Daughters PIP assessment

Donnamc28
Donnamc28 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
in PIP, DLA, and AA
My daughter is 18 and suffers from Anorexia Nervosa and has received a recent diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. She does work between 8-14 hours a week at Greggs and has just started. She didn’t get any letter or text message to inform her of this but all of a sudden today, when she was walking home from work pip rang her and started firing out lots of questions at her like can you get the bus alone? It must be hard working at greggs with an eating disorder? Do you need prompting to wash, dress eat etc. She was so caught off guard and wasn’t told this was an assessment. The phone call didn’t last very long and now she is very anxious. Is this a normal thing for pip to do? Was this an assessment? I’m so annoyed as it’s left her in such a state. They shouldn’t be allowed to do this without prior warning. It’s almost like they were trying to catch her off guard to catch her out.

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,056 Championing
    If they are just ringing to ask a few questions then this isn't a full assessment and they don't have to send out an appointment date or time. When this ring like this they are trying to see if a paper based assessment can be completed.
  • JBS2022
    JBS2022 Scope Member Posts: 2,074 Championing
    This is completely normal if they are considering a paper based assessment.
  • rebel11
    rebel11 Community member Posts: 1,671 Pioneering
    It's 'not great', the DWP should inform a claimant that they will be making contact before any contact is made. For a number of reasons I can think of, one such reason is that the DWP warns about scams. 

    Here is the DWP Charter - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-customer-charter/our-customer-charter
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,056 Championing
    rebel11 said:
    It's 'not great', the DWP should inform a claimant that they will be making contact before any contact is made.
    Not when they just have a few questions to ask. If it's a full assessment then they should give at least 2 weeks notice.

  • elise84
    elise84 Community member Posts: 41 Connected
    Think this is common now, it avoids any delays in making decision on what type of assessment is needed, as if they sent a letter for every appointment made it would delay the claim longer
  • Donnamc28
    Donnamc28 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    If they are just ringing to ask a few questions then this isn't a full assessment and they don't have to send out an appointment date or time. When this ring like this they are trying to see if a paper based assessment can be completed.
    What does that mean to see if just a paper based assessment could be completed? So she might not even have an assessment? Thought everyone who applied had the right to one especially when they didn’t go through her conditions or anything.
  • Donnamc28
    Donnamc28 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    I know a lot have said this is normal and Thankyou for the replies but she said they were just firing questions at her and I think to make a comment like “Ot must be hard to work at Greggs when you have Anorexia” isn’t really on. She does find it difficult but she’s got a strong work ethic. I had to persuade her not to work full time as it was making her so poorly before as her BMI is only 15 and her poor body couldn’t take it.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,056 Championing
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    If they are just ringing to ask a few questions then this isn't a full assessment and they don't have to send out an appointment date or time. When this ring like this they are trying to see if a paper based assessment can be completed.
    What does that mean to see if just a paper based assessment could be completed? So she might not even have an assessment? Thought everyone who applied had the right to one especially when they didn’t go through her conditions or anything.

    A paper based assessment is done when they have enough of information to write the report. In cases like this a full assessment isn't needed. If it's possible to do this i have no idea why someone would choose to put their self through a full assessment.
    Between my daughter and myself we've had 3 paper based assessments in the past 4 or 5 years.
  • rebel11
    rebel11 Community member Posts: 1,671 Pioneering
    poppy123456 said:
    rebel11 said:
    It's 'not great', the DWP should inform a claimant that they will be making contact before any contact is made.
    Not when they just have a few questions to ask. If it's a full assessment then they should give at least 2 weeks notice.

