PIP Claim

todayisagreatday

I have a profound hearing loss and I have put in a PiP claim. I had acknowledgement of the 'how your disability affects you' form on 10 May and I provided my audiology hearing test paperwork from the hospital too. I have heard nothing since. I imagine next steps will be to attend an assessment or have contact with someone. Does anyone know what the timescales are? This is new to me as I have never put in. PIP Claim despite living with a hearing loss for the majority of my life the impact of this has worsened and the local audiology clinic suggested I put in a claim for PIP.

The main areas that were issues were around communicating and engaging with other people face to face.

poppy12345

Your timescale up to now is not long at all and some are waiting as long as 10 months from starting a claim to having a decision. Most people have assessments which are done either by phone, video call or face to face at an assessment centre. Paper based assessments are rare but possible.

If and assessment is needed you will be contacted with an appointment date and time. My advice is to expect one, this way if an appointment letter arrives it won't be too much of a shock.

calcotti

There are still long waits of several months for assessments.

Spoonie_Turtle

Unfortunately there are no set timescales and they vary by area according to backlogs, staffing levels, etc.  Impossible to predict.

What should happen next (at some point, nobody can say when) is they contact you with an appointment date for an assessment.  I can't remember whether face-to-face assessments have resumed or not; just so you're aware, for much of the pandemic so far they have been telephone assessments.  [Edit: cross-posted; I defer to poppy's comment which implies some F2F have resumed.]

Also for PIP the area of washing/bathing safely may be worth considering - if you would not be able to hear a fire alarm when you take your hearing aids out.  https://pipinfo.net/conditions/hearing-impairment

You should also be aware that if the initial decision is not to award anything, you can most certainly challenge it if you feel you meet deacriptors scoring enough points to qualify for an award.

In case you've not already fully read how PIP is assessed, here is an overview (important to check the linked PDFs): https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-decisions-are-made/
And here is the full official guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

toomuchinfo

I think I think timescales are probably different depending where you are. I just had my PIP claim settled within three months. I waited about nine weeks for an assessment with Capita and less than three weeks after that I got my award of enhanced for both.

I think if you had an assessment they would have to have someone who can communicate effectively with a person that had hearing loss. I know people are nervous of assessments but it’s your chance to get across how your disability impacts your life. The assessor even gave me points in two areas that I hadn’t expected to get any.

poppy12345

toomuchinfo said:

The assessor even gave me points in two areas that I hadn’t expected to get any.

The assessor makes recommendations. Only a decision maker can award points. Unless you fully understand the descriptors and the criteria it's very easy to underscore and overscore yourself.

todayisagreatday

Thanks for the replies, at least I know not to expect anything just yet then!

I'd read the guidance and the pip information on hearing impairment. The washing is an interesting one as I remove hearing aids to bathe and when I have to stay in hotels I always have to email or mention it that I may not hear any alarms etc. 

I struggle face to face more than ever, made worse by the face mask wearing. I've found myself agreeing to some dental work purely because I couldn't understand what was being said as the dentist was dressed like a dalek in PPE and my hearing aids are neither use nor ornament in situations with people mask wearing which is still quite common. I also find it easier to lip read people I know and at work I used the live transcription on MS Teams. Hopefully if it's face to face I can take my wife with me because I miss so much but phone isn't great to be honest. I use the Relay app but people are so unfamiliar using it, the most simplest of tasks take so, so long!! Hopefully an assessment is user friendly for people that have a hearing loss!

todayisagreatday

I had my assessment by Capita on Monday and the lady was lovely, it took less than 10 mins and she mainly just confirmed what was in the form, but I'd already wrote a lot so perhaps she just didn't have any questions. I do get the sense they are not as skilled in dealing with hearing loss/deaf as other conditions as she seemed really surprised when I was describing some of the challenges. Strangely I had a letter from my local audiology asking that I go in for a new hearing test as Capita had asked them for info (this is odd in itself as my hearing loss is not something that is likely to get worse  as I was born with a hearing loss)! I also had this on Tuesday and the ausiology printed me off an up to date hearing test and a standard letter confirming what hearing aids I wear and type of hearing loss  I have that was addressed to Capita/DWP so I get the sense they are asked for this frequently. Posted all this off as the Capita lady said that any other info I could get would be helpful.

