Pip recording assessment

destinymoon

Can anyone advise on how to record pip assessment over the phone please? I see people advising to always  record  the assessment but unsure how to? Also, if able to do you have to tell the assessor you are doing so? Thanks 

poppy123456

Yes you can record an assessment by using a mobile phone if you have one. 

You should tell them that you’re recording it. If you don’t tell them then you will not be able to use it if you need to challenge the decision.

Ive never personally recorded any assessment.

Albus_Scope

Hi @destinymoon, as Poppy has said, you are allowed to record the assessment, BUT you have to ask for the assessors permission first. It's unlawful to use a recording as evidence with a third party without consent. 
   Many people just use a friends or partners mobile phone to record, nothing too high tech. 

destinymoon

Thanks for advice 

onlymeagain

I agree with the above. I have an app on my phone (Call recorder) that automatically records all calls. I actually forgot I had it as it saves the files but I'm not notified. Being able to go back and listen to my assessment again was a great help and as I made a transcript from it (for personal use) I was able to quote exactly what was and wasn't said.

WhatThe

Hi destiny, i doubt very much the assessor would agree to your recording and may just decide to terminate the assessment. Remember that the assessor is not your adversary - that is the DWP decision maker who will have sight of all your supporting medical evidence and awards past and present. 

Mobile phone recordings are never admissible in a court hearing though - they need to be on a digital voice recorder.   

Albus_Scope

Looking online at several legal websites; A recording may be unlawful (under civil law) if it constitutes a misuse of private information, a breach of confidence, a breach of GDPR or Data Protection regulations. One of the questions for the court is whether the individual had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the particular circumstances.
Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), it is not illegal for individuals to tape conversations provided the recording is for their own use. Recording or monitoring is only prohibited where some of the contents of the communication are made available to a third party.

destinymoon

Thanks for all the advice. I have seen on capita website that you can actually ask for the assessment phone call to be recorded. They  give you access to the 
recording afterwards. 

WhatThe

Of course you can ask well in advance but you won't know that it will be recorded - you may get excuses on the day or discover oops something else went wrong after the event.

If it's important then record it yourself and don't imagine you can trust what you are told or what you have read.

jamie8093

I had mine done by capita being recorded , i asked to to record it before we started and after the assessment they sent me a copy of the recording by email , at least that was in my experience, maybe different for others .

destinymoon

Have my assessment today(phone) didn’t ask for recording after reading earlier replies on  here! So many differences of opinion. Call was booked for 1:30, just received a call from someone saying assessor is running late. Anxiety is going through the roof. 

nasturtium

I would just like to add to the conversation that there should be no need to record your assessment because your assessment should be based on what you put on your PIP2 Questionnaire form. So the more personal written anacdotal evidence you include on your PIP2 Questionnaire form that is relevent to your problems and the descriptors the less chance of you needing an assessment and having an inaccurate outcome. The proof will be in writting on your Questionnaire form which is better than having audio proof because the PIP2 form is an official document that you sign to say that all the information on that form is accurate and truthful.

Nasturtium

michael57

nasturtium said:

I would just like to add to the conversation that there should be no need to record your assessment because your assessment should be based on what you put on your PIP2 Questionnaire form. So the more personal written anacdotal evidence you include on your PIP2 Questionnaire form that is relevent to your problems and the descriptors the less chance of you needing an assessment and having an inaccurate outcome. The proof will be in writting on your Questionnaire form which is better than having audio proof because the PIP2 form is an official document that you sign to say that all the information on that form is accurate and truthful.

Nasturtium

icould not agree more with your reply when i applied for pip following my strokes my she who must be obeyed let me fill in the forms and sent in copies of everything we had i had a paper based assessment and was awarded for 10 years the more valid information you give them the easier it is 

est1980

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/795483#Comment_795483

You are allowed to record your assessmenr covertly AND the tribunal-of it goes thet far will admit it as evidence

You do not need permission to record your assessment and they cannot refuse to be recorded

All that happens of your do tell them is ask you to agree to some terms regarding how you use it. Even then, those terms aren't legally enforcable

Private citizens are not bound by GDPR

est1980

What should happen and what does happen are 2 different things. The case manager/descision maker listens to what the health professional says and sticks with the recommendations the HP gives for point. When your HP lies on your assessment which is common practise, it will just be your word against theirs if you don't have a recording of it.

est1980

Mos

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/114219/pip-recording-assessment

I know you've probably already had your assessment, but for anyone coming after, I would recommend if possible using a 2nd phone,(maybe you have an old phone youbdontbuse anmore or you can borrow someone's for an hour?) with a voice recorder app or a dictaphone app -most have them built in these days, If not you can get onen from the app store or Google playstore and have your call on speaker phone

Using a call recorder on the phone you are taking the call on isn't recommended as they can often fail, only record 1 side of the call of 1 side isn't clear

Hope this is helpful to someone

Ledzepgreg

Hi all.

From past experience from being a support worker, I would lean to having a recording of conversations if you wish. My reasons are this.....I have sat in on PIP assessments in the past for clients- at assessment centres, homes and supported clients for Mandatory reconsiderations/PIP case challenges at hearings. Though assessor's are 'trained' to do their job, some still haven't grasped the 'nuances' of personal health circumstances (and if would appear they have targets to hit, or so it seems). I have been told to be quiet by an assessor while advocating for a client several times (someone CAN advocate on behalf of a client), involved in cases won when it went to tribunal after initially failing the claim (tribunal case for one lady with learning difficulties only took 20 mins and given unanimously full backdated PIP for 3 years....begs the question, why the claim failed in the first place).

So, personally, if you feel it is something you would want to record, then do so. Many PIP claimants give in their failed claims at the first hurdle due to stress/anxiety. Having a recording is back up to your case if it goes further. It's your decision.