PIP telephone assessment

Spoonie_Turtle

born_again said:

Muttleythefrog said:Telephone assessments are just yet another example of how in many cases the process could be improved...cheaper safer faster and in many cases I imagine more reliable and easier to record...why do we need a contagious virus to tell us that? 

Except how do you judge mobility or other physical problems over the phone?
Not all of these are documented by consultants/doctors. As at the time they are not a issue, yet by the time a assessment is due are a lot worse. Due to appointments being a year apart.
From my experience with the wife's assessment, a large part of it was how she was physically viewed in the interview. Not something that can be done over the phone.
Even as someone who spends a large part of the week talking to people on the phone, you can never judge someone just by how they speak.

Unfortunately many mobility problems aren't evident in the assessment either - just because someone can walk 20m once and not *appear* to be in pain doesn't mean that they are fine and can repeat it, either that day or the next. For many illnesses it could be a good thing because so many symptoms are invisible yet assessors routinely judge only what they see, overriding what the claimant tells them. They think pain must always be visible but when it's chronic, people get used to hiding it. The same with fatigue, when adrenaline kicks in and you can put up the 'looks okay' facade (as we routinely do out of habit because if people see how we actually felt we'd be accused of faking) for the appointment, they don't see how you actually feel and nor do they see the aftermath.

How a person appears can sometimes go in their favour, such as in your wife's case evidently, but it seems that more often than not it goes against them (as is the way in general life too - "you're looking well" when you're actually feeling like a pile of poop). In fairness it did actually help me with my WCA as I was so exhausted I could barely sit up or hold my head up, but it simply confirmed what the assessor had read on my form rather than being a key part of her recommendation.

Muttleythefrog

born_again said:

Muttleythefrog said:Telephone assessments are just yet another example of how in many cases the process could be improved...cheaper safer faster and in many cases I imagine more reliable and easier to record...why do we need a contagious virus to tell us that? 

Except how do you judge mobility or other physical problems over the phone?
Not all of these are documented by consultants/doctors. As at the time they are not a issue, yet by the time a assessment is due are a lot worse. Due to appointments being a year apart.
From my experience with the wife's assessment, a large part of it was how she was physically viewed in the interview. Not something that can be done over the phone.
Even as someone who spends a large part of the week talking to people on the phone, you can never judge someone just by how they speak.

Claimant can tell you on their form. For the most part the expert on how someone is affected by disability will either be the disabled person themselves or those who directly are involved in their care or life. I'm not saying every single case can be handled such like... what I am suggesting is that well in excess of 90% of claims or re-assessments probably never need to involve anything more than claimant form filling and a DWP Decision Maker actually taking responsibility. Telephone 'assessments' may be useful in some cases (which is why there seems recommendation from the Work and Pensions Select Committee to  "consider whether any of the changes made to the health assessment process in response to coronavirus could usefully be made permanent, for some or all claimants"). In line with my previous points.. people have become so used to government narratives they're almost accepted as holding real value... the need to actually test people's disabilities via strangers in 'fish out of water' environments (only for those testing to be absolved from responsibility for their opinions and observations) is liable to offer as much misinformation as anything constructive in many cases... yet further disables the claimants (recently the National Housing Federation said 'claiming U/C worsens or triggers health conditions for many claimants') and costs money. In my own case... no medical evidence... no attendances at assessments have ever made more accurate the outcome... all they've done is reassert what has already been said and add a veneer of fake professionalism along with misunderstandings and falsities (plus glaringly obvious contradictions in my case when it comes to mobility - 'had to be helped out of the building by colleagues and wife' versus 'no observed difficulties walking') while essentially ignoring the professional evidence supplied. 

tizztits

Hi all been reading this thread for last few weeks . I thought I would add my experience so far.
Form in 28/2
Assessment 19/6
Text saying got Assessment 23/6
Called straight up and are sending me out the report no issues with that side of things, he did say it mite not be the final report if it needs to get send back if something isn't understood. However the anxiety of waiting is slowly killing me inside.  I'm impatient at the best of the times and not being able to do much i have just been reading loads of forums which probably isn't helping .will update when I get result.

poppy12345

tizztits said:

he did say it mite not be the final report if it needs to get send back if something isn't understood.

Yes it can happen but it's very rare they return the report back to the HCP.  It's also rare for the decision maker to go against it. Waiting times for decisions in normal times can be from 2-8 weeks, sometimes longer. Good luck.

50Twuncle

How do they get around the non-speakers amongst us - for the telephone assessment ?

My wife should not have to speak for me on such an important issue !!

NeilCr

50Twuncle said:

How do they get around the non-speakers amongst us - for the telephone assessment ?

My wife should not have to speak for me on such an important issue !!

https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/your-assessment/at-your-pip-consultation/

The best thing for you to do is raise the matter when it's time for your assessment. As in the link above

poppy12345

50Twuncle said:

How do they get around the non-speakers amongst us - for the telephone assessment ?

My wife should not have to speak for me on such an important issue !!

Well, as you haven't yet been invited to apply yet then it doesn't apply to you so you don't have to worry about it.

Spoonie_Turtle

50Twuncle said:

How do they get around the non-speakers amongst us - for the telephone assessment ?

My wife should not have to speak for me on such an important issue !!

Presumably you could use something like a textphone, which ought to solve any phone issues in any area of life. If not, there are text-to-speech apps, various voice apps that people use as AAC - life with a disability is usually much enhanced by finding ways around things or doing things differently. Non-speaking nowadays most certainly does not preclude meaningful, independent communication.

50Twuncle

Spoonie_Turtle said:

50Twuncle said:

How do they get around the non-speakers amongst us - for the telephone assessment ?

My wife should not have to speak for me on such an important issue !!

Presumably you could use something like a textphone, which ought to solve any phone issues in any area of life. If not, there are text-to-speech apps, various voice apps that people use as AAC - life with a disability is usually much enhanced by finding ways around things or doing things differently. Non-speaking nowadays most certainly does not preclude meaningful, independent communication.

How long will I get between the letter arriving and having to reply (by whatever method - ie) The assessment) ?

Spoonie_Turtle

50Twuncle said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

50Twuncle said:

How do they get around the non-speakers amongst us - for the telephone assessment ?

My wife should not have to speak for me on such an important issue !!

Presumably you could use something like a textphone, which ought to solve any phone issues in any area of life. If not, there are text-to-speech apps, various voice apps that people use as AAC - life with a disability is usually much enhanced by finding ways around things or doing things differently. Non-speaking nowadays most certainly does not preclude meaningful, independent communication.

How long will I get between the letter arriving and having to reply (by whatever method - ie) The assessment) ?

No idea but as all reviews and reassessments (including moving people over from DLA to PIP) are still suspended, I would imagine you have ample time to try to sort something out if you wish. It's entirely possible you won't hear from them until after face-to-face assessments are reinstated, and it's entirely up to you whether you want to investigate what night be available, though it would be infinitely easier with the guidance of a Speech and Language Therapist, or an Occupational Therapist if they can liaise with a SaLT. Obviously doing it well before lockdown would have been much preferable but with patience and perseverance you may well find something that either suits, or at least does an adequate job while you look for something that is ideal for you.