PIP appointment over the phone 📱

[Yumz199725]

I'm happy that I finally have an appointment but I would prefer face to face, I've never not once been offered one in person? Is there a way of requesting one? Hope this time I'm successful 🫢😬😔

[Biscuit08]

I have never had to apply for PIP, but having worked in the industry please ensure you answer the questions with answers relating to the days you feel the worse - sorry if you know this already!

[Yumz199725 in reply to Biscuit08]

Thanks for your advice x

[Biscuit08 in reply to Yumz199725]

Your welcome. If you give answers how you feel at your best they will do anything to decline the claim.

[Yumz199725 in reply to Biscuit08]

I never feel my best just lately so that won't be a problem x

[TheBesty]

Have a look through this from citizens advice, this is what they will be scoring from their end. citizensadvice.org.uk/Globa...

[Yumz199725 in reply to TheBesty]

Thanks just been looking through it, it's really helpful to know so thanks x

[TheBesty in reply to Yumz199725]

You're welcome 😊 Best of luck with your PIP call

[Turnipgirl in reply to TheBesty]

Whenever you go to the citizens advice places in person there's always a queue isn't there?

[Lezzers]

Good luck 🤞 Yumz, I hope you're successful. I would have a copy of your application form beside you so that you can refer to it if necessary. And if you feel rushed or stressed in anyway, tell them & ask them to give you a few moments to de-stress !! Xxx

[Yumz199725 in reply to Lezzers]

Thanks hun, I dont have a copy of my form so it's gona hard for me to remember what I said in the form x

[Lezzers in reply to Yumz199725]

How did you get on today with your application? Xx

[Blearyeyed]

You could but it could take a lot longer to get the appointment which may affect your payments if you already get PIP.I had my assessment by phone. Just remind them as you have it that you are needing to look up the information about things on your copy of your form and it's not from memory.

As already stated even if you are asked how you are on your best day you need to answer how you feel or what you can manage on your worst or they do use any slight positive to reject you or reduce that question to 0 points , whether they see you face to face or not.

My assessment was my first and even though it was by phone I received PIP with enhancements without the need for an appeal because I used this recommended method and had included every piece of evidence I had ( doctors letters , prescription lists, test results, gadgets ) .

Hope things go well , Bee

[Yumz199725 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you so much x what do I do if I don't have a copy of forms

[Blearyeyed in reply to Yumz199725]

If you forgot to make a copy of your forms request that they send you through a copy of your form so you can use it to help remember things in your call.Or look up the form online , download and print off a copy of the questions and fill it out as best you can with the same info you put on the firm you sent away.

Top tip for the future is to scan and keep both a printed hard copy and a computer copy of any official forms you need to fill out . Request or make hard copies of any hospital letters and blood tests and keep them in a medical file , It makes life a lot easier in the future if you have to fill out forms that need evidence or you need to question things people say at appointments.

Hugs , Bee

[Taviterry in reply to Blearyeyed]

More excellent advice from Bee, who seems to be on a roll today! Nearly all my communications come electronically, either from hospital (sometimes three times over) or GP messaging systems, or email. I have a file of print outs and my own spreadsheet of this year's nine blood results (with more to come), so I have instant access to relevant information.

(The only stuff that comes by snail mail are either duplicates of electronic letters or a list of blood tests to take to my GP - only this year two never arrived, causing a last-minute dash to the hospital for tests, otherwise my consultation would have postponed, perhaps by two months.)

[Blearyeyed in reply to Taviterry]

Thank you, definitely worth printing off hard copies of any electronic letters and results.The amount of times I've seen people try to search for the right ones when they want to ask a question at the surgery and it's disappeared or they can't find it , basically if I had a pound for each I'd be wintering in Monte Carlo!

