PIP PHONE ASSESSMENT. How long after should I expect a decision?

alaskajade1987

hi I suffer from social anxiety and a few other mental health problems so I pleased when I was told I would have a phone assessment for PIP consideration… however I just want to check, does having a phone assessment mean you don’t need to have a face to face one? And one other question I have is .. my phone assessment is booked for next Wednesday how long (roughly) after that should I expect a decision?? I am soooo nervous I cannot begin to say but I know it has to be done 😬
thanks in advance for any help

poppy123456

The phone assessment replaces the need for a face face assesssment. The assessment can last anywhere from 20 to 120 minutes. Once the assessment report is returned to DWP a decision can take up to about 12 weeks.

alaskajade1987

Thanks so much poppy… this website is a godsend,  as benefits are minefield of confusing and not well communicated letters that end up giving more questions then answers .. it shows how much that your service is needed 👍 keep up good work and thanks again

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @alaskajade1987. It is the very least you deserve.

Thanks for your positive feedback. We all appreciate it and are glad you find this website helpful. 

I completely hear you with the confusion that benefits can bring. Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything else we can do to support you.

We are all here for you and listening to you. Take care for now and we will look forward to, hopefully, hearing from you again soon 

MC242

Hi @alaskajade1987 I myself suffer from social anxiety and severe depression, i've just submitted my PIP claim with the new online service, i found it so daunting and stressful but i'm glad it's done now. I like yourself hope i either don't have an assessment or just have a phone assessment as even the thought of that makes me stressed. how have you found the process so far?

L_Volunteer

Thanks for sharing your experience with us @MC242. It sounds really difficult that you have had similar experiences, especially as you have found it daunting and stressful.

It sounds like a relief that it is done now though. Wishing you the best of luck with it. Please feel free to let us know how it goes and if you need any further support in the meantime 

alaskajade1987

Thanks guys for your kind words I have found the whole PIP system extremely hard to navigate … I have my all important and slightly worrying PIP telephone assessment this Wednesday so I will let you all know how I get along and how I found it, perhaps it can even help some of you prepare and maybe give you insight to the questions they will ask..? I am definitely gonna let you know how it goes, until then I am anxious beyond words but fingers crossed this ordeal will finally be over soon 🙏🙄😊

MC242

alaskajade1987 said:

Thanks guys for your kind words I have found the whole PIP system extremely hard to navigate … I have my all important and slightly worrying PIP telephone assessment this Wednesday so I will let you all know how I get along and how I found it, perhaps it can even help some of you prepare and maybe give you insight to the questions they will ask..? I am definitely gonna let you know how it goes, until then I am anxious beyond words but fingers crossed this ordeal will finally be over soon 🙏🙄😊

That would be really helpful if you could. I hope it goes as smoothly as possible for you and they make you feel comfortable and at ease. If you ever need someone to talk to about anything i’m always here if you need a chat or just want someone to listen

alaskajade1987

Yeah I will definitely give you the low down on the phone assessment tomorrow I hope you get a phone appointment also as I know EXACTLY how you feel with regards to social anxiety… when did you start your PIP claim? I have found it to be a lot quicker then I was expecting as when I first made me claim in (November 14th to be precise) I was told I wouldn’t be dealt with for 6 months or so … which was very inaccurate and I was dreading a long drawn out process… thankfully that information was wrong and they took my social anxiety into consideration and gave me a telephone assessment 🙏 how far down the line are you with it all 😊🤞

poppy123456

The timescales are only ever a guide. Waiting times vary widely depending on the area you live. 

Most assessments are done by telephone, some are face to face and video call. 

MC242

@alaskajade1987 that would be amazing if you could. I submitted my claim online last Saturday (14th). I’ve already had the message saying they’ve recieved the form and evidence and then later on monday evening had a text from the independent assessment services saying they will be looking at all the information i’ve sent for the claim and will be in touch if i need an assessment so up to this point it has been really quick.
How are feeling today? I hope everyone goes ok for you tomorrow

alaskajade1987

He he thanks mc242 ! Yes they seem to be dealing with your PIP claim very quick as well ! which DEFINITELY takes the sting out of the process .. thanks so much for all the good positive energy, please keep me updated with your process, hopefully you too will be getting this done and passed as well and what a good way of starting  2023 for us both 🤞 anyway I let u know how it goes eeeekkkk ! 👍🙏😬

MC242

Hi @alaskajade1987 how are you feeling today after your phone assessment? I hope it went well for you and you didnt get too anxious 

alaskajade1987

Yesssss ! it was emotionally draining but the lady I had was fantastic and She LISTENED which was my biggest fear that she might not take everything down…so my gut is telling me it went ok… I also was thankful I made some notes to remind me about certain things I hadn’t mentioned on my PIP form and that helped, so if u forgot to mention stuff on your form maybe do the same as so much is running through your mind when your talking to them, little reminders really help 😊 I received text this morning which said my report had been received and they will be in touch (I am hoping that text happens to everyone the next day and not just me lol) 
I really liked the lady I had,  and I hope you get someone as sympathetic and as good at listening … have u received any assessment dates yet ?? And by the way all the questions I got asked were pretty much the same as what the form asked me just so you know 😊🙏 I will keep u guys updated on the outcome i am dying to know but it’s all a game of patience from here on out , thanks everyone that has helped me and given kind words, I felt so much more prepared yesterday thanks to you guys 😊😉

calcotti

alaskajade1987 said:

 I received text this morning which said my report had been received and they will be in touch (I am hoping that text happens to everyone the next day and not just me lol) 

Sometimes it's the same day. Basically they are writing the report as you speak to them.