    My posting is saying, the DWP should change that, a text stating that 'you will receive a call from the DWP in the next couple of hours', it's all that's needed, hardly 'burdensome'.
    If the DWP want information, the Claimant needs to be engaged. We are all different, we all process things differently. 
  • rebel11
    rebel11 Community member Posts: 1,671 Pioneering
    EDIT -

    If the DWP want information, the Claimant needs to be engaged in that conversation.
    We are all different, we all process things differently i.e. questions etc.
    Some Claimants need prepare and ready themselves as they suffer from anxiety.  
  • rebel11
    rebel11 Community member Posts: 1,671 Pioneering
    Donnamc28 said:
    I know a lot have said this is normal and Thankyou for the replies but she said they were just firing questions at her and I think to make a comment like “Ot must be hard to work at Greggs when you have Anorexia” isn’t really on. She does find it difficult but she’s got a strong work ethic. I had to persuade her not to work full time as it was making her so poorly before as her BMI is only 15 and her poor body couldn’t take it.

    I can see how that would hamper the progress your daughter has made.
    She doesn't need comments like that.



  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 11,209 Championing
    What happens if you don't pick up the phone as I will never answer the phone to a strange number? 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,056 Championing
    durhamjaide2001 said:
    What happens if you don't pick up the phone as I will never answer the phone to a strange number? 

    DWP do not withhold their number.
  • Donnamc28
    Donnamc28 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    If they are just ringing to ask a few questions then this isn't a full assessment and they don't have to send out an appointment date or time. When this ring like this they are trying to see if a paper based assessment can be completed.
    What does that mean to see if just a paper based assessment could be completed? So she might not even have an assessment? Thought everyone who applied had the right to one especially when they didn’t go through her conditions or anything.

    A paper based assessment is done when they have enough of information to write the report. In cases like this a full assessment isn't needed. If it's possible to do this i have no idea why someone would choose to put their self through a full assessment.
    Between my daughter and myself we've had 3 paper based assessments in the past 4 or 5 years.
    But what does that mean? Does it mean you are awarded pip? I wanted her to have the full assessment so she could fully get across how her condition is affecting her. I don’t get how they can decide that on a few questions only?
  • JBS2022
    JBS2022 Scope Member Posts: 2,074 Championing
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    If they are just ringing to ask a few questions then this isn't a full assessment and they don't have to send out an appointment date or time. When this ring like this they are trying to see if a paper based assessment can be completed.
    What does that mean to see if just a paper based assessment could be completed? So she might not even have an assessment? Thought everyone who applied had the right to one especially when they didn’t go through her conditions or anything.

    A paper based assessment is done when they have enough of information to write the report. In cases like this a full assessment isn't needed. If it's possible to do this i have no idea why someone would choose to put their self through a full assessment.
    Between my daughter and myself we've had 3 paper based assessments in the past 4 or 5 years.
    But what does that mean? Does it mean you are awarded pip? I wanted her to have the full assessment so she could fully get across how her condition is affecting her. I don’t get how they can decide that on a few questions only?
    If the form is filled in correctly all the relevant information should be included, they usually only do Paper Assessment if they have enough info to make a decision.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,056 Championing
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    If they are just ringing to ask a few questions then this isn't a full assessment and they don't have to send out an appointment date or time. When this ring like this they are trying to see if a paper based assessment can be completed.
    What does that mean to see if just a paper based assessment could be completed? So she might not even have an assessment? Thought everyone who applied had the right to one especially when they didn’t go through her conditions or anything.

    A paper based assessment is done when they have enough of information to write the report. In cases like this a full assessment isn't needed. If it's possible to do this i have no idea why someone would choose to put their self through a full assessment.
    Between my daughter and myself we've had 3 paper based assessments in the past 4 or 5 years.
    But what does that mean? Does it mean you are awarded pip? I wanted her to have the full assessment so she could fully get across how her condition is affecting her. I don’t get how they can decide that on a few questions only?
    No, it's not 100% guaranteed but i've heard of very few people that have been refused this way. As i advised if they have enough of information to write the report they will do a paper assessment. If they have just a few questions to ask they will ring without warning you to ask those questions.

    I really don't understand why you would want to put anyone through the anxiety of a full assessment if it's not needed.

    I think you're making this out to be worse than what it actually is.
  • Donnamc28
    Donnamc28 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    If they are just ringing to ask a few questions then this isn't a full assessment and they don't have to send out an appointment date or time. When this ring like this they are trying to see if a paper based assessment can be completed.
    What does that mean to see if just a paper based assessment could be completed? So she might not even have an assessment? Thought everyone who applied had the right to one especially when they didn’t go through her conditions or anything.

