PIP F2F Assessment

bigjock123

My dla is coming to an end & i was told i would need to apply for pip, i did this at the end of october & on Saturday (yesterday Jan 4th 2020) i received a phonecall telling me that an assessor would be in my area this coming Monday (Jan 6th) & would it be ok for him to visit me between 11am-1pm, i am pleased to get a home visit as i thought they would refuse me one, so is this a good sign that my evidence has shown how bad my mobility is & i have a good chance of meeting the descriptors, as i'm afraid to get my hopes up after hearing so many horror stories about pip.

poppy123456

Hi,

Having a home assessment doesn't mean anything other than it's taking place in your own home, rather than at an assessment centre. It doesn't mean you'll automatically score points for any descriptors, that will totally depend on how your conditions affect you. PIP and DLA are different benefits with different criteria.

During the assessment you will need to verify what you wrote in the form and answer any additional questions. You'll be watched from the minute they arrive to the minute you leave.

You will need to answer all the questions yourself unless you have an appointee and then they will be able to answer them on your behalf.

Once the assessment is complete a report will be written and returned to DWP. Wait a week after the assessment and you can ring DWP to request a copy of that report. Once you receive it use the PIP descriptors online to compare the recommendations in that report against the PIP descriptors. From that you'll be able to see what points are recommended, if any. Usually they go with the report, it's rare to go against it. Of course you'll still need to wait for a decision to be made but if you're not happy you'll have 1 month to challenge that decision.

Your DLA will continue until a decision's been made on the PIP.

Good luck.

bigjock123

Thanks guys, i will keep you updated on how it goes & hopefully i'll recive some good news in a few weeks.

bigjock123

Quick update guys, got a phone call to tell me my assessment has been cancelled today & will now take place on 28th Jan, so now i will just have to wait a little bit longer to see how it goes. Will keep you updated as things progress.

Adrian_Scope

It's a shame it was cancelled last minute but it's good they've already given you another appointment. 
Best of luck with it @bigjock123. 

bigjock123

Thanks Adrian, the way i look at it is, i've waited this long, i can wait another 3wks, plus the longer it takes the longer i still get my dla.

bigjock123

Another update guys, just had another phonecall to tell me my assessment on 28thJan is also cancelled & it will now take place on 10th Feb, that's the 3rd date i've now be given, oh well the longer it takes, the longer i'll have my DLA.

Chloe_Scope

Sorry to hear this @bigjock123! It must be extremely frustrating. I hope it goes well on 10th February.

bigjock123

Thanks Chloe, hopefully it goes ahead on the 10th, it doesn't bother me,but my daughter wants to be there with me & she keeps having to change her day off to be here.

Chloe_Scope

Fingers crossed for you then @bigjock123! 

bigjock123

UPDATE...happy to say my home assessment took place on Monday, it seemed to go ok, guy was quite nice & at the end he gave me a quick examination to check some of my movements, he told me not to stand, but just do some minor movements sitting down, but he noticed how much pain i was in & stopped it immediately & told me to sit back & get my breath back & he wasn't going to bother me any more. Hopefully i get some news in the next 4-6 weeks, if i haven't heard anything by 8wks i've to give them a phone. The day after this, i received a text from DWP telling me they had received the assessors report & would be in touch with me in the near future.

blue32

Good luck 

Florine

Don't forget you can request a copy of the assessor's report now and have a look at it, if you want, before the decision is made.

Chloe_Scope

I'm glad to hear it went okay @bigjock123. As @Florine has suggested, you will be able to ring up and request a copy of the report. 

This will give you an indication about what decision to expect as the normally go with the report.

Please do let us know how you get on.

bigjock123

Update guys: finally got thru to dwp on tuesday & asked for a copy of the report, it came this morning & after adding up all the points for both criteria, it looks like i may get enhanced rate for both, if the decision maker goes with the report, just need to wait on the official letter now, but things look on the up, fingers crossed.

Adrian_Scope

Good luck @bigjock123. Fingers crossed!

bigjock123

Thanks Adrian.👍

Chloe_Scope

Hi @bigjock123, just wanted to see if you have received your report.

bigjock123

Hi Chloe, i received a copy of the assessor's report, which going by his scores ,if the decision maker agrees with, i would be awarded the enhanced rate for both components, but i still haven't received my official letter yet & when i phoned yesterday, they said it is taking upto 14wks at the moment for decisions to be made, so that was 9wks past on Monday, so just 5wks max to go, hopefully.

Adrian_Scope

Fingers crossed they go with the assessor report @bigjock123. Be sure to let us know.

bigjock123

I sure will Adrian, as soon as i know, the forum will know, that's a promise.👍

bigjock123

Hi guys, just to let yous know, i phoned dwp this morning & they told me that my letter had been sent out on April 24th & should arrive some day this week. She then went on to tell me that i have been awarded pip & the have awarded me the enhanced rate for both criteria, i was shocked she told me over the phone, but was also delighted with what she said, so i hope this gives other applicants some hope for their applications. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for all the help & advice you have given me thru this long & stressful process, don't know if i would have managed without you all being here for me, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you all ever so much.

chiarieds

Hi @bigjock123 - Congratulations. Delighted to read your news, & thank you for letting us all know. It's so good to hear about positive outcomes.

bigjock123

Update guys, finally recieved my official letter yesterday, i was awarded 14pts for daily living & 12pts for moving about & also it says they may need to get back in touch with me after 9th Feb 2030, so good news all round. Can anyone tell me if i need to inform the esa about this change in my circumstances & if i would eligible for any other benefits because of these changes.

Adrian_Scope

That's great news @bigjock123, a huge congratulations to you. PIP is ignored as income for any income-related benefits so you don't have to let anyone know. 
However, you could let them know just to cover all bases and so that you can check you're receiving any premiums you're entitled to.

bigjock123

Hi Adrian, that's exactly what i did & they've informed me that i'm entitled to sdp, they filled out the application over the phone & sent it to be processed.

Lou67

Hi @bigjock123 Great to hear your news so good to hear someone getting all theyr entitled to. 

bigjock123

Thanks Lou, yes it's good to know it's not always bad news.

Lou67

Hi Jock. Yes definitely, I was receiving pip daily living for cpl year it ran out in February, I was awarded standard mobility, but only 6 points for daily living but Iv put in a MR if no change be off to appeal.But Iv got hope if nothing else 🙂

bigjock123

Sorry to hear that Lou, i hope nothing but success for you in your MR, please let us know how you get on.

Lou67

Thanks a lot the support on here means a lot, I will definitely keep yous updated.