Phone call

EllieStar1989
EllieStar1989 Online Community Member Posts: 45 Contributor
I have a telephone PIP assessment coming up next Tuesday. I am currently on PIP low rate care + Low rate mobility. I have never had a telephone assessment before. I am worried about the assessment because I really struggle to make phone calls. My anxiety is very bad if I have to speak over the phone + sometimes I can’t even speak at all over the phone. I avoid phone calls where possible- my mum can be with me during my assessment but I am worried they will hang up because I can’t speak. 

Does anyone know what they will ask? 

I have ADHD + PTSD + other mental health issues + a long list of physical health issues. I sent evidence from my Doctor, psychiatrist and from other specialists.

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,458 Championing
    You can ring them to change it to a face to face assessment but you'll need to attend an assessment centre for this.
    Or you can put your phone onto loud speaker so your mum can hear what's being said.
  • Blue_eyes
    Blue_eyes Online Community Member Posts: 97 Contributor
    Hello EllieStar1989 🙂
    Surely no one hung up on you.
    During my telephone assessment I had a panick attack and assessor gave me time to calm down. And regarding questions. Everyone are asked about something else. They asked me about medication I take. And when my back problem and depression started. Plus a few selective questions from the application we filled out earlier. Everyone are afraid of talking on the phone,but many assessors are very understanding and helpful. And after conversation you realize that it wasn't that bad 🙂
  • ste_r
    ste_r Online Community Member Posts: 62 Contributor

    I had phone call last week, told assessor my sister was there, was on loud speaker

    She said my sister could speak if needed, not for everything and all the time

    Mine lasted hour and half, if I couldn’t/wouldn’t speak, would of been longer, just wanted it done

    It makes you feel if you talk about things, or don’t it may go against you, like you can communicate, or you won’t, depends how assessor twists it

    I did what people on here advise, quiet space, notes forms etc on hand, prepare for some arkward questions like I wasn’t expecting, not on my review form

    Do you have a dog

    How far is your bathroom

    How long to get there

    Do you use phone for games/music

    How long to get to your car(not how far)

    How do you get into it

    Then hypotheticall questions

    If you had to go some different , could you

    If I had to go shop by myself could you

    Do you drive

    Lot of if questions

    Just stuck to my original, answers

    At times don’t know if these were standard questions, or trick ones that wasn’t on my review form

    Just be prepared for anything and good luck