Pip telephone renewal

[Oscarpops]

Afyer two extentions of my pip meaning it has been nearly 5 years since my orginal award which I had to get through a appeal tribunal. I have received a text today to say it will be a telephone assessment in two weeks. It's a date I can't do it due to work( if I'm at work as so far in the past year I have been off over 9.5 months),Is it good they have opted for a telephone assessment, is it good its at 9am so they haven't had time to speak to many others? Are you better requesting a friend on the call too or welfare benefits?

I'm a nervous wreck as if I loose this , the blue badge etc it will take away all my independence which is little to start with, I will not be able to go to work anyway as I need the blue badge and the money. I will not be able to even pay my household bills without it which I know it's not there for that but I need it to contribute to food, cleaning, heating etc

Before pip I had dla for life which obviously they don't do now but then after 2years of appeals etc I got awarded enhanced pip.

Since then my conditions have deteriorated all together hence all the sick leave. The gp is aware but because all the GPS at the surgery have changed none of them know me well which cinstantly worries me,

If they had asked for another report from gp shouldnt i have been made aware so i coukd first see it? . I'm also currently awaiting a mental health occupational health assessment as my mental health wellbeing worker has recognised after a multi team meeting I can't cope at home or going anywhere out of the home, this is anxiety on top of my fybromyralgia, back , arthritis conditions etc.

Has anyone one else experience the telephone assessment after such a long period of receiving it?

Is the fact its via telephone good , bad or indifferent?

Should I have someone with me on the call? Can I change the date and time due to my night shift the night before and that coming night...I've only just gone back to work after months of on of sickness and a massive 6 months sickness due to anxiety and fybromyralgia flare ups caused by anxiety and stress.

If they have asked for further gp information aren't I supposed to be able to see this before it is submitted to them?

I also now have a social perscriber, a community mental health wellbeing worker, a mental health occupational health, sessions with a pharmacist , more counselling through my union and work. More issues with flare ups .so I inform them of all this now or wait until the review?

The fact that's it's over the phone they cabt see my mobility conditions, obvious physical changes etc dies this mean they already believe this element as they have seen it before?

I am petrified sorry fir all the questions. X

[Dinkie]

Try not to panic. Have everything to hand for the assessment, highlight anything you need to tell them so that it doesn't get forgotten in the questioning. Have a drink to hand, it's really thirsty work answering questions. Ask them to repeat anything you don't understand. If they try to move on and you haven't fully explained the situation ask them to allow you to finish. If you need to change position and get comfortable tell them, they can't see it on a phone call!

Please try to do the date and time advised. You won't want to give them any excuse for treating you unfavourably. If possible have someone with you who can prompt you if you get confused or miss something.

DWP won't have asked your GP for anything, they rely on you submitting all relevant documentation. Rarely they may ask for something after the assessment. Did they know about the wellbeing worker, if not it won't hurt to send them a letter (don't forget to put your NI number and name on each piece of paper). Don't rely additional information being forwarded in time to the assessor so make sure you tell them everything. Ask them if the additional information has been provided then you will know one way or the other.

One final thing don't forget to breathe! good luck

[Jam1861]

Hi I had the same issues they do ask the gp about your condition if you look on your online medical records you will find they send your gp a form to fill in about your conditions tgey can only put what is on your medical records mine surgery was new to me as moved house cause of health so they just put that although I was a patient that I wad new to surgery so where nor able to answer. I would try to stick to the appointment snd have a copy of the form that you filled in to hand so you can see what you told them and as for tge blue badge you don't need pip to get that you can have one by applying to the council directly good luck try not to worry so much telephone calls are done most of the time now

[Oscarpops in reply to Jam1861]

Thank you. Are you better to have dome one with you on the call?

I can't do the appointment as I cant change shifts at work with less than 4 weeks notice and they have only give me 12 days. I have looked my at records I can see they requested a report on 31 5 24 for further medical evidence but it doesn't say anything else, . This has really worried me as the GPS at the practise now haven't a clue about my fybro and pain etc cos I get on with it, I have been in contact with them lots over my anxiety etc escially this ladt year ac I've hardly been at work due to it. I'm worried no one has discussed the request with me and all the GPS are new.

I've no idea even where the form is because I d7d it when my mum had just had a brain injury and I wasn't thinking straight, I'm still jot really because I've had so much to do with her for social workers, consultants , lpas etc. Normally I'm very careful with stuff for myself but I'm not in the right headspace.

At renewal when I previously had dla for life and now pip for nearly years is it common fir them to take it all off you? I'm terrified.

[Jam1861 in reply to Oscarpops]

Sorry on the last part lots of people on dla had there award removed when got to pip they do not do life time awards and the criteria is different dla is based on the conditions where pip is based on how your conditions affect your daily living so don't worry about that I know it is easy to say I am due review soon as award is untill next year I got 5 year award but I cannot work anymore and was working last time the reviewed mine was on phone to then they decided after an hour on the phone that they could no longer carry on the assessment cause of my speech and would redo it all on paper review even though my doctor was not ablebto tell them anything but they did have all my other medical records to work with a letter from my carers as well but to get pip they ask for medical records and letters but they don't actually need them to give you an award

[Oscarpops in reply to Jam1861]

Thank you. I work less than I did last time and the hours times have been adjusted to suit me since last time. In the last 16 months I have only worked a total of 2 months and that has been broken up. This has all been because of how my anxiety , mobility and fybromyralgia has effected my life.

