

It's not negative, the constant plate spinning is tough.
People that haven't been on benefits don't realise what it entails.
Good luck with the assessment.
My dw had hers on Friday be prepared for some stupid questions.i answered on her behalf because she gets so stressed and upset.

Ps there is nothing “pathetic” about having depression, anxiety and physical health problems. They are all “real” illnesses. You deserve help and to be supported. Do not downplay what you are going through, as you need them to see how much you are struggling.

Sorry, I see that you have already explained how it would.

how It works is they tell you they have called and you did not answer….they will not ‘prove’ this to you…..if you want to go down those lines you would have to get a solicitor and incur time and expense and still likely get nowhere….this is the DWP ….they makes their own rules…..the best advice is to play the game ……also it quite often happens that they phone you on the day or the day before and say we can’t make it today so we will now phone you tomorrow ….this is due to current staffing capacity……my DD was phoned in June at 5pm and told that her assessment would now be the following day at 1030…lso that leaves you hanging in the air..,..don’t make your life anymore stressful than it is….get the assessment over and done with

I'm listening :-) I haven't rearranged anything yet.

would you (or anyone reading) know roughly the timelines for UC migration assessments? I've got my application in, I've stated on it that I have a lot of health problems but that I'm self employed and I am organised with regular work, just not enough to meet the MIF. The MIF doesn't apply anyway in the first year so I've been told (I don't know if that means I still have to have a health assessment or whether that will wait until the year is up, I've contacted my GP anyway and made an appointment as I've hardly been able to see the doctor during the pandemic anyway and lots of things need checking that I'm avoiding)

If there is a wait now before a UC appointment at the job centre, I could start focusing back on work. I'm working but I'm not concentrating. I have a really difficult situation going on with work currently and ongoing care responsilibites (that I shouldn't have and can't really cope with but hey ho and I cannot claim as a carer as I'm not up to it and the people involved are not 'there' yet, they do not have attendance allowance and are not struggling to that extent yet, and hopefully they won't ever)

Anyway just wondering if I'm likely to have a wait before any UC appointment now. It would help to know there's a gap tbh. I find the thought of any interview nervewracking.

But then also wondering if they begin the payments after receiving the application or whether that only begins after the appointment with the job coach, etc. I wonder if the housing payment would at least go through. Arrgh it's just all uncertain and that's what I don't do well with lol

Thankyou IOSTT, I agree but it's the way the world looks at you isn't it.

I hope this time next year I'll have got to the bottom of my health struggles and taken on more work I only need a bit more to meet the MIF. And as long as my situation is stable with not too many changes I start to flourish

it is plate spinning, that's exactly it, not just all the things to do for the dwp but all the other stuff in life, which if your life is currently very stressful anyway (mine is atm) it's just awful. I hope your dw's assessment goes through smoothly, good luck with it.

don't say sorry I appreciate the help and support anyway, all of you have held me up this morning. Now to get on with the afternoon :-)