Require help with PIP Assessment

Don101

Hi there everyone, I'm new to the forum. Looks like a great place to discuss many issues and topics.
I have a query which I was hoping someone out there can answer for me. I applied for PIP for my son approximately 2 months ago, I am his appointee. He was previously getting DLA, which has since stopped. Last Monday morning I decided to give the DWP a call, to enquire the current status of his application. I was advised to give the assessment team a call directly. I called them and managed to get through to someone pretty quickly. I was advised an appointment has been made for the second week of October and a letter was in the post.
I had spoken to my son about this and the fact we may have to go for a face to face assessment. He told me he didn't want to go, even though he did not fully understand what the visit would entail. I had been advised by a friend that in the case of the face to face assessment being too much for my son, I could request a home visit. I duly requested this from the adviser I spoke to and was advised this had been duly noted and that I would receive a reply shortly within a few weeks or so. I was advised in the event this request wasn't granted then I would receive another appointment to visit the assessment centre. I duly agreed and thought to myself that I would give it a few weeks or so.
However to my surprise, I received a call from the assessment centre in the afternoon and they requested some additional information in order to progress my sons application. Basically it was very similar to the info that I had already put on the form, so basically a repeat. Then I was advised my son didn't need an assessment, as they had enough info to work form. I assumed this was because of the details on the form itself, as well as the additional info I had sent through, ie my sons IEP's and EHCP's. So a complete change from a few hours earlier, when I was advised my son would need to attend the assessment centre.
What I would like to know is this normal behaviour? If so, then why did they change from my son needing a face to face assessment, to not needing one at all? Why the sudden turnaround? They could have simply requested the additional details over the phone, right at the beginning. Also the fact a face to face appointment isn't required, is that detrimental to my sons PIP application? My son was previously receiving DLA, high for the care component and low for the mobility component. Should I request a face to face appointment? As they would be able to see straight away, he has special needs.

Thanks in advance

poppy12345

Firstly, is there any reasons why his DLA has stopped? When transferring to PIP it should continue until a decision's been made providing the PIP forms were returned by the date stated in the letter.


It's rare to have a paper based assessment but it has been known. It doesn't mean his claim has been successful because you don't need a face 2 face assessment to be refused PIP, so a paper based assessment doesn't mean anything other than no face 2 face was needed.

Once the DWP have received the assessment report back you can ring them and request of copy of this report. Once you receive you should use the PIP descriptors online to see what the score recommendations are within that report. These will be the boxes with dots or ticks next to them. The decision maker usually goes with the report, it's rare to go against it. Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for the decision. Good luck.

Don101

Thanks for the response. To answer your question, my sons DLA was stopped due them managing to lose 2 application forms. One was sent in February and the other one in March. Then I went abroad for 2 months and it was only in early June that I realised the payment had stopped in May. Therefore I had to put in a fresh application, which I did in July.
So its been a real drama over the last 6-8 months. Fingers crossed we are near the end of this sorry mess and should have a resolution to this saga very soon.

Don101

Just to update you on the latest. I contacted the DWP this week re my sons pip application. I was advised the decision maker had made a decision just that day and advised my son had been awarded pip. However they did not know the level, therefore I was advised to call back on Friday which I did. They gave me the details over the phone, so now all I have to do is see if it can be backdated to april/may, when it was stopped together with the carers allowance.