Pip telephone assessment

elle_may

Son had this this morning and if we had the choice we would go for a face to face every time. So stressful. Son has learning problems and epilepsy. He can't all ways understand what is been asked of him and with the assessor having a thick Indian accent  it was a nightmare. Continually asking to repeat and then explain to my son what he was asking even i was exhausted.  He could not see how it was affecting him like a face to face and how  he was responding or not.  I have been to quite a few of these and this was the worst way of trying to get across his abilities or not. 
We were only told 2dys ago he was getting a phone one after DWP said in a letter they were extending his award to January due to Covid. They must be bringing forward their assessments so don't think they will keep to this if you get one.  I only hope his paper review is taken more in consideration than the phone one as i think my son just did not  hear or understand  all the questions.  I had to repeat  what my son had said to the assessor  who olso did not understand what my son had said. It was a long hard slog. Hope everyone else has a better experience on the phone than us.

MalMonroe

Please don't despair. It's really frustrating but the phone call your son had will illustrate to the people assessing his needs just how difficult the whole process is - especially when users are having difficulty understanding not just the questions but also hearing what is being said (whether caused by accents or not)(best not to mention things like 'thick Indian accent' as it does sound a bit xenophobic and you don't really know the assessor's nationality).

I hate to say it but the more difficult the phone interview was will simply illustrate your son's need to continue receiving PIP. Hopefully the call was recorded so that a full and proper assessment can be made.

Seems to me like there's no way they can stop your son's benefit, even though it was a terrible experience for all concerned. 

poppy12345

If you are your sons appointee then the assessor should have been asking you the questions, not your son.

Having an award extended because of Covid doesn't mean a review still won't go ahead.

Wait a week and then ring DWP to request a copy of the report to be sent to you this will give you some idea what the decision is likely to be because they mostly go with the report.

elle_may

Thanks I hope so, the accent was what i was referring to and not the gentleman. It was a heavy one.  Don't want to offend.