Pip telephone assessment , so worried

marshall71

Hi, I’m new to here but glad I found you. I have just had my PIP telephone review( sent my pack away last October so waited a year) I’m so stressed now, the person was lovely but feel they tried to trick me with some questions, I’ve been on pip for 6years and have higher rate for both, they asked about walking and I said I could walk so many pathing blocks ( unsure of distance) and they said so if you stoped for a rest for 5 minutes you could then walk it again, rest then go again? I explained no I couldn’t I could do that ( 6pathing stones) to get to appointment but it would utterly wart me out. Then asked if I dress myself and I said no as my helper has to due to my hands, no grip etc, it was met with , why can’t you dress yourself? Even although I’d explained , I felt all the questions were really questioning me, even although drs etc know why I felt they didn’t really believe me and set my anxiety through the roof. I hate this , I hate having to claim it and having to explain how much a failure I am. They said I will know in 8 weeks then said you’ll continue to get pip till then so this makes me think they’re taking it off me, am I being paranoid? Feel like I’m going crazy 

poppy123456

It's very easy to second guess yourself after the assessment and you'll likely continue to go over everything in your mind, it's perfectly normal and the majority of people feel exactly the same way as you.

The reason they ask those questions is so they can gather as much information as possible. When you filled out the form did you treat it as a new claim and not just put "no change" even if there were no changes? The most important part of any claim is the form you fill in and return and all claims should be treated as a new claim.

Once the report is written and returned a decision can take up to 12 weeks, rather than the 8 weeks you were told.

marshall71 said:

 then said you’ll continue to get pip till then so this makes me think they’re taking it off me, am I being paranoid?

Well that is actually true and i don't think you can infer anything from that statement at all. I know it's dificult but please try to think about something else while you wait for the decision. Once it's made you will be contacted.

Leigh14

Hi @marshall71. Please don’t think you’re a failure, you are definitely not🤗 Pip process is a hard thing to do in my opinion. Having to explain difficulties to the assessor, answering endless questions etc. I hope now it is over you can maybe find something to take your mind off it. By worrying/stressing, it’s not going to change anything. I understand completely though, as I tend to do the same!
Take care.

marshall71

Thank you both, if honest I can’t remember if I put no change, I think I did, I’ve never had a phone assessment it’s normally face to face so I didn’t copy my form before retuning it( wish I had now) you Ben so helpful, just have to hope it’s gone ok, thank you so much again 

Albus_Scope

Heya @marshall71 and welcome to the community! 

Please never think of yourself as a failure! Personally,  I know it can feel rubbish having to claim PIP, but it's help you're entitled to.  The world just trickier for disabled people, there's no shame in it at all.

We're all here to support each other, so you're in good company here.  

poppy123456

Most assessments are now by telephone. Some are face to face or video call. If you prefer face to face then you could have asked for that. 

You should always keep a copy for yourself before sending anything to DWP. 

Hopefully you won’t be waiting too long for a decision. 

marshall71

I’ve just had a text message to say my PIP review is complete and that I will have a letter in 2 weeks with my decision, it’s only been 2 weeks since my telephone interview and now panicking I’m not going to have it, I’ve been on higher rate for both for 6years and if I lose this I don’t know what I’d do, I hardly go to the drs as they say there’s nothing else than can be done and just up my medications, they’re wonderful but I don’t go. I feel this is very quick and I felt some questions like “can you cook a microwave meal?” I never got the chance to say yes but I wouldn’t be able to lift to put the item in the microwave or take it out due to my hands… I have such a bad feeling, the man was lovely  but when I’d say no to something he sounded fed up and replied why.. as if to say really you can’t even do that… my anxiety is through the roof, I’m sorry for the long post, I just am so worried.

BrettW

you can ring the PIP helpline and ask them for the decision if you are finding the wait stressful. They will tell you over the phone what the result is rather than waiting up to two weeks for the letter

marshall71

Ah I didn’t think you could as it says do not call before you get the letter as we will not be able to tell you the result. They honestly give so many people anxiety, if they can send text surely they could tell you either way and then the letter as confirmation. Thank you for your advice.

poppy123456

The letter advises you not to call them, it doesn't mean you can't.

marshall71

Just had my letter, awarded higher rate for both( same as previous) however said I can do certain things that I definitely can’t but I’m so relieved as the stress has been unbearable. Telephone review was 18th had text on Friday to say it was completed and I’d receive a letter within 2weeks and got it today so again I can breathe. Thank you all for the advise 

IMStruggling

marshall71 said:

Just had my letter, awarded higher rate for both( same as previous) however said I can do certain things that I definitely can’t but I’m so relieved as the stress has been unbearable. Telephone review was 18th had text on Friday to say it was completed and I’d receive a letter within 2weeks and got it today so again I can breathe. Thank you all for the advise 

I'm so happy for you.  WELL DONE.

AllyJ_62

Hi all 👋 I've received pip since 2021 and filled in a review form in February this year finally they got back to me   I've just had a my telephone assessment it was very in depth lasted 2 hours I am now totally exhausted 😩...I rang pip before I filled my form and the told me if your condition is the same put down "no change" If anyone is worried they have done this ...it is all very distressing and asking me how long it takes me to wash my face and do I need to rest in between and for how long !!!! Endless questions ..I have severe eosonophilic and allergic asthma cervical stenosis depression and anxiety plus many other problems too many to list 🙄...I was put on standard rate for personal care and mobility and my problems have got worse since 2021 I can no longer work as a support worker for the elderly which I loved I am totally reliant on my pip like I'm sure most of you are ..I will be anxious now till I get my result back 

chiarieds

Oh, I'm sorry your PIP assessment lasted so long, & the assessor needed to ask a lot of questions. Itr's very likely that it was very in depth as you received very poor 'advice' to just put 'no change' on your review form. Unfortunately when you ring PIp you're just getting through to a call handler, who shouldn't be trying to give benefit advice.

Anyway, it's good that the assessor instead gave you time to describe the difficulties you face, tho sorry it's left you feeling exhausted.

You should complete a review form giving as much detail as your initial claim pack for future reference.

poppy123456

AllyJ_62 said:

Hi all 👋 I've received pip since 2021 and filled in a review form in February this year finally they got back to me   I've just had a my telephone assessment it was very in depth lasted 2 hours I am now totally exhausted 😩...I rang pip before I filled my form and the told me if your condition is the same put down "no change" If anyone is worried they have done this ...it is all very distressing and asking me how long it takes me to wash my face and do I need to rest in between and for how long !!!! Endless questions ..I have severe eosonophilic and allergic asthma cervical stenosis depression and anxiety plus many other problems too many to list 🙄...I was put on standard rate for personal care and mobility and my problems have got worse since 2021 I can no longer work as a support worker for the elderly which I loved I am totally reliant on my pip like I'm sure most of you are ..I will be anxious now till I get my result back 

I'm hoping that you didn't listen to the person at the "call centre" and didn't just fill out the form with just "no change." You said your conditions have got worse since 2021 so this is one reason you shouldn't just put no change. 

Even if there's no change you still need to treat each claim as a new claim and include as much relevant information as possible.

Now the assessment is complete once the report is returned a decision can take up to 12 weeks.

AllyJ_62

Thank you for your advice very much appreciated