[Taviterry in reply to Blearyeyed]

Briefly off-topic: three years ago I ordered a new car, with an order form being set up on-line. Happily I printed this of. It was updated over the next few months to reflect extras. When I paid for the car, I thought something was wrong with the final amount and challenged the dealer who said there wasn't - until I said I had a copy of the original quotation, which forced him to admit to an "unfortunate oversight" and to refund me £400.

[Healthyheart1 in reply to Blearyeyed]

I think you can ask for the information you have given them, if you phone them. They cannot hold it back from you but good luck anyway 👍 regards Sheena

[Turnipgirl]

You could always ask.

If you don't ask you don't get!

[Yumz199725 in reply to Turnipgirl]

Very true x

[Murderfan58]

I wish all the luck in the world but my experience of PIP phone assessment I thought went well. I had all my information in front of me and was on the phone for hour and 46 minutes. I was devastated when I had my decision letter they gave me zero on everything. I asked for MRN the lazy 🐄 who wrote the letter only copied the original letter by moved the sentences around.

A craft group member told my about the Brain Charity. I explained I had been trying for disability benefits since 1988 when my then GP point blank told me I was disabled . But turned down every time as they said no diagnosis no money .

Finally had my diagnosis April 1st 2022 aged 63. Thanks to my neurologist having my whole genome genetically tested I have the rare hereditary Hyperekplexia gene mutation SLC6A5 type 3. Also 2020/2021 found to have been born with a small hole in the side of my heart and have Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. I foolishly thought finally I would get benefits I had been denied all those years.

The Brain Charity got me a solicitor pro bono and July 2022 applied for PIP tribunal..She asked me to request a copy of the PIP assessment report . It was 23 pages long only page without multiple errors was the last page where she signed it and put it took 38 mins to write. Took me 2 days going through every paragraph which had multi errors. As my hands tremble so much and my writing is tiny I was marking the errors and writing an email to my solicitor.

Because of how little money in savings my solicitor said to apply for universal credit didn't know I had been entitled to it for years. Had my interview at the job centre my caseworker couldn't have been kinder and told me phone appointments from now on and she would send for the health forum. It has a long title but can't remember it. Because of my experience at the hands of PIP I didn't trust phone assessments so waited for a face to face one. Again the woman I saw was very kind and a human being not like the PIP robots. And told me I qualified for the health part of UC.

So I had UC and health UC which they back dated to the day my caseworker asked for it . It's paid in arrears and stopped once I got my full state pension in April but they still sent the money the owed me.

I finally went to PIP tribunal 29th August 2023 with a Brain Charity support worker for moral support. They call it a tribunal but really it's a court as your decision letter comes on Crown court paper. The tribunal was headed by a judge ,a doctor and a disabled man. They couldn't have been kinder and it's all recorded. Usually takes a hour but after 50 mins they had enough evidence. And asked to wait outside. It wasn't 10 mins and they had me in and awarded me enhanced PIP for living and enhanced PIP for mobility indefinitely and back dated until 7th March 2022 when I asked for the forms which my daughter had filled in for me and I sent 45 copies of GP and consultants letters .

The judge apologised for how I had been treated and in his decision letter which also went to DWP PIP department he made it clear how badly I had been treated by them .

If you don't get any PIP if it's heart related get an appointment with Citizens advice and they will help you fight it. If you have a neurological condition get in touch with the Brain Charity it's based in Liverpool but they help people all over the country .

My solicitor was in Manchester we never met but talked on the phone and emailed.

For those reading this who is state pension age get in touch with CA as they helped me and get £70.04 pension credit per week. This is the first year since my husband died in 2004 aged 47 that I haven't worried about money and this winter will have the heating on more than 3 hours a day. Plus I had my first holiday for 19 years.

Premier inns have accessible rooms for walking disabled and wheelchair uses . And the rooms are perfect for my needs . Lower beds large shower room. In fact went on 2 holidays May I went to Berwick upon Tweed and September to York. Yesterday booked for Llandudno in May as they only have a number of accessible rooms so I book well in advance and have meal deal and Flexi booking which means I can cancel up to 1pm on arrival day and get full refund . I only go Monday to Friday via train and have the brilliant assistance travel .

