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DWP suspends F2F assessments

wilkowilko Member Posts: 2,355 Disability Gamechanger
edited March 2020 in PIP, DLA and AA
The DWP are suspending face to face assessments for the next the next three months as the government moves to the next phase of Corona virus plan. Assessments will be paper based and by telephone, comes into effect 17-03-20
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  • poppy123456poppy123456 Member Posts: 22,218 Disability Gamechanger
    Yes, official announcement is here. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/face-to-face-health-assessments-for-benefits-suspended-amid-coronavirus-outbreak

    Proud winner of the 2019 empowering others award. This award was given for supporting disabled people and their families for the benefit advice I have given to members here on the community.
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  • cristobalcristobal Member Posts: 968 Disability Gamechanger
    @wilko - unless this has changed recently there is a slight inaccuracy when you say "assessments will be paper based ..."

    The DWP statement says,

     "Anyone who has a face-to-face assessment appointment scheduled from Tuesday 17 March onwards does not need to attend and will be contacted to discuss next steps and alternative arrangements, which could involve either telephone or paper-based assessments."

    (bold type is mine)
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  • woodbinewoodbine Community Co-Production Group Posts: 4,486 Disability Gamechanger
    My OH PIP renewal in December was paper based with a 10 minute tele call from a DM 
    "Putting a child into care, isn't caring for a child" (T.Rhattigan)
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  • GalarboyGalarboy Member Posts: 7 Listener
    What’s the betting that there will in fact be no assessments for existing claimants at all in 2020, being as there will be such a massive backlog of new claims to get through?
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  • mikehughescqmikehughescq Member Posts: 6,620 Disability Gamechanger
    See the other thread on this for far more detail.
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  • skullcapskullcap Posts: 172 Member
    Galarboy said:
    What’s the betting that there will in fact be no assessments for existing claimants at all in 2020, being as there will be such a massive backlog of new claims to get through?
    You are the ever optimist?
    One of the main reasons for PIP was that it holds regular reassessments.
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  • mikehughescqmikehughescq Member Posts: 6,620 Disability Gamechanger
    Galarboy said:
    What’s the betting that there will in fact be no assessments for existing claimants at all in 2020, being as there will be such a massive backlog of new claims to get through?
    It’s a fairly reasonable call. They’ve been cancelled for 3 months but realistically end of May to mid June is when the virus is predicted to peak so it’s unlikely there will be any large scale resumption not least because the DLA to PIP conversions intended to conclude in 2017 are still nowhere near done and the whole rationale of regular reviews fell apart when they agreed to light touch reviews for people over pensionable age and tribunals keep awarding for 10 years.
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