Been called to an in person PIP assessment - questions about private medication

holidaypain

I really do accept PIP can be hard to get, it isn't something I would want to go down without all diagnosis's and I'm unsure if I should wait until a possible job loss in the new year.

Sorry if I mis-understood about the illegal medication. 

Anyway the assessor organisation I think for the DWP frantically called me one day last week saying we need to change this assessment from face to face to telephone consult - any idea why would they do that? I would have really liked to show them how I struggle with shoe wear if nothing else. 

born_again

Job loss should have no effect on pip claim.

Phone assessment is just as good. 
You can just explain how the issue effects you. 

peteuk

The phone assessment is ran exactly the same as a face to face assessment, however they cant do the physical exam for obvious reasons.  Covid forced the change when face to face assesment weren’t allowed.  It has proven successful (in their eyes) and does mean less hassle for the majority of claimants.  

Face to face assessment is the minority not the majority. 

Wearing shoes would not be part of the physical exam, it worked around movement of joints.  You can easily explain this just as well. 

As for your medication - if the apology was aimed for me, thank you but it wasn’t required.  You read what I wrote a certain way and understandably reacted.  

There is a difference between a gp prescription and a private prescription, equally between getting these from boots, online or Craig’s list/bob on the street corner.  If you have a prescription regardless of where it comes from, be upfront and explain it.  

Equally no medication can be explained if youve tried x,y,z and nothing worked so therefore having the issue is better than having the issue and side effect of the medication.  

holidaypain

Well as an update this was failed.   I don't know if I have the strength to appeal as the claim form to begin with as was filled in as pretty rubbish, I was lucky they let me rabbit on about smashing my face in, in the bariatric shoes to people starring. 

They tried saying Boots do not notify GP of private antidepressent use even if paying £65 (for anybody else viewing this) so I finally have an appointment with the finally glorified nhs GP. 6th December 2025. 

peteuk

holidaypain said:

Well as an update this was failed.   I don't know if I have the strength to appeal as the claim form to begin with as was filled in as pretty rubbish, I was lucky they let me rabbit on about smashing my face in, in the bariatric shoes to people starring. 

They tried saying Boots do not notify GP of private antidepressent use even if paying £65 (for anybody else viewing this) so I finally have an appointment with the finally glorified nhs GP. 6th December 2025. 

Who provides the private prescribed prescription?  If it’s not your GP then they are correct, there is no way boots can report the dispensing of a private prescription.  Your provider may advise your gp, but thats up to them.  

The only thing your GP will record is your NHS record and a private prescription is not part of this. 

Spoonie_Turtle

I hear you about not being sure whether you can fight.  But if you are sure you qualify, doing an MR and thoroughly writing everything out (which descriptors you meet for each relevant activity and why) would be a similar amount of effort to doing a new claim in the future, but having already skipped the hurdle of another assessment for a new claim.

Entirely up to you of course, but fighting can be worth it.

Muttleythefrog

Sorry to hear this. I can only repeat advice to honestly assess yourself against the criteria and if you think you should qualify based on the descriptors you find apply to you then either ask for reconsideration or apply again in future. Given the basic details here available I'd be inclined to say the latter as I think you are lacking evidential trail of condition and treatment which would underpin a serious consideration of underlying problems when explaining the disablements... however... there is very very little information here to base opinion on.

Obtain a copy of the assessment report if you haven't already (from the DWP - call PIP helpline)