Fingers and toes crossed for you but don't give up trying .

[Turnipgirl in reply to Murderfan58]

That's lovely going to Llandudno in May and having something nice to look forward to!

There's that lovely grand pier at Llandudno isn't there and the great orme?

Rhyl used to be great years ago but nowadays it has gone to the dogs!

[Murderfan58 in reply to Turnipgirl]

Pier and great orme on my list of things to do in May. Thank you .

[Turnipgirl in reply to Murderfan58]

I went to York years ago to the Castle museum there on Christmas eve and we had rung them up to see if they were open or not and they were but were closing at 2pm which was fair enough so off we went!

Then just after 2 a young family arrived only to be turned away as they were closing early!

Lesson is on days like Christmas eve before heading out give places a ring to see if they are open or not!

I have been to the Yorkshire museum there which was really good and to the York dungeon which I enjoyed.

When I was 11 Jorvik had just opened and there was a fuss over it so we had gone as a family and you go round the museum in a car!

Also when I was 11 we had a school trip to Northumberland and one evening we were told no fish and chips because it was too late!

[Murderfan58 in reply to Turnipgirl]

I went on the hop on hop off bus the ticket was £13 for 2 days had 20 stops . The guides where funny and I spotted the black cats and even the white one. The bus stopped near the hotel . Went to the art museum, museum and York regiment museum. The shambles had soon nice shops but some Harry Potter stuff that was over the top. Had lunch in the Golden fleece it was built in 1509.Had afternoon tea at Betty's it was delicious. Had a tour of artisan chocolate makers but we could only look at it through the windows outside and we had 5 smalls pieces of chocolate and supposed to taste the difference . I just said it tasted of chocolate. I am not pretentious. But the woman who was with her husband said she could taste citrus etc he looked at her in amazement. Wasn't worth the £9.50 .

[L8Again]

My daughter has a congenital heart condition and her heart is now fully paced. She cannot work because of her heart condition. She was awarded PIP some years ago. This was a tortuous process which required her to provide detailed medical records with comments from her cardiologist at The Royal Brompton Hospital. The initial assessment was face - to - face backed up with a wheelbarrow load of supporting paperwork.

Last December, she lost her PIP on review after a telephone conversation with an assessor ( a function which I believe is outsourced). Rather than go through the protracted Appeal process, she submitted a new application for PIP. PIP was reinstated without any further meetings or discussion on the basis that the new medical advice indicated no material change to justify the withdrawal of PIP.

The Tory Government at the time was attempting to reduce the benefits bill that is crippling our economy. They were right to do so. Sadly this does mean that some deserving cases will not immediately get the support that they need: hence, the need to fight on. When it comes to benefits, I sense that the present Government will also have no option but to try to reduce the benefits bill given that we have an aging population and reducing workforce.

[Murderfan58 in reply to L8Again]

PIP phone assessor can be anyone and they don't need medical background . To be honest it's not fit for purpose. Plus I have lost count of the people who said they got turned down on phone assessments and MRN.

Very glad your daughter got hers back. But not fair to put her through all that stress.

PIP assessors are not human and I think they have a quota of how many they have to give zero to everyday. They forget anyone can become disabled at any age through any means . And need the financial help from PIP payments .

What annoyed me most . When my solicitor asked me to get a copy of the assessors report I was waiting a hour to speak to someone and every 10 mins a recorded message said Ukrainian nationals don't worry your PIP payments won't stop. This was in July 2022. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[scentedgardener]

Just a thought, if you aren't successful with your application you can ask them to reconsider the decision, and the next step is an appeal. You can use the fact that they have only assessed you over the phone to question the validity of their decision.

[Qualipop]

Join the Benefits and Work website before your assessment. There's a small charge but it's worth its weight in gold for the advice given