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Recording a PIP face-to-face assessment

Charliegirl

Im puzzled - face to face coming up with almost no notice. Rang about recording it and was told conditions.
Must be non digital and either a dual recording player or 2 identical models and whilst they can agree as he did the assessor has the right on the day to refuse if they themselves dont wish to be recorded??? Not fair and can they really do that?
Also if device must be non digital then why does it say in booklet can be recorded on tape of cd's as they require a digital device to record do they not?
Thank you.

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Comments

thespiceman

Hello @Charliegirl Pleased to meet you welcome.

Thank you for joining and sharing. Sorry to hear this.

Understand you are being nervous and anxious.

Do you have any support for the assessment.? May I ask.?

I am unsure of your question. There will be some one from our community who will advise or a member of our team.

We are a supportive community. Care and share, friendly.

Hope that helps.

Take care

@thespiceman

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @Charliegirl and a very warm welcome to the community. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us. Many of our members have had a face to face and they will know how you are feeling right now. Do you have any support to help you during this time? The rules around recording are complicated, here is another post on the community about it

chrisvanf

Hi @Charliegirl.

If it's a PIP assessment and you don't have the time to get recording devices then you could ask to read what the assessor is writing about you, (it says so in the PIP booklet) the assessor cannot refuse your request, he/she must allow you too see what he/she is writing.
Page 9 second paragraph down.

I wouldn't let the assessor tell me what they had written, I would want to read it for myself.

And on Page 11 FAQ's

Q Can I record my f2f consultation
A Yes-but you must let them know in advance by calling the Customer Service Centre. You'll need to supply all the recording equipment.

I recorded my appointment on two non-identical audio cassette machines, one machine I already had and the other I purchased from Argos along with the cassettes.
One of the health assessors in charge told my health assessor that she could not reasonably refuse the request if it was arranged beforehand with the DWP Customer Service Centre, which I had done, they will ring DWP to confirm though, they did in my case.,

I would ring the Customer Service Centre and tell them what you're going to do.

Hope you get it sorted, Good Luck

Charliegirl

Can things get worse after my earlier mail ...........worrying about f2f all week and then yesterday saw my consultant/surgeon to told I have a malignant tumour on my pancreas, annoyed a little as I told gP 3 yrs ago I was showing signs of Pancreatic Cancer and he sent me home with indigestion remedy but thats another issue. Consultant is sorting out some emergency appts ERCP and another something or another special tests to determine stage of cancer and I have to have these out of area as I have extreme internal scarring in that area already so need specialist to carry out tests- he said he hoped it would be end of this next week or early the next just be prepared for short notice journey. My f2f is Monday 24th I rang them up and said what is happening and they say sorry you have changed date once cannot do it again we will have to return papers as a no show if you dont arrive as not allowed to note down this explanation as anyone can make extreme excuses. Ring DWP and they say well they cannot make exceptions if I dont make the f2f to ring them and they will consider sending files back to Atos if I can provide written diagnosis for another appointment and not terminating claim BUT no promises??
Surgeon said yesterday we need all this tests before we sit down and make plans and Im not going to have anything in writing yet ... Jesus are DWP totally hearltless????

thespiceman

Hello @Charliegirl So sorry what has happened.

Please can I advise have to say why not write to them with a copy of any reports. I know if that is helpful or not. Something to consider.

All I can also say is speak to CAB for any other advice and please can I ask do you have any support for this.

Have you spoken to your GP can he advise and offer some support . Find some on line maybe.

I hope and wish you the best. Hope for a speedy recovery.

I am shocked at the way the DWP have been treating you .

Please take care

@thespiceman

Yadnad

Charliegirl said:

Im puzzled - face to face coming up with almost no notice. Rang about recording it and was told conditions.
Must be non digital and either a dual recording player or 2 identical models and whilst they can agree as he did the assessor has the right on the day to refuse if they themselves dont wish to be recorded??? Not fair and can they really do that?
Also if device must be non digital then why does it say in booklet can be recorded on tape of cd's as they require a digital device to record do they not?
Thank you.

Yes they can. It doesn't surprise me to learn that the assessing company can't see the link between digital and a CD recording. They should make that clearer. Of course a CD is recorded using the digital format. What they should have said is that a digital recording that does NOT produce two identical copies is a no no. Using a phone or mini recorder cannot be used as neither produce those copies.

Think of it as a digital recording made during a police interview - the same type of digital equipment is required.

Yadnad

Charliegirl said:

Can things get worse after my earlier mail ...........worrying about f2f all week and then yesterday saw my consultant/surgeon to told I have a malignant tumour on my pancreas, annoyed a little as I told gP 3 yrs ago I was showing signs of Pancreatic Cancer and he sent me home with indigestion remedy but thats another issue. Consultant is sorting out some emergency appts ERCP and another something or another special tests to determine stage of cancer and I have to have these out of area as I have extreme internal scarring in that area already so need specialist to carry out tests- he said he hoped it would be end of this next week or early the next just be prepared for short notice journey. My f2f is Monday 24th I rang them up and said what is happening and they say sorry you have changed date once cannot do it again we will have to return papers as a no show if you dont arrive as not allowed to note down this explanation as anyone can make extreme excuses. Ring DWP and they say well they cannot make exceptions if I dont make the f2f to ring them and they will consider sending files back to Atos if I can provide written diagnosis for another appointment and not terminating claim BUT no promises??
Surgeon said yesterday we need all this tests before we sit down and make plans and Im not going to have anything in writing yet ... Jesus are DWP totally hearltless????

I have experience of this with the DWP and the assessors. I too have a similar situation with my pancreas. I was told by my consultant in Liverpool that I should have the pancreas removed because of the dangers of it developing into full blown cancer. Then was advised that it is a 12 hour op and extremely dangerous.
Given my age (70) I decided to leave well alone and to see what happens.

Translating this into a PIP claim the issue has made me a poorly controlled Type 1 Diabetic plus a whole load of knock on issues such as an aneurism in the stomach wall etc, but the most debilitating part is the pain that comes with it all. None of that was accepted by the assessor or the DWP - it was reported that I simply suffered from indigestion and the pain factor is no worse than being constipated. My Consultant laughed at those remarks and said that they have no idea what they are talking about.

Not being able to show how the disease translates into points I gave up on that aspect of my claim along with the mental health problems that they also refused to accept.

Have you not considered looking at the Pancreatic Forum
https://www.pancreatitis-forum.org.uk/