Preparing for PIP Assessment

speedyturtle

My wife was on HRM and HRC on dla and had an indefinite award. We received the pip text from Atos, Called them and they said that wait for the letter. We received a letter giving us the appointment in southend which is nearly 90 minutes from dagenham. Now I have gone out and got two Philips portable cassette recorders from argos costing £59.98, 10 audio cassettes from wilkos for £4.50.
Now i called Atos just now and said that i want to let them know that we bringing our recording equipment as we want the assessment recorded. His first reply was that it has to be ONE piece of equipment. I disagreed and told him that no it doesnt have to be one equipment as long as they getting one copy of cassette. He put me on hold and went and talked to someone and came back saying that he has checked the law(Dont remember exactly what word he used) and it does not say that it has to be one piece of equipment so he did everything on is computer and said we should be set for the assessment.

The only reason i was posting this is so people who are going for PIP assessment and are scared about the lies ATOS tell in there report would know that they can get the recording equipment for under £65 and you are stopping ATOS from lying in your report.

tomtontom

You don't need to spend anything, you simply need to request that they record it (you can have a copy of the recording). This may mean rearranging the date or venue but that would not count against you.

Another thing to be aware of is that the clinician may refuse to do the assessment if you have your own recording equipment. If this happens the date would need to be rearranged.

In your situation I would ask for something in writing that taking your own equipment is permitted, or ask that they provide recording equipment as per usual protocol.

speedyturtle

My understanding from what i have read over the internet is that atos is not providing the recorded assessment. Are you sure you not confusing it with esa?

nannytone_2

it doesn't take 90 minutes to get to southend from dagenham!
on the new A13 it only takes 10 minutes to basildon

speedyturtle

I have checked over the internet and come up with these.

http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/faq_view/recording_my_consultation

Atos Official Website says :

• You can request to audio record your consultation by calling our Customer Service Centre, but you will need to provide your own equipment.

• Inform us beforehand that you wish to record your consultation, which can be done by calling our Customer Service Centre. Please let us know as soon as possible, as we may not be able to accept requests made on the day of your consultation.

• Your recording equipment must be able to produce two identical copies of the recording at the end of the consultation, either in audio cassette or CD format. You will need to give one copy of the recording to the Health Professional undertaking your consultation, at the end of the consultation. Devices like PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones or MP3 players are not acceptable recording devices.

• You will need to sign an agreement that sets out what you are and are not allowed to do with the recording.

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2013/april/audio-recording-pip-assessments

Disability Rights UK websites says :

Esther McVey: Audio recording of PIP assessments will not be offered by Atos or Capita. The DWP has not seen evidence from other disability assessments that this would improve the quality of assessments. If claimants wish to record their assessment they must inform the assessor in advance and provide the assessor with a copy of the recording.”

These are two of my sources and please correct me if i am wrong or got the wrong information.

speedyturtle

nannytone wrote: »

it doesn't take 90 minutes to get to southend from dagenham!
on the new A13 it only takes 10 minutes to basildon

1 h 16 min (36.1 miles)

via A13
57 min without traffic

nannytone_2

the AA says 46 minutes via the A13. so roughly half the time you thought