Just got to wait and see now. I'm not hopeful!

Bigwheels1111

todayisagreatday said:

I had my assessment by Capita on Monday and the lady was lovely, it took less than 10 mins and she mainly just confirmed what was in the form, but I'd already wrote a lot so perhaps she just didn't have any questions. I do get the sense they are not as skilled in dealing with hearing loss/deaf as other conditions as she seemed really surprised when I was describing some of the challenges. Strangely I had a letter from my local audiology asking that I go in for a new hearing test as Capita had asked them for info (this is odd in itself as my hearing loss is not something that is likely to get worse  as I was born with a hearing loss)! I also had this on Tuesday and the ausiology printed me off an up to date hearing test and a standard letter confirming what hearing aids I wear and type of hearing loss  I have that was addressed to Capita/DWP so I get the sense they are asked for this frequently. Posted all this off as the Capita lady said that any other info I could get would be helpful.

Just got to wait and see now. I'm not hopeful!

I hope your right and the lady was nice.
In my experience they are not. They lie and twist whatever you say.
1 ESA tribunal 
And 
1 PIP tribunal later.

osteoarthritis

In spine, hips, hands wrists fingers.
Wheelchair bound, Can’t walk bend, grip or hold, lift, causes toilet issues.Unable to wash, cook or dress.
Was found fit for work

Just imagine you are at war, fight fight fight and never give up.
ESA took 10 months, PIP 14 months.
We beat them at both.

I speak from experience.

Spoonie_Turtle

One way to find out how it went is to request a copy of the assessment report, once DWP let you know they've received it or in about a week if you don't hear from them.  If it's all wrong then you can start preparing to challenge the decision when it comes through.

Or the decision might arrive before the report, if it's a quick decision.

todayisagreatday

Bigwheels1111 said:

todayisagreatday said:

I had my assessment by Capita on Monday and the lady was lovely, it took less than 10 mins and she mainly just confirmed what was in the form, but I'd already wrote a lot so perhaps she just didn't have any questions. I do get the sense they are not as skilled in dealing with hearing loss/deaf as other conditions as she seemed really surprised when I was describing some of the challenges. Strangely I had a letter from my local audiology asking that I go in for a new hearing test as Capita had asked them for info (this is odd in itself as my hearing loss is not something that is likely to get worse  as I was born with a hearing loss)! I also had this on Tuesday and the ausiology printed me off an up to date hearing test and a standard letter confirming what hearing aids I wear and type of hearing loss  I have that was addressed to Capita/DWP so I get the sense they are asked for this frequently. Posted all this off as the Capita lady said that any other info I could get would be helpful.

Just got to wait and see now. I'm not hopeful!

I hope your right and the lady was nice.
In my experience they are not. They lie and twist whatever you say.
1 ESA tribunal 
And 
1 PIP tribunal later.

osteoarthritis

In spine, hips, hands wrists fingers.
Wheelchair bound, Can’t walk bend, grip or hold, lift, causes toilet issues.Unable to wash, cook or dress.
Was found fit for work

Just imagine you are at war, fight fight fight and never give up.
ESA took 10 months, PIP 14 months.
We beat them at both.

I speak from experience.

When I said I felt silly describing some things she was really encouraging, perhaps a ploy perhaps not. I do work full time so I gave examples of both challenges in my work and personal life. As I said it was brief, no more than 10 mins and that would be pushing it. She more was clarifying things on the form. 

Spoonie_Turtle said:

One way to find out how it went is to request a copy of the assessment report, once DWP let you know they've received it or in about a week if you don't hear from them.  If it's all wrong then you can start preparing to challenge the decision when it comes through.

Or the decision might arrive before the report, if it's a quick decision.

Good idea. I only posted the additional evidence from Audiology after my appt there so it will only be received today. I won't expect anything from DWP for a week or so.