Any experience with telephone reviews?

Rwbecca2020

Hi there
Has anyone had any experiences with PIP telephone reviews?My current award expires August 2020. I sent my review firm back in March,I finally phoned them this week and they said about telephone review?I am worried I will be left without any money

steve51

Hi @Rwbecca2020

Good Morning & Welcome ??

I am one off the Community Champion’s here at Scope.

Yes we have got some senior members who will be able to help you.

 Hi @Adrian_Scope
@Chloe_Scope

Can you both help me with this pip query???

Thanks.

@steve51

Rwbecca2020

I would appreciate any advice.This extra stress is making my anxiety levels sky high,I am afraid I am going to be left with no moneyx

steve51

Hi @Rwbecca2020

Yes don’t worry we can see what we can do to help you.

Here’s some of our new who have been through the “telephone 
assessment”

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/71338/pip-telephone-assessment

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/71218/pip-telephone-consultation-times

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/70568/pip-telephone-consultation

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/71823/how-long-does-a-pip-telephone-review-take

Please please don’t worry we are all here for you? 

@steve51

Rwbecca2020

Thank you so much?I dont feel so alone now, x

Rwbecca2020

Does anyone have an idea what will happen to my current PIP claim if I dont get my telephone appointment in time current claim ends next month x

janer1967

Hi any PIP awards that are due to end and the assessment hasnt taken place before the award end date are being extended by 6 months due to covid, so dont panic your money will not stop

Rwbecca2020

Hi Janer1966 thank you very much for your reply?I did not know this site existed?For the first time in ages I dont feel alone.I am still trying to work my way around the page so apologise for delay in replying.

janer1967

Dont worry you will get the hang of it if you want a y hp just ask

Look forward to seeing you around 

Lulu_1949

@Rwbecca2020 welcome ?

Rwbecca2020

Thanks janer1967 and Lulu1949 thanks for your warm welcome

Rwbecca2020

Janer1967 after this telephone appointment I have about my PIP will not not take the DWP to make their decision because of the Covud Situation,fingers crossed my award at least gets extended,this uncertainty is making me ill

Rwbecca2020

Apologise for spelling I've lost my glasses lol 

janer1967

Once you have had your telephone assessment the report will go to DWP for them to make decision on what to award you this will then be your new award and you new award is what you will be paid for once decision is made

About 7 days after your assessment you can request a copy of the report this isnt the final decision but shows what the assessor has recommended 

katho31

Hi and Welcome @Rwbecca2020, as @janer1967 has posted all great infor for you, best wishes 

Rwbecca2020

Janer1967 thank you so much for answering my questions I realley appreciate it,I am so glad I've found this page. This up coming telephone review is making my anxiety worse x

Rwbecca2020

Katho31 thanks very much,I wish this review process would just be finished Xxits making me I'll x

janer1967

Just tell it how it is
Give real examples of what happens when you try and do a task eg last time I prepared a meal I burnt myself 

Dont just say I cant do it say why , where, when, how tell of any support or prompting you need or any aids you use

It is also good to have copy of your form at hand to remind you of what you put 

Try not to worry it could be a while before it happens 

Rwbecca2020

Janer1967 thanks for the above advice,you have been realley helpful and I realley appreciate it Xx

mikehughescq

Rwbecca2020 said:

Hi there
Has anyone had any experiences with PIP telephone reviews?My current award expires August 2020. I sent my review firm back in March,I finally phoned them this week and they said about telephone review?I am worried I will be left without any money

Some things to consider for your assessment:

1 - have a copy of your claim pack in front of you during the call so you can quickly refer to what you said. The assessor ought to have had a copy and read it but i suspect some are working from home at present and have limited access to technology so you can’t assume they’ve seen it.

2 - strange as it sounds, have food and drink nearby. Most calls aren’t taking as long as face to face assessments but if it does then make sure you’ve a snack nearby.

3 - have a copy of the PIP points system nearby. I always find this one handy at https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system.

4 - be prepared for them to ring earlier than the time they’ve given you. Cancellations can cause havoc with their day as can people simply not answering the phone.

5 - do not assume they know anything about your conditions. They will only know the clichės and stereotypes. It may be worth politely asking them at the outset what they know and offering them explanations if it’s obvious they don’t know much. 

6 - the key to PIP is not being able to do things “reliably”. See the page from Benefits and Work above on this. The assessor will try to get you to give yes or no answers. You should try and resist this. They’re looking for you to say that you can do things. You need to pause and try to explain not that you can do things but instead say something along the lines of “no, I can’t do that reliably” and then explain why not e.g. you can’t do it safely, to a reasonable standard or in a reasonable time. Again see the web site about what reliably means.

7 - take notes as you go along or have someone you trust sat absolutely silently in the background taking notes. Those notes could help a lot further down the line.

8 - try to go in with a positive attitude to the assessor. This can be difficult but generally telephone assessments have, anecdotally, been better than face to face assessments as a number of the things which can go wrong face to face can’t happen over the telephone. They can’t watch you walking into the centre and draw wrong conclusions. They can’t conduct eye tests in poorly lit rooms and so on. 

Rwbecca2020

Thanks Mikehughescq for that information. I just wish the whole process was finished with its makes me unwell just st the thought. I am hoping they continue my award and I dont need to go through the appeal process.