MC242

aww i’m so glad for you, that’s great news you had a message from them that quickly hopefully it’s not too much longer before you find out the outcome. No haven’t had anything else yet but 🤞🏻 it’ll be soon i’m like you i just want to get that part over an done with if i have to have an assessment. 

Thank you for the pointers i’ll definitly do that as there were a few things i forgot to put on the form.
It sounds like you had a someone that is really understanding which is always a good thing as i’ve heard a lot of horror stories about some of the assessors. 

How are you feeling now? I hope you’ve had a good day today

alaskajade1987

Yeah I am just like you hun, I am happy to have it over with but it was so important that I did it as money is tight (no doubt it’s the same for everyone right now)  and my mental health worker said i should be entitled to it   … and by getting PIP it will at least help me a little financially , which takes the strain off day to day life (a bit anyway) 
I actually didn’t know anything about PIP etc I was awarded LCWRA which basically is being signed off looking for jobs etc… as I my mental health is too severe right now.. so literally  started this process from the 14th November that is from when I called to now, so far it’s been a quick turn around… anyway when did u actually apply for it? ( sorry if I am being nosy just like to get an idea of other peoples time scales?) I am currently living in south east London I don’t know if areas have anything to do with how fast it is dealt with but all in all I have found it to be  a quicker process then I was expecting, but the fat lady isn’t singing yet 🤣 
i don’t know how or whether to apply for ESA after this as like I said I am on LCWRA and universal credit still but I am not gonna overwhelm myself! ONE assessment nightmare at a time 🤣 don’t suppose you know or have you yourself applied for ESA yet ? 😊 have a nice weekend 😉

poppy123456

alaskajade1987 said:

i don’t know how or whether to apply for ESA after this as like I said I am on LCWRA and universal credit still but I am not gonna overwhelm myself! ONE assessment nightmare at a time 🤣 don’t suppose you know or have you yourself applied for ESA yet ? 😊 have a nice weekend 😉

The only ESA you can claim would be New style ESA, if you've worked at any point in tax years 2020/21-2021/22 and paid the correct amount of NI contributions.

As you're also claiming Universal Credit there's no financial gain to claiming both of those together because the ESA is deducted in full. However, if you have paid the correct NI contributions it will be worth claiming because it's not means tested like UC is. Any savings/capital are ignored, as well as any pension of up to £85/week and a working partner.

You won't need another work capability assessment if you do claim because you've already been through it and found to have LCWRA.

rebel11

You are so fortunate to have had a nice Assessor.

My Assessor was like 'the speaking clock', just chugged along in a monotone fashion. There was a millisecond as he was about to break into laughter at the end of the assessment awarding me 'zero' points. He put the breaks on before he broke into laughter.    

MC242

rebel11 said:

You are so fortunate to have had a nice Assessor.

My Assessor was like 'the speaking clock', just chugged along in a monotone fashion. There was a millisecond as he was about to break into laughter at the end of the assessment awarding me 'zero' points. He put the breaks on before he broke into laughter.    

that's disgusting these are meant to be trained professional people doing these assessments, i think a lot of the time people only think of disabilities that can be seen they don't think mental health can be as bad if not worse in some cases and the pain we go through aswell. are you going to appeal if you get declined?

MC242

Good afternoon @alaskajade1987 I'm so glad that part is over for you now and hopefully its goes quickly now to get your decision. Hopefully that fat lady will be singing very very soon
I completely understand where you are coming from with regards to finances and i hope you get it and it helps as much as possible.

Do you get much support from family and friends?
Lol no i don't think you're being nosey at all, i started the claim on the 12/01/23 and then completed the online form on the 14th, i was going to ask you what area you were to see if different areas were going quicker than others too, I'm down by the coast (south east Kent). How long have you suffered with your mental health if you don't mind me asking? I've suffered with it for 20 years but had kept putting off applying for PIP as i didn't think i would be accepted for it.

@poppy123456 seems to be the best one with answers for that, I myself are going through a claim for Universal Credit and have just today sent off the Capability for work Questionnaire as i'm self employed and my mental health has severely affected me working over the past 2 years, so that's another assessment i may have to attend (more stress . did you have to go to an assessment when you did that?
 
Thank you and you, are you doing anything nice this weekend?