I know we all have to go through it and I know it's rare they give long term awards( madness when lots of peoples like mine, physical conditions can only deteriorate. Mine was for two years but then kept getting extended through covid and it's actually currently extended until this December but did say they may do it befire , and they have.

I hope your goes well

[Jam1861 in reply to Oscarpops]

Did you send a copy of your access to work report to pip? Keep a copy of what they have at work with you as well so you can read it to her over the phone if she or he needs it the access to work report will have qhat type of chair and stuff you have and also if ant future intervention may be needed to change equipment if they believe your conditions will get worse they gave me 10 page report so I sent that in with a copy of my medical records and my work occ health reports as well you will be able to print them off cause the occ health at work should have sent a copy to you I also gave my occ health permission to speak with my GP when they needed to that way all of what gp and hospitals said was put into plain English in her reports

[Oscarpops in reply to Jam1861]

Hi. In a word no. Despite several requestes to access to work they never sent any report or detailed information about what I could have other than like for like as what I have with the new employer which I didnt go to.

My current employer are useless with communication they don't ever supply paper work or reports.i have had several occupational health assessments but they never supply paper work and currently everything has just been agreed through return to works verbally etc. I have done emails confirming working downstairs currently and chair repairs but that's about it.

I can't even find my renewal form that I copied , I've just got worse since mums brain injury that's caused massive flare ups for me and I've started hoarding things...that's why mental health occupational therapist is coming. I've no idea what I'm going to do.

I do know I can't do it in ten days time and I have received the official invite yet so when I do it may only be a few days away. I think I'm just going to have to ring them because when I've been up all night on shift is not a good idea

Thank you for your help I'm clearly not able to support myself with information here only what I can personally tell them. Gp hasn't got back to me I've rung them about what they have sent to dwp without even asking me but no reponse from them other than they will ring me.

I may try to work but that doesn'mean I don't have problems preventing everyday life. I don't leave my home other than work and I work nights cos can't go out in day

[Jam1861 in reply to Oscarpops]

It is your legal right to have your occ health reports and they are meant to always forward to you incase you need for hr cases for time off or capability hearings they are proof that you are protected by the 2010 act for disability and they cannot just get rid of you if your time off is li ked to underlying health conditions your hr will have a copy of the access to work report as well if you are a member of the union get them involved to get your paperwork if your not contact acas they will advise what to say and and what all your legal rights are but you need that paper work off them a copy of occ health report has to be sent to you and also a copy to your manager if you have given.permisson for them to do so if not they not allowed to send to anyone other than your self I would book appointment with them and tell them you will not leave the room till they full fil ther legal obligation and provide you with a copy of all medical records they have for you including there notes in full you are entitled to it and they have to provide it don't be fobed off by them that is good proof for dwp also give them contact details for the occ health nurse at work so they can contact her if they want to.

[Jam1861]

I would focus more on your physical issues than the metal ones as they may be judging on the statements that sunak put out when he decided to attack disabled and long term ill I had some one with me as I struggle with speech however it's good if someone is there they can help you if you get stuck you can also ask them to record the conversation on the phone for you if you put it on load speaker and then have them record it but don't tell them you are recording then you have proof if needed if the report is incorrect which is what I do the fact that you are still working they sometimes want to focus on that so tell them what difficulty you have at work and what work are doing to help so they give extra breaks you have a health buddy at work incase of flare or pain etc specialist equipment you may have through access to work if you have not seen access to work go online today at the gov website and book it. It takes forever for them to get to you but at least you can say you are waiting for them to do assessment but have no date as yet and the dwp can then check that you have applied just try to stay calm and if you need a minute on the call tell them you need a break although you cannot have time off work you can tell them that you have a medical appointment on the phone and need a private area to take the call they have to provide that it is a reasonable request you do not have to tell them it is a pip call just a medical call

[Oscarpops in reply to Jam1861]