    A paper based assessment is done when they have enough of information to write the report. In cases like this a full assessment isn't needed. If it's possible to do this i have no idea why someone would choose to put their self through a full assessment.
    Between my daughter and myself we've had 3 paper based assessments in the past 4 or 5 years.
    But what does that mean? Does it mean you are awarded pip? I wanted her to have the full assessment so she could fully get across how her condition is affecting her. I don’t get how they can decide that on a few questions only?
    No, it's not 100% guaranteed but i've heard of very few people that have been refused this way. As i advised if they have enough of information to write the report they will do a paper assessment. If they have just a few questions to ask they will ring without warning you to ask those questions.

    I really don't understand why you would want to put anyone through the anxiety of a full assessment if it's not needed.

    I think you're making this out to be worse than what it actually is.
    I don’t think I’m doing that at all. This is the first time she’s applied for PIP and it was new to both of us. If she gets it great but if she doesn’t then I won’t be happy as she hasn’t had the chance to get the full details about her difficulties across. She has a lot of anxiety and bad panic attacks and she was in such a state afterwards. She wouldn’t eat at all. She was crying and was anxious for the rest of that day. She was prepared for an assessment but with notice. A simple text the day before would have even sufficed so she knew to expect it. You can’t say I’m making it out to be worse that it is when you don’t know my daughter and how much this affected her. She’s ill enough as it is and this just made her worse.
  • Cartini
    Cartini Community member Posts: 1,107 Trailblazing
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    Donnamc28 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    If they are just ringing to ask a few questions then this isn't a full assessment and they don't have to send out an appointment date or time. When this ring like this they are trying to see if a paper based assessment can be completed.
    What does that mean to see if just a paper based assessment could be completed? So she might not even have an assessment? Thought everyone who applied had the right to one especially when they didn’t go through her conditions or anything.

    A paper based assessment is done when they have enough of information to write the report. In cases like this a full assessment isn't needed. If it's possible to do this i have no idea why someone would choose to put their self through a full assessment.
    Between my daughter and myself we've had 3 paper based assessments in the past 4 or 5 years.
    But what does that mean? Does it mean you are awarded pip? I wanted her to have the full assessment so she could fully get across how her condition is affecting her. I don’t get how they can decide that on a few questions only?
    No, it's not 100% guaranteed but i've heard of very few people that have been refused this way. As i advised if they have enough of information to write the report they will do a paper assessment. If they have just a few questions to ask they will ring without warning you to ask those questions.

    I really don't understand why you would want to put anyone through the anxiety of a full assessment if it's not needed.

    I think you're making this out to be worse than what it actually is.
    I don’t think I’m doing that at all. This is the first time she’s applied for PIP and it was new to both of us. If she gets it great but if she doesn’t then I won’t be happy as she hasn’t had the chance to get the full details about her difficulties across. She has a lot of anxiety and bad panic attacks and she was in such a state afterwards. She wouldn’t eat at all. She was crying and was anxious for the rest of that day. She was prepared for an assessment but with notice. A simple text the day before would have even sufficed so she knew to expect it. You can’t say I’m making it out to be worse that it is when you don’t know my daughter and how much this affected her. She’s ill enough as it is and this just made her worse.
    Hi,
    As much as I sympathise with you and your daughter over the distress this is causing, you had the opportunity to get everything possible over when you completed the PIP application form.  I did 52 pages consisting of "answers" to the questions, evidence (mri scan results, prescriptions etc) and a diary covering a week.  My assessment was a paper-based one which resulted in Enhanced for Daily Living and 4 points for Mobility (which was changed at a later date to Enhanced).
    I`d "listen" to poppy when she gives advice; poppy has been through the assessment process several times not just for herself, but also for her daughter and was successfully awarded PIP following paper-based assessments.
    You may not like my comments, or those of other contributors, but we are trying to help you get the best possible outcome for your daughter.
    Andy


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