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Random phone call

Middleton

Hi
Just thought i'd ask if this seems a normal procedure.

I had a missed call this morning(private no) and then around 3pm again, i answered and it was PIP dwp!.
I had no notification of such a call so was completely unexpected. Genuinely wasnt feeling great so had to do everything i could to concentrate.

Once i got my bearings, she asked me if i had begun my Morphine meds. This was her first question. I explained that the nhs are trying to not go this route and that they chose to place me on Robaxin 750 Methacarbamol. Along with all my other meds.

And she asked if this had helped me, so i explained it allows small pockets of relief, say a few hrs here and there,but not total. Maybe takes symptoms down from 90% usual down to 75% for a shirt time. As i wasnt expecting the call, this is the best answer i could give without having more thought on the matter.

She then asked, how i manage when i do go out.(Autism) She did candidly state before asking this that she knows i have so many co morbid physical issues, that she want to focus on the Autism aspect, of going out in public.
I was having an issue at the time of explaining my symptoms, but she felt i had gotten it across to her fine.

I just spoke honestly, but due to my cognitive and sensory issues, and not always having the right words at times, i am now second guessing myself.
There so much nuance, as youll all know to a simple Question and the symptoms cant be answered in a soundbite, but they have all my paperworks so, no problems there if they want to delve much deeper..
She ended conversation, stating she will now pass my paperwork onto ?? (sorry, ive totally forgotten who she said now).

Just to clarify, her response to me was from my Award Review that i sent in around Feb 2022. I sent so much info , as if it was like my first application.. She did mention the amount i sent in, but did agree its best to send more than less.

So, does the above seem a normal procedure for PIP to call this way? im partly asking as i need outside help with forms etc...so wondering what to do now..She said the next department(not her actual words, but i forgot who she said shes passing my info onto) will get back to me at some point.

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Comments

calcotti

Are you clear whether the call was from DWP themselves or from the health assessor advising the DWP.

poppy123456

Biblioklept said:

That's so bad if it was an assessment without warning!

It may not have been an actual assessment. Sometimes they ring at random to ask a few questions and to see if they can complete a paper based assessment.

calcotti

poppy123456 said: It may not have been an actual assessment. Sometimes they ring at random to ask a few questions and to see if they can complete a paper based assessment.

That was my thought which is why I asked Op if they were clear whether to was an assessor rather than the DWP themselves.

Middleton

calcotti said:

Are you clear whether the call was from DWP themselves or from the health assessor advising the DWP.

The stated DWP

calcotti

Middleton said:

calcotti said:

Are you clear whether the call was from DWP themselves or from the health assessor advising the DWP.

The stated DWP

I know that is what they stated but i was asking whether they were sure it was indeed DWP themselves.

Middleton

poppy123456 said:

Biblioklept said:

That's so bad if it was an assessment without warning!

It may not have been an actual assessment. Sometimes they ring at random to ask a few questions and to see if they can complete a paper based assessment.

I got confirmation today that it was the actual assessment..And i will have a decision in the next 6 weeks. I had no notification of this impromptu interview and it only lasted 10mins?? this doesnt seem quite right to me

Middleton

calcotti said:

Middleton said:

calcotti said:

Are you clear whether the call was from DWP themselves or from the health assessor advising the DWP.

The stated DWP

I know that is what they stated but i was asking whether they were sure it was indeed DWP themselves.

Text received today states "About your pip review.The health professional has sent us their report. We will make a decision on your pip,but it may take 6 weeks before you hear from us" end quote.

I wasnt told it was a paper report and they simply needed to just ask a few questions. I was only asked 2 quick questions , the entire call took 10mins.

Middleton

calcotti said:

Middleton said:

calcotti said:

Are you clear whether the call was from DWP themselves or from the health assessor advising the DWP.

The stated DWP

I know that is what they stated but i was asking whether they were sure it was indeed DWP themselves.

Text received today states "About your pip review.The health professional has sent us their report. We will make a decision on your pip,but it may take 6 weeks before you hear from us" end quote.

I wasnt told it was a report interview and wasnt given no notification of receiving a call.. I missed the first call because i was in bed(private no) and picked up call several hrs later..This doesnt seem normal at all.. I was only asked 2 quick questions and the entire call took 10mins.

Middleton

Update:

Spoke to Capita, who informed me it was Atos that had done the interview.

So spoke to Atos and the nice lady explained that it was actually a paper assessment due to all the paperwork that was sent in, plus she informed me that Guys hospital had been contacted and with all the weight of the obvious evidence they have decided already. She said she couldnt actually tell me the result, but covertly mentioned that i had nothing to worry about.!

Obviously i will only fully know ,when i receive the paperwork. But incredibly one day after a 10 mins phone call, i have a decision. Which by suggestion, appears to be favourable.

Does this seem the usual procedure? im purely guessing theyre trying to get through the backlog and have a new criteria ...i have no clue to be honest!

janer1967

It is rare bit does happen I had paper based on lyrics past review with jist a quick call like yourself

What doesn't make sense is they have said they kade a decision as its not down to them to make a decision they only make recommendations it's the dwp decision maker that makes the decision

poppy123456

Middleton said:

She said she couldnt actually tell me the result, but covertly mentioned that i had nothing to worry about.!

They couldn't tell you because they don't make decisions. Only a decision maker from DWP can do that. The person you spoke to shouldn't have said anything to you because it's not their job to do that.

Middleton said:

Obviously i will only fully know ,when i receive the paperwork. But incredibly one day after a 10 mins phone call, i have a decision. Which by suggestion, appears to be favourable.

You haven't had the decision yet. Once the report is returned to DWP it will be put into a pile and a decison maker will eventually look at the report as well as all other evidence you sent. They will then make their decision. Once a decision's been made you will be sent the decision letter. This can take anywhere up to 12 weeks, sometimes longer.

calcotti

So exactly as poppy and I thought might be the case - a quick call (rather than a formal appointment) to establish whether assessor could complete a paper based assessment.

Middleton

janer1967 said:

It is rare bit does happen I had paper based on lyrics past review with jist a quick call like yourself

What doesn't make sense is they have said they kade a decision as its not down to them to make a decision they only make recommendations it's the dwp decision maker that makes the decision

Middleton

janer1967 said:

It is rare bit does happen I had paper based on lyrics past review with jist a quick call like yourself

What doesn't make sense is they have said they kade a decision as its not down to them to make a decision they only make recommendations it's the dwp decision maker that makes the decision

Just to update... I spoke to atos and the lady there said they knew the outcome and hinted what it was. Believe me when i tell you, ive had some very peculiar phone calls this past week... So basically Wed the random call that asked me 2 questions..No idea i was going to receive this call.. I then call dwp today and whilst speaking to them, my phone pings with a text and the lady at dwp confirmed that she could see that the assessors have the paperwork and it could take 6 weeks before i know results.

I then called capita, but it turned out it was atos that called me on the wed. To find out why i wasnt informed of the process, and the lady at atos clarified the call was a quick one as its gone to paper assessment.. but pretty much verbatim,she stated that she knew the results and hinted them. I know it may appear ive got this somehow mixed up, but this is literally whats been told to me.

I had no idea that atos would know the results..

Middleton

janer1967 said:

It is rare bit does happen I had paper based on lyrics past review with jist a quick call like yourself

What doesn't make sense is they have said they kade a decision as its