Pip Renewal - Tel from DWP then Text from IAS - High chance of an Assessment?

Portlanders

So i completed my renewal form last year, and yesterday, out of the blue, I received a call from DWP ( 0800 072 0161) - from someone who said they were assessing my claim....security questions followed by some questions on what was happening at my long covid clinic - additional to what my main claim has always been, and I
I was told i would hear in due course. 

Then this evening i received a text message from IAS with the standard, we are managing your claim, we will look at the evidence, and decided of you need an assessment, etc, etc

I´m guessing the assessor has been unable to make a decision based on my answers on the renewal form, and the telephone conversation, and has referred it to IAS to conduct an assessment? 

If so, any idea on the likelihood of an attended / video / telephone assessment, and what the lead times currently are? 

Just shaken me a bit as i thought the process was the other way around and that it goes to IAS first, and then to the decision maker, not the other way around.

Thank you 

poppy123456

Sounds like it was a decision maker that rang to ask some questions to see if a decision could be made without having to send your file to the assessors.

As it was then sent to them then a decision couldn’t be made without doing that. They will now look at your form and evidence to see if they can do a paper based assessment. These are rare but possible. 

Portlanders

Thank you Poppy, that's as I thought and expect there to be an assessment now...would actually prefer an in-person one, but guess you don't get a choice?
Just hope things move quickly now to get a decision 

poppy123456

If you prefer face to face and it's a telephone then you can change it. 

Portlanders

Thank you, that's useful to know