PIP Assessor just hung up on me

Mista_C

My health has taken a tumble over the last couple of years and I was advised to apply for PIP to help with some of the shortfall caused by being unable to work.

My telephone PIP assessment was this morning. The assessor called a little late and sounded like she was eating. She asked me to confirm my NI number and post code, which I did, she replied "great" then hung up. The call lastest 45 seconds.

Any suggestions on what I should do now please?

Muttleythefrog

I would be tempted to call the assessment company and report the experience... and if necessary follow up with email or vice versa. (In my mind get on the front foot should there later be some claim by assessor of events that are not true). Was the assessment to be recorded?

Mista_C

Muttleythefrog said:

I would be tempted to call the assessment company and report the experience... and if necessary follow up with email or vice versa. (In my mind get on the front foot should there later be some claim be assessor of events that are not true). Was the assessment to be recorded?

Thanks Muttley. Yeah, that's probably the best bet. Last time I communicated with Capita was over a decade ago when I took them to small claims to get the last of my owed salary.

No idea if it was to be recorded.

Spoonie_Turtle

If you took the call on a smartphone, take a screenshot of the call log where it shows the time of the call and that it lasted 45 seconds.  Just in case.

Very bizarre, and I have no idea what you do from here to be honest.

tacpot12

Are you sure it was your assessor? It sounds more like it was a scammer calling to get your NI number and DoB from you, possibly to perpetrate a benefit fraud in your name. I would call the assessment services on  on 0800 188 4880 (IAS - North of England & Scotland), 0800 188 48810808 (IAS - South of England) and 178 8114 (Capita)  and ask if any assessor has tried to call you. If they haven't, call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 to report this occurance. Ask them to make a note of your NI number and to be alert if they receive any benefit claims from you, especially UC. 

It doesn't sound like you have had an assessment, so I would not be surprised if an assessor calls you at a later date. Have a think about how you will validate that they work for a real assessment service. If you kept a copy of your PIP form, you could ask them for a detail that appears on your form, such as condition, medication or date. 

Muttleythefrog

tacpot12 said:

Are you sure it was your assessor? It sounds more like it was a scammer calling to get your NI number and DoB from you, possibly to perpetrate a benefit fraud in your name. I would call the assessment services on  on 0800 188 4880 (IAS - North of England & Scotland), 0800 188 48810808 (IAS - South of England) and 178 8114 (Capita)  and ask if any assessor has tried to call you. If they haven't, call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 to report this occurance. Ask them to make a note of your NI number and to be alert if they receive any benefit claims from you, especially UC. 

It doesn't sound like you have had an assessment, so I would not be surprised if an assessor calls you at a later date. Have a think about how you will validate that they work for a real assessment service. If you kept a copy of your PIP form, you could ask them for a detail that appears on your form, such as condition, medication or date. 

Certainly crossed my mind... but the timing of it (and lack of any other assessment call on the day), lack of professionalism, details asked... making me think genuine.. and if so perhaps an assessor working from home trying to fiddle some figures (we've seen before on here how an assessor working from home claimed to have called claimant several times for scheduled assessment and this later was determined by the company itself to be false). Hopefully the assessment company can clarify.

HillStreetBlues

I agree with Mtf. A scammer getting info so easily would press for more like asking for a credit card number to confirm ID.