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Phone assessment - experiences And results so far
apple85
Member Posts: 14 Connected
Hi
i haven’t seen a dedicated thread on people’s experiences on the new phone assessments for esa/pip/uc which seems to me is going to be the new norm for a good while yet.
what I’m getting from social media is that it’s mad an already bad process even worse. I think the majority of people who have had dwp assessments have had at least one ridiculous lie/statements on their decision paperwork previously but that may of stepped up with these phone assessments - it sounds like an easier way of the dwp to fail more of us
i haven’t had one yet - in theory I have my next esa reassessment in November (although the common sense reaction should of been to extend all the disabled/medical condition awards by a year) - considering the massive increase of uc applicants and the lack of jobs in general - it was next to impossible to get even unpaid work experience before Coronavirus if you were disabled - there’s next to no point trying with a few million new million fully abled uc claimants to compete with. My instincts are personally telling me to sit tight for the next 2-3 years and if mental health allows to learn a new skill - I doubt the dwp would be on the same page though.
I digress- though who have had a phone assessments what are your experiences and award results? Has anyone had an successful award renewal?
i read that the assessors won’t let you add a second phone line for a family/friend support. Can you use the speaker phone function? (I use that all the time as I don’t like the feel of the phone near my ear - gives me ear/head pain)
can you refuse a phone assessment in general and request a face-to-face? - I think I speak for many with autism when I say using the phone and?or speaking to a stranger is very exhausting and distressing
Lastly I know that phone recording is prohibited but from recent experiences of bring recording equipment to face to face assessments is even though the lies on the results paperwork remain (and get more ridiculous every time) the dwp seem to find I much harder to dock the same points they would of before. Recording a phone assessment in secret seems to be a common sense move esp when tribunal seems much more likely under phone assessments compared to face to face.
over the years disabled claimants have shared the tips and tricks of getting through a face to face assessment stacked against the claimant. We need to do the same now
thoughts and experiences below
i haven’t seen a dedicated thread on people’s experiences on the new phone assessments for esa/pip/uc which seems to me is going to be the new norm for a good while yet.
what I’m getting from social media is that it’s mad an already bad process even worse. I think the majority of people who have had dwp assessments have had at least one ridiculous lie/statements on their decision paperwork previously but that may of stepped up with these phone assessments - it sounds like an easier way of the dwp to fail more of us
i haven’t had one yet - in theory I have my next esa reassessment in November (although the common sense reaction should of been to extend all the disabled/medical condition awards by a year) - considering the massive increase of uc applicants and the lack of jobs in general - it was next to impossible to get even unpaid work experience before Coronavirus if you were disabled - there’s next to no point trying with a few million new million fully abled uc claimants to compete with. My instincts are personally telling me to sit tight for the next 2-3 years and if mental health allows to learn a new skill - I doubt the dwp would be on the same page though.
I digress- though who have had a phone assessments what are your experiences and award results? Has anyone had an successful award renewal?
i read that the assessors won’t let you add a second phone line for a family/friend support. Can you use the speaker phone function? (I use that all the time as I don’t like the feel of the phone near my ear - gives me ear/head pain)
can you refuse a phone assessment in general and request a face-to-face? - I think I speak for many with autism when I say using the phone and?or speaking to a stranger is very exhausting and distressing
Lastly I know that phone recording is prohibited but from recent experiences of bring recording equipment to face to face assessments is even though the lies on the results paperwork remain (and get more ridiculous every time) the dwp seem to find I much harder to dock the same points they would of before. Recording a phone assessment in secret seems to be a common sense move esp when tribunal seems much more likely under phone assessments compared to face to face.
over the years disabled claimants have shared the tips and tricks of getting through a face to face assessment stacked against the claimant. We need to do the same now
thoughts and experiences below
Replies
It seems that a lot of them are successful and a lot of positive responses.
There should be no issue with you using the speaker phone function however if you intend recording the assessment then you will have to follow the correct procedure and inform them you are recording and be able to provide 2 copies.
You say you have a re-assesment in November as far as I am aware there is no set date for re-assessment of ESA as there is for PIP it is just a recommended date and your award will stay until you do have another assessment.
Also by November things may have changed and f2f may be back in operation
Hopefully others will share their experiences with you
I am still pushing for a mandatory reconsideration as I believe I am entitled to enhanced on both, and the assessors report was full of lies and stuff that neither myself nor my partner said.
I used speakerphone on mine and told them that my partner would jump in if needed when I get tired etc.
Interestingly, I was sent an invite by NatCen afterwards asking if I wanted to take part in a telephone interview about the telephone assessments. Their FAQ explicitly said they would make arrangements for a friend to accompany me on the call if I needed it. If NatCen can do it, why can't the DWP?
I am waiting on the final stage of an autism assessment. I am currently two years through a four year waitlist. I find it incredibly difficult to express myself verbally without somebody else with me, which is why I needed my friend to accompany me.
I was awarded 0 points and have requested mandatory reconsideration.
No the decision maker didn't go fully with the assessor, she awarded me two extra points which got me the standard daily living rate.
I waited 6 months for an assessment and then my decision came two weeks after the telephone assessment, which I know is really quick at the moment.
As laurapeach mentions though, you should say at the beginning that your partner will be listening in and will intervene for you if necessary.
Try to do what calms you, for now, so that you still get rest and sustenance over the weekend. Try to remember that by Tuesday it will be over. You'll have endured the call, your partner will have intervened when they feel the need, and the assessor will be dealing with the next part of the process. Aim your thoughts for Tuesday, not Monday, and if you can, concentrate on how much better it will feel when the call itself is behind you.
Me too. If it helps, I try to remember that people are usually just ambivalent towards me, rather than actively against me. Many of them just don't understand.
I'm middle-aged and still live with my mum. I hope that any pip award will help me get the mental health support I need privately, since I haven't been able to get anywhere with the NHS. If I can't get help with it somehow, I won't be able to maintain a job.
It can be hard, having to rely on somebody else - especially when you're used to being independent. I hope the assessor is the next stage in getting the financial help you need, so you can pay for your own prescription and other essentials and get back some of your self-esteem.