My PIP assessment video call

JH2022

I am already on PIP and this is my assessment review but I am worrying about this assessment as its a video call I have social anxiety and hate any contact with people my original assessment was a home visit which I was worried about however I did find it easier to deal with as my assessor made me feel at ease and she never rushed me during the assessment should I phone them for another home visit? I am worrying about this video assessment as I don't feel ready for it plus a family member told me it's just a way to reject your claim they can argue you can hold a phone for an hour so I don't need help or I can sit at a desktop and type on a computer. I have not been to my GP in a long time just before covid started and that's because I hate going outside I don't interact with people and avoid them the last time I went to my local shop I had a panic attack and had to walk home and not eat that night because I couldn't bare going in the shop I do not have a mobile anymore only a house phone but I have a desktop computer to talk to my family so the video call would be on my desktop I am on 3 different medications for my illnesses which make me feel like a zombie all day and night my mind is a complete mess and this assessment is making me feel sick. has anyone had this assessment and what was it like?

durhamjaide2001

Hi there unfortunately I can't help with the assessment in anyway as this isn't my area of expertise and I haven't had an online assessment. However all you can do is explain you have anxiety and see what they can do if anything for you.  

poppy123456

They no longer do home assessments and haven't since the start of the pandemic and it's very unlikely they will start back anytime in the future. You can change it to either telephone or face to face at an assessment centre.

JH2022

poppy123456 said:

They no longer do home assessments and haven't since the start of the pandemic and it's very unlikely they will start back anytime in the future. You can change it to either telephone or face to face at an assessment centre.

Thanks for your reply, well I guess I will just have to do this video call assessment, I just can't bear going to an assessment centre

poppy123456

You can change it to a telephone assessment if that's better for you. You can also have someone with you for either of those assessments. If it's telephone you can put it onto loud speaker so the person with you can hear what's being said too.

If you kept a copy of the form you returned (you should have) then have a read of that before the assessment to remind yourself of what you said. Some people find it helpful to write some notes before the assessment so you have something to refer to. Personally, i don't find that helpful because i just get too flustered.

Try not to answer any questions with just a yes or no and try to give as much detail as possible. Make sure your phone is fully charged before the assessment if you're using a mobile and have a drink next to you. The assessment can last anywhere from 20 to 120 minutes, sometimes longer.

JH2022

poppy123456 said:

You can change it to a telephone assessment if that's better for you. You can also have someone with you for either of those assessments. If it's telephone you can put it onto loud speaker so the person with you can hear what's being said too.

If you kept a copy of the form you returned (you should have) then have a read of that before the assessment to remind yourself of what you said. Some people find it helpful to write some notes before the assessment so you have something to refer to. Personally, i don't find that helpful because i just get too flustered.

Try not to answer any questions with just a yes or no and try to give as much detail as possible. Make sure your phone is fully charged before the assessment if you're using a mobile and have a drink next to you. The assessment can last anywhere from 20 to 120 minutes, sometimes longer.

I think I will just go ahead with this video call assessment and just hope the assessment is short, my first assessment home visit lasted 10 mins but all I can do is just tell the person how my mental health affects my daily life and hope this person actually cares because when I first had a pip assessment the lady was rushing and I noticed she didn't care about my condition and I was awarded 0 points, I reapplied and was awarded pip and given 18 points for daily living after getting a home visit. I am just worrying about losing my benefit because I am struggling now as it is I do not know how I would survive if support was taken away, I do get Universal Credit as well but I am guessing that would be reduced after a pip refusal. Thanks for your advice I have till the 8th Feb to get prepared.

poppy123456

JH2022 said:

I do get Universal Credit as well but I am guessing that would be reduced after a pip refusal.

That will depend on your circumstances. If you live alone and you're under 35 living in a privately rented home then you need a daily living award of PIP to be entitled to the 1 bedroom rate of local housing allowance.

If you're claiming UC with a partner and they are claiming carers element of UC for looking after you then you need a daily living award of PIP for that to continue, otherwise it will end.

JH2022

So I had the assessment today, it only lasted 20 mins and she asked me like 6 questions so not sure if if I should be worried as it was so short but just got to wait and see I guess.

poppy123456

The time it took doesn’t mean anything other than no further questions were needed to be asked.
Once the report is returned a decision can take up to 12 weeks.