A lot of my current pip is based on my mental health espcially the mobility part as the only place I can go alone is work and even then if there's a diversion or temporary traffic lights I cant do it. I work nights on because I couldn't make the journey at all if I had to go in the day. I've always worked but always had lots of sickness too. I have reasonable adjustments in place at work, access to work have assessed me in the oast few months but fir a new employer which I didnt go to as I couldn't manage the day time hours or getting here with my anxiety. I dint need any further adjustments in this work place as I get 5 mins every hour movement time, set break times, I dont hot desk, have my own special chair, specialist desk equipement, own parking place outside the door, I can be met by a member of staff if needed , I don't leave the building at all once in there until hometime, I have information on a support sheet so all managers are aware of my reasonable adjustments, currently I am working downstairs on a one to one basis because I can't be up stairs in the main office as I'm too anxious. I have jad counselling this year through the union, I have had input from community mental health well being , social perscriber, community mental health nurse, westfield counsellors in the past 8 months and this seams to be a pattern every year. Oh goodness like many of you I coukd go on and on but now I'm terrified I cant sleep despite being on a night shift last night all because of this. I had to fight to get the rates I did it was a battle for 18 months, I can't do that again if they change my entitlement I just don't have it in me. A lot 9f my support was my mum and 16 months ago she had a brain injury she lost her independence her capacity her home n much more I have had to help through thus when I have actually list the one person that came everywhere with me , so now the only place I can go is work. The appointment is 12 days away, I just can't do it after a full night at work no sleep then a night at work after it. It's the middle of my night time. I cabt get time off or change the pattern of the shifts at this short notice. I haven't even recuved the confirnation letter from pip yet just a text yesterday afternoon.

I can't cope with this at all, I'm.just getting over a massive flare up of fuvro and a succession of them every week fir the ladt 28 months at least with each one getting worse. This will just flare them up more and create insomnia again, I've only just started sleeping atter jabbing 6 days and nights in a row awake, sleeping tablets and melatonin didn't help, work helped by placing ke downstairs woth my manager and not in the call centre, I then started to sleep again but only on average 4 hours a day.

Sorry I'm going on n on, I just can't do this, this year I've attempted to take ny own life several times I have told the gp and its why again I'm with community mental health but I can already feel this tipping me that way,

I don't know what to do

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Oscarpops]

I am sorry you are at a point that you feel you are running out of options . Remember there are services available like Breathe, Mind or the Samaritans that can give space and a non judgmental voice on the other end of a phone. In the time I have been involved with the charity I have not had a conversation where every option available has been considered.

Some treatments take time, some need the person to be at the right point to accept them, and some are counter intuitive. Mood (Anxiety, Depression and other mental health elements) can greatly impact the way we feel pain. Having low mood not only makes us dwell on the pain but studies show it makes the pain feel worse.

So addressing stress, mood and other environmental factors can provide help to the pain. Please seek some further help from your GP and talk about how you are feeling.

Accessing mental health support and potentially antidepressants could help with both mood and your pain so I would talk to your CMHT and see what further support they can offer. Call your local mental health crisis team if needed. Having options is important and even what you have referenced is an option for some but it is a final one so please ensure that other things have been considered

[Merrrm]

Hi, I'm so sorry to read how distressed you are over this PIP review. It ought not be so terrifying but with so much relying on the outcome, it's not surprising so many of us are in a state of dread when we get the date for review. What time does your night shift end? You may have to stay awake to take the assessors call, but the call shouldn't take more than 30 - 45 mins.

You've had an awful lot going on so it's not surprising your mental health has taken such a hit. If you're feeling suicidal PLEASE reach out to someone... Samaritans, SOS for silence etc.

Don't worry that your GP's don't know you...the days have gone for most of us where we have a family GP who has known us forever. I've been with the same practice for 34 years and the turnover of GPs is astonishing with only one out of the 10 actually knowing me and she retires later this year.

You've had some good advice from others here and I can only endorse their comments. Take heart, the fear of this call is worse than the actual call. Best wishes x

[Doctormummy]

Try to relax. I will advice you to get someone with you who knows how your condition affects you and can prompt you in case you forget to mention any important information with regards to your condition. Go through your completed form and in your case you have ro explain to them the challenges you face with regards to your current working and the old GP medical.evidenxe you sent should be fine unless your current state of health or new health challenges is not mentioned then you can also let them know. I pray you get a very knowledgeable assessor who knows more about your condition. Goodluck

[10x10]

hi

I had my pip review a few months back over the telephone honestly it’s better than face to face I found

If you Google what are the pip questions they ask you it will come up so that will help you settled down a bit and familiarise yourself with the sort of questions they will ask

They are just normal questions about how your condition/s affect your life

One thing I remember reading was if they ask you a question just don’t go yes or no

For instance do you need assistance bathing

Yes my family or friend/partner or (career if you have one) will help wash the top part of my body waist up I can manage the bottom part but need assistance for the top part

Things like that

Try not to be to worried about it and know no it’s easier said than done

Also if you think there going to fast ask them to slow down or repeat the question I did and also said to them can you explain what you mean by that question

Just take your time and give little examples

Like the above one I said before not just yes / no answers

Hope this helps and good luck x

[DoubleMalibu]

When I couldn’t attend my appointment, I simply rung the telephone number on the DWP letter and asked if I could alter my appointment, due to health issues.

I couldn’t drive to the face to face appointment they had told me I was having, as i was quite poorly at the time, so I asked if I could have a telephone appointment instead.

The call handler was brilliant, really understanding and altered my appointment for me.

It didn’t go against me in anyway.

If it was me, in your position, I’d calmly just ring them and ask if they can alter your appointment time, to one that fits in with your job.

Good luck 🍀