PIP phoned my keyworker. "Handle with care" case? No assessment needed? Text confirmation.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Originally posted in the wrong place so apologies.

Hello today my keyworker received a phon call from someone at PIP or the assessors possibly.

I am a new claimant and have permission in writing for my keyworker to speak to them on the form.

Long story short seemed to be they were happy with information my keyworker provided and that my case would be treated as a "handle with care" (or something along those lines) case as he couldn't remember exactly. He said that it would be potentially distressing to have to attend an appointment and they agreed seemingly.

I later got a text message from DWP saying they had received the written report of my assessment and will write to me once a decision has been made within 8 weeks.

I am wondering now if this is a good or bad thing and if someone knows if this is the exact terminology of "handle with care" or what it may be referring to instead if incorrect?

I am reasonably happy with what was said but didn't ask him a lot of questions.

After hearing horror stories I am unsure if they will pick on bits of information like me leaving the house in a taxi to got to appointments and other things and think that mean's you can do x activity or y activity. Also I thought my keyworker knew more about my OCD behaviours but recently my anxiety has been the major problem focused upon and sometimes the depression and OCD gets left out.

I hope it means there may be an award of some type but have never heard of no assessment or handle with care (or some version of it). Has anyone experienced the same?

Thanks

calcotti

Paper based assessments are unusual but are carried out - and are more likely if you have been marked as a vulnerable claimant (which is definitely something that happens).

The decision may take up to 12 weeks (notwithstanding that they say 8).

When you get the decision it can be challenged if you are not happy and hopefully your key worker would support you to do that.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Thank you for replying

Does this mean that a decision has been made and waiting to be finalised or is there an additional process? 

I am a little surprised and thought they would phone some of the medical professionals in addition to my keyworker as I listed on the form eg. The MH nurse.

They possibly may have tried but my MH nurse left the practice last week unbeknownst to me.
I only found out yesterday as she emailed my keyworker when he was off last week.

I am unsure now if they will need to speak to somebody else now such as a GP who knows my case less well, as I felt the nurse was very good, thorough and supportive and I'm sad to be losing her.

Do you think they will need to contact my GP even though I did not consent to them accessing my medical records as I wanted to provide my own evidence?

I hope they will take what is written at face value in addition to what my keyworker said, although I did mean to ask him more questions than I did.

I am glad I dont have to go to a f2f appointment but can't help worrying about things. I feel with help, I provided a lot of information on the form and (hopefully) a lot of relevant evidence, GP sick notes, nurse, keyworker, GP comments from appointments over the past 6 months+ and a Pyschiatrist letter from 2020 (maybe a bit old).

Sorry also I wonder about the taxis mentioned by my keyworker as I don't think he mentioned if the journey is longer to unfamiliar places I get a lift off family.

So I'm unsure if they will think automatically I can travel to wherever alone which is not the case it's only short distances when my keyworker is there. It is the least stressful option sometimes.

Thanks

poppy12345

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

Does this mean that a decision has been made and waiting to be finalised or is there an additional process? 

The assessment report is not the decision, it's a recommendation. As advised by calcotti, a decision can now take anywhere from 2 - 12 weeks.

I wouldn't expect them to contact anyone else at this stage. You just need to wait for the decision.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Hello thanks for replying.

I am trying to wait but am very worried about it as I would have said some things differently.

I have asked a couple more questions about what they asked my keyworker.

I thought he may have mentioned certain things like struggling to concentrate/ struggling to follow conversations.He did say I concentrate too much on one thing at time.

I'm really surprised he didn't mention anything about how my nose affects me. Given that he thinks I have Body Dysmorphia and told my doctor about all the photos I have on my phone.

Even though I think/know it's a physical problem I admit it causes a LOT of emotional distress so I thought it may be important to mention that as I did include it on the form even though it's embarrassing.

I hope they take into account what I wrote on the form as well what my keyworker said.

I should maybe have took DWP up on their offer of sending me a copy of what was sent in as I'm not 100% sure for a few reasons.

Thanks

Spoonie_Turtle

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

I should maybe have took DWP up on their offer of sending me a copy of what was sent in as I'm not 100% sure for a few reasons.

You can certainly request a copy of the report to see if the decision is likely to be one you agree with.

The important parts would be the descriptors that they've recommended, whether they add up to an award you feel is appropriate.

peteuk

Paper based assessments do happen, as previously mentioned.  I understand that it somewhat worrying and frustrating as you’ve had no input into the assessment. 

What until the decision and then take it from there. 

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Spoonie_Turtle said: 

You can certainly request a copy of the report to see if the decision is likely to be one you agree with.

The important parts would be the descriptors that they've recommended, whether they add up to an award you feel is appropriate.

Hello thanks for replying I feel I may not have explained myselt very well.I did mean to ask about that also.

Am I allowed to request the assessment report now? Assuming it is complete and waiting for a decision?

I also was confusing things so apologise. 

I did mean as well I don't have photocopies of the form that was sent off due to how it transpired. 2 forms mixed into one.

One by mum, one by CAB. Keyworker did have some input and thought my mums was better than CAB's. Finally, after 2 months my mum took it out of my hands to her friend as I was too anxious to send it off.

I was worrying about things like wording, evidence etc. I know at least one thing got sent that I didn't intend.

I did phone DWP and maybe should have took their offer to send me photocopies of everything that was wes sent as I am not 100% sure. In the end I stayed anonymous and said I'd think about it.

Do you think I could still get a photocopy of all of that if need be as well as the report in case I need to appeal?

I did almost list the descriptors I believe I'd fit but was wary about putting it down for a couple of reasons.

I do think what you say and how you say it makes a difference. Another thing was about taxis which is part true but leaves out only when I can't get a lift off family..

Thanks.

williewonder

I had a PIP assessment and was awarded full PIP without a face-to-face assessment. They did ring my support manager and ask her a few questions which I believe were more to do with my risk in public when overwhelmed or psychotic. They wanted to know if I fitted the criteria for High Rate Mobility which it was decided I did. I was awarded PIP for 7 years.

I have never gone to a DLA/PIP assessment in 18 years. Always got awarded it straight away.

Also if you have a appointee and their guidelines it says that they should gather as much evidence as they can and not do a  doing a face-to-face. I'm unsure if its the same with deputyship which I have now in place.

Ihatethinkingofusernames11

Hello thanks for replying.

I do appreciate what you are saying and glad you got awarded PIP in full.

It's my own fault really for saying they could contact my keyworker. It was an hour long apparently and didn't expect them to go over everything.

I have less backup due to my MH nurse leaving and wish they would have contacted her somehow in addition as her notes were excellent but likely inadmissible.

I did say my mum helps me with a lot of things. He may have over corrected what I said eg. Eating.

I can't believe he didn't mention my nose as it was "physical issue" he previously described as more worrying if in my head so knows it has a big psychological impact.
It is not just in my head but I have a hard time convincing others which is horrible.

When asked about my concentration he said I concentrate too much on one thing. I said I had poor concentration and not following conversations (thinking about other things/ zoning out). Both are true.

I still need to decide whether to change from esa to UC too and unsure if a back payment would take me over the threshold before deductions. Scared to even do that.

Thanks for your reply I hope I have some success like you did.

poppy12345

Ihatethinkingofusernames11 said:

 It was a gamble but I know they usually contact someone.

They actually very rarely contact anyone for any evidence.

If you're this anxious about a paper based assessment then requesting the report may not be a good thing. Very often doing this causes even more anxiety and for this reason maybe it's better to wait for the decision.