Call from pip about review very odd

lost_and_lonely_in_every

Yesterday my phone rang a chap says he's from pip and wants to ask me questions about my claim review which has been extended because of the backlog since last June . 
There was no warning of this call 
He didn't identify me or himself it felt rather scammy and I was uneasy at the call anyway against my better judgement and him saying it would help avoid a possible appointment I reluctantly agreed to participate. 
The questions were had my conditions changed help with cooking did I use any aids I said I used a electric  mobility scooter he asked did I use it all the time I replied not in the shower or for sleeping . Various other questions including could I get in and out of a car ok? And then after only 16 mins he finished the call .
Suspicious and feeling hyper vigilant I phoned pip to try to confirm this was a legitimate call they said no notes were on for calling me she put me through to what she termed privately outsourced assessor unit they said no notes were on my file but that it might to the end of the day.
 
About 20 mins later I received a text saying the following

About your PIP review. The health professional has sent us their report.

We will make a decision on your PIP, but it may take 6 weeks before you hear from us.

You will continue to get PIP while your award is being reviewed.

You only need to contact us if your circumstances change.

I presume this might be connected to the sketchy phone call I received : most people I know on pip have had notice of the call beforehand etc etc ? Why didn't I get afforded this humble luxury? 

Any help greatly appreciated 👍 

Thanks for reading 

Just been on the phone again to them to see if any notes are there waited 1 HR 20 mins to be cut off after an automated voice said they are having issues today .Sigh 😔 

Muttleythefrog

Hmmm... poor practice isn't it.

My interpretation - based on the text (which sounds legitimate and is certainly the standard text after an independent report is received by DWP) possibly a very light touch clarification of your circumstances and information provided to DWP for decision. i.e... not as such a formal assessment and hence the lack of warning/date. They may have done this to help with backlogs... and presumably they already have your long ago returned form for the review.

I would call tomorrow (DWP) and see if they have this (assessment) report on file and ask for copy... although again you're going to face waits... try as soon as lines open. (Note - it sounds like DWP has had major problems with telephone services today judging from other reports)

tacpot12

I can't answer your questions, but would offer the following advice: it would have been better to end the call if the caller didn't identify themselves, but as there is no accepted protocol to identify that a caller is calling from or on behalf of the DWP it is very difficult to check.

In the case of an application for PIP, the best option would be to ask them a question that they cannot answer unless they can see you PIP claim form (or your most recent renewal form). This should work for all types of assessors. Keeping copies of the forms yourself before sending them to the DWP is necessary if you are to be able to use this approach, but it is also a sensible precaution in case your form gets lost. 

Just ask the caller what the nth word is to Question N on your form. If they have access to your PIP form, they will be able to tell you the answer quickly and easily.

pallyman

They did call me out of the blue about mine ,said she was calling about pip & gave me her name.Also told me there & then after some questions i was being given 10 years & a higher rate so was quite pleased,Hope yours goes well.

Spoonie_Turtle

It kind of sounds like a DWP decision maker phoning to ask some clarifying questions to make a paper-based decision, to me.  When that happened for my MR I don't recall them introducing themselves.  Hopefully it means you've got someone actually doing their job properly and genuinely considering your claim, not just summarily dismissing it.

rosiee

I had the same experience.  The lady said a couple of questions; she needed 10 mins of my time.  I didn't dare not go ahead. It turned out to be a full assessment, at least 45mins.
And yes afterwards I thought I should not of answered questions in those circumstances. 
I then spent weeks regretting taking the call and sure I'd completely messed up my answers, and expected to do an MR at least.
However,  all was well and PIP renewed. 

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

It kind of sounds like a DWP decision maker phoning to ask some clarifying questions to make a paper-based decision, to me.  When that happened for my MR I don't recall them introducing themselves.  Hopefully it means you've got someone actually doing their job properly and genuinely considering your claim, not just summarily dismissing it.

As they had a text about 20 minutes later saying the report had been returned I would say it was the assessors that rang them and not a decision maker.

Spoonie_Turtle

poppy12345 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

It kind of sounds like a DWP decision maker phoning to ask some clarifying questions to make a paper-based decision, to me.  When that happened for my MR I don't recall them introducing themselves.  Hopefully it means you've got someone actually doing their job properly and genuinely considering your claim, not just summarily dismissing it.

As they had a text about 20 minutes later saying the report had been returned I would say it was the assessors that rang them and not a decision maker.

Good point.  Technically the assessors can also choose to do paper-based, can't they?  They just don't usually. 
You would hope they'd at least introduce themselves though, but evidently that's not what happened here.

lost_and_lonely_in_every

Big thanks to everyone who answered so far thanks for the wisdom and insight ☺️ 

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

poppy12345 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

It kind of sounds like a DWP decision maker phoning to ask some clarifying questions to make a paper-based decision, to me.  When that happened for my MR I don't recall them introducing themselves.  Hopefully it means you've got someone actually doing their job properly and genuinely considering your claim, not just summarily dismissing it.

As they had a text about 20 minutes later saying the report had been returned I would say it was the assessors that rang them and not a decision maker.

Good point.  Technically the assessors can also choose to do paper-based, can't they?  

Indeed they can and has been known many times.