Good morning all. I had a phone call on Wednesday, from a nurse at ‘Independent assessment services,. She said she was calling to get a bit more information about how Fibromyalgia affects me on a daily basis and also asked about my thyroid condition( didn’t mention my type of blood cancer though🤷🏻♀️)
She had all my details correct and asked about things I had written on the claim form. She was very pleasant and seemed to know exactly what I was describing.
The call was totally out of the blue, and really caught me by surprise. She said the call was to try and make sure that I didn’t get called up for a face to face assessment. This seems very sensible to me but, I’ve never heard of it before? Has anyone else had experience of this??
I’ve had a txt this morning from DWP saying they have now received my paperwork and it may be up to 8 weeks before I get a decision ( sent the forms back in June🙄)
Wishing you all a fog and pain free day!
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Delightedbyhares
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This seems like yours is a 'paper-based' assessment, i.e. no face to face assessment needed. This is indeed good news, as they're almost invariably successful. Do know, however, that everyone's automatically told it can take up to 8 weeks to get a decision, tho this can in fact vary anywhere from 2-12 week, & sometimes longer. Often money is paid into your bank account before you receive the decision letter.
Thats what happened to me! The phone assessment went ok & after. It, I thought, I don’t know why I was so worried about it. THEN the letter arrived refusing me PIP! And, the false information/incorrect information was shocking! It said I was depressed and acknowledged I was suicidal & on family /GP watch! I’ve never been diagnosed as depressed & never ever thought of suicide. I was shaking with upset. I did appeal & complaint about false information (obviously used a template for someone else & didn’t edit it competently. It’s shockingly bad. The MAR /appeal was refused again but no mention of the complaint or apology about what the decision maker wrote.
Hi yes I medically retired in March this year, good luck with your claim. I am hoping I get mobility this time as currently I get standard rate care only, sending hugs x
I had to retire in July from the job I’d done, and LOVED, for almost 18 years.
I’m still getting used to being at home all the time. I’ve noticed that my stress has reduced, but not the pain and exhaustion. I wonder what they will decide I’m entitled to?!?
It is strange not going to work, I to loved my job but it became harder and they wouldn’t but in the adjustments I needed after 23 years that made me angry I am glad I am out of it! Hopefully with the stress reducing the rest will follow, be kind to yourself and good luck xx
I know exactly how you feel. My employers did put some measures in place, but my work was physically and emotionally stressful and there was a huge element of unpredictability to manage!
People at work just didn’t understand why, I was exhausted and in pain even after a weekend off. I tried explaining- repeatedly that, Fibromyalgia doesn’t care if you’ve had a day or a week off. It just keeps on and on messing with your head and body in it’s sweet way, regardless!
Hi you need to find out if your pension provider allows it, then you need to apply for it via your employer. They then get you assessed by an independent medical officer and the report goes to the pension provider. It tends to be jobs connected to the Government, local Authority or NHS. If you have a union thats the best place to start. Good Luck x
I had a telephone interview which I found far less intimidating than the F2F I had I had and failed about 8 years earlier. I was so traumatised by the face to face I gave up. My family persuaded me to be intimidated (!!) again this time but it was a phone interview. It lasted about 2 hours but I was more confident and I was granted basic level PIP. I was so happy as I am 64 and no state pension yet. It has to be reviewed again when I get my state pension. It took 12 weeks to get a decision.
Hi there, I had my initial phone assessment that lasted over an hour. 4 weeks later I had a call from them again, just like you did. The lady was so lovely and just wanted a bit more information. One week later I received a big payment straight into my bank account backdated 5 months...the next day I received the letter telling me I qualified for Enhanced on both components of PIPI couldn't believe it as I was prepared to fight them. So receiving a second call can be positive. I wish you luck xx
They should have written to you first with an appointment date. That's what they did with me. I'm still waiting for the decision. If you are not happy with the decision, you must appeal it.
yes, that’s why I’m so confused. I had one phone call when I initially contacted DWP. They sent me the paperwork to fill in, which I did several months ago( well within the time frame) I was expecting a letter to tell me I had to go for an assessment… but no, just the call on Wednesday followed by a txt saying my paperwork had been received by DWP?🤷🏻♀️
I did include reports from 2 separate occupational health doctors, so maybe that, and the other medical evidence I sent through will be enough? Who knows!! Thanks for your message.
I had a call from the DWP, asking questions about my form, they said I would have to have an assessment at home as I can't get out due to agrophobia, that was 6 months ago, they like to keep you waiting don't they, my pip ran out in October but he said I would still get my money until I've been seen, he asked a lot of questions tried to trip me up ect. I wasn't expecting the call so didn't have my copy of the form with me. I hate it when we have to apply again that's enough to make you ill just waiting for a call or letter. Anyway we will see. Good luck to you Delightedbyhares.
Depending on how much evidence of your conditions etc you supplied to them, after telephone/F2F you may get a decision in as little as 2 weeks (I did), if you are one of the unfortunate ones that get rejected don't lose heart put in for a mandatory reconsideration straight away I was told a while back (probably before the C4 programme that went undercover at assessment centre) that a lot of people who apply themselves get rejected 1st time to try and weed out those trying to claim for lesser ailments although some with serious conditions were often rejected as well.
I took that on board when I submitted my claim and went for assistance to Citizens Advice who were exceptionally helpful and I had telephone assessment 3 weeks later and a decision just over 2 weeks later.
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