Face 2 Face Meeting

Alice_Holt

Some useful info here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-pip-claim/your-assessment/
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-medical-assessments

Here are the PIP activities, descriptors, & points:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system
Be clear where you score the necessary 8 points (for a standard award) or 12 for enhanced.
Take some notes / diary with examples of a typical week / month to help you talk about how you can't do the relevant activities reliably for the majority of days. Explain fully the difficulties you have, and the aids you need to manage PIP activities safely.

This guide gives you info on how the HCP should assess you:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf
Pages 97-134. Page 86 on is useful on "reliably".
Also remember the assessment should be looking at what you can do reliably on the majority on days (not just on the day of the assessment!).

It's advisable to take someone with you, Ask them to take notepad and pen, and take notes during the assessment.
Ask the assessor if they have read your PIP2 form (and take yours).
Take any relevant additional medical evidence.
Answer the questions fully (don't just say yes) explain if you can't do the activity at any point in the day / in a reasonable time scale / need help or aids to do it safely / etc

From the CAB adviceguide: "Don’t let the assessor rush you and try not to just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to their questions. Always try to explain how doing something would make you feel afterwards and the impact it can have on you if you had to do it repeatedly in a short period of time."
Here is the CAB help sheet to take with you:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Documents/Advice%20(public)/pip-helpsheet-assessment.pdf

Benefits & Work is also useful on this.

If you are offered an assessment some distance from home / at an inconvenient time you can:
Request a nearer venue / different time (but you can only ask this once);
It is possible (request in advance) to have taxi costs refunded.
http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/at_your_consultation

Good luck.

rockingbilly

Alice_Holt wrote: »

Some useful info here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-pip-claim/your-assessment/
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-medical-assessments

Here are the PIP activities, descriptors, & points:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system
Be clear where you score the necessary 8 points (for a standard award) or 12 for enhanced.
Take some notes / diary with examples of a typical week / month to help you talk about how you can't do the relevant activities reliably for the majority of days. Explain fully the difficulties you have, and the aids you need to manage PIP activities safely.

This guide gives you info on how the HCP should assess you:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf
Pages 97-134. Page 86 on is useful on "reliably".
Also remember the assessment should be looking at what you can do reliably on the majority on days (not just on the day of the assessment!).

It's advisable to take someone with you, Ask them to take notepad and pen, and take notes during the assessment.
Ask the assessor if they have read your PIP2 form (and take yours).
Take any relevant additional medical evidence.
Answer the questions fully (don't just say yes) explain if you can't do the activity at any point in the day / in a reasonable time scale / need help or aids to do it safely / etc

From the CAB adviceguide: "Don’t let the assessor rush you and try not to just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to their questions. Always try to explain how doing something would make you feel afterwards and the impact it can have on you if you had to do it repeatedly in a short period of time."
Here is the CAB help sheet to take with you:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Documents/Advice%20(public)/pip-helpsheet-assessment.pdf

Benefits & Work is also useful on this.

If you are offered an assessment some distance from home / at an inconvenient time you can:
Request a nearer venue / different time (but you can only ask this once);
It is possible (request in advance) to have taxi costs refunded.
http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/at_your_consultation

Good luck.

All of that advice is only good if you are actually offered a face to face assessment.
Some claims are decided purely on the evidence and the application form. The poster may well be offered an award or the DWP may reject the claim in it's entirity based only on the documents submitted.

vicki84

Thanks for all the replies I just want to make sure I am as prepared as I can be

fenwoman

I am disabled and have been on DLA for 25 years, I have several physical and 'mental' conditions. I am literally dreading PIP assessment as I've heard too many horror stories. For me, I have a huge problem travelling to an assessment place and even bigger issues allowing a stranger into my home for the assessment. Either way, I am going to be mega stressed, leading into a full autistic meltdown with shouting and swearing at the very least, and then the assessor will get offended and accuse me of being abusive.

vicki84

I have had a letter to say my form has been sent to Capita so expecting a Face 2 Face letter soon

cantcope

i waited 10 weeks for a date 2 weeks later (its next week) for my assessment from when they received my form so dont worry too much if you dont hear straight away x

vicki84

Thanks for your reply good luck with your face to face