PIP Assessments during Covid crisis

anxiousbetty

Daisy2016 said:

I had a telephone assessment a couple of weeks ago anxiousbetty . I too worked myself up the whole entire time before hand . The wait is not easy . They then said they couldn’t do it because they didn’t have the staff . When it did go through the person was very nice and friendly and tried her best to put me at ease . I’m not good at explaining myself or talking so it wasn’t an easy conversation .

good luck on your telephone assessment x

Hi Daisy 
 Thanks for answering. How long did the call last? 

 Betty

poppy12345

Assessments can last anything from 20 to 120 minutes.

born_again

anxiousbetty said:

Hi, I have my PIP assessment on the telephone in a few weeks time and I am already stressing over it, it’s making me feel sick. I suffer from anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia and arthritis. Has anyone here had a telephone assessment recently. Many thanks

Betty 

To help ease the stress of the call. Make sure you have a copy of the information you sent in & also write down anything else you would like to say to them.
If you can get someone to be there with you as well that helps a lot. As they can help prompt you.
In the mean time. Try to put it out of your mind (easier said than done to many) but trying to keep busy helps. If you conditions allow you to do so.

50Twuncle

Why not pubicise the fact that there is apparently an option to doing this by phone - including the PIP1 form - which can be filled in on your PC and emailed to them

Email - DCS DCPU Alternative Format Team on DCPUALTERNATIVE.FORMATTEAM@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK

This was discovered a few years ago - because I, physically cannot speak on the phone !

Spoonie_Turtle

50Twuncle said:

Why not pubicise the fact that there is apparently an option to doing this by phone - including the PIP1 form - which can be filled in on your PC and emailed to them

Email - DCS DCPU Alternative Format Team on DCPUALTERNATIVE.FORMATTEAM@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK

This was discovered a few years ago - because I, physically cannot speak on the phone !

An alternative option to doing what on the phone? The PIP1 is the initial claim form.

After that they send the PIP2 which is the detailed form and is what they pass to the assessment provider who makes the decision whether to do an assessment or whether they have enough information to write a report without seeing/speaking to you (paper-based assessment).

poppy12345

50Twuncle said:

because I, physically cannot speak on the phone !

If you have finally applied for PIP then how will manage if an assessment is needed? Face to face assessments are still suspended and the majority of people are have telephone assessments.

50Twuncle

Spoonie_Turtle said:

50Twuncle said:

Why not pubicise the fact that there is apparently an option to doing this by phone - including the PIP1 form - which can be filled in on your PC and emailed to them

Email - DCS DCPU Alternative Format Team on DCPUALTERNATIVE.FORMATTEAM@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK

This was discovered a few years ago - because I, physically cannot speak on the phone !

An alternative option to doing what on the phone? The PIP1 is the initial claim form.

After that they send the PIP2 which is the detailed form and is what they pass to the assessment provider who makes the decision whether to do an assessment or whether they have enough information to write a report without seeing/speaking to you (paper-based assessment).

I mean - for non-speakers land non writers like myself - the whole application thing can be done without needing to speak to anyone or write anything

They send you a both forms over email - you fill them in (active PDF's) and return them by Email

As for the actual process of interviewing - I have no idea !

50Twuncle

poppy12345 said:

50Twuncle said:

because I, physically cannot speak on the phone !

If you have finally applied for PIP then how will manage if an assessment is needed? Face to face assessments are still suspended and the majority of people are have telephone assessments.

I have no idea - but it is down to DWP to solve the problem - in line with the Equalities Act 2010 !

poppy12345

50Twuncle said:

poppy12345 said:

50Twuncle said:

because I, physically cannot speak on the phone !

If you have finally applied for PIP then how will manage if an assessment is needed? Face to face assessments are still suspended and the majority of people are have telephone assessments.

I have no idea - but it is down to DWP to solve the problem - in line with the Equalities Act 2010 !

Sorry but that's not correct! The assessments have nothing at all to do with DWP it's the health assessment providers responsibility.

Spoonie_Turtle

50Twuncle said:

poppy12345 said:

50Twuncle said:

because I, physically cannot speak on the phone !

If you have finally applied for PIP then how will manage if an assessment is needed? Face to face assessments are still suspended and the majority of people are have telephone assessments.

I have no idea - but it is down to DWP to solve the problem - in line with the Equalities Act 2010 !

Pretty sure we've discussed this subject to death but there are ways around it - e.g. textphone. In that case the assessment provider would be obligated to accept textphone in place of the spoken word, fulfilling their duty under the Equalities Act.

But it would be reasonable for them to assume that as this is an issue you face, you have had some professional input to find a method that works for you, or found a method for yourself, that you already use when dealing with companies who will only allow contact over the phone (e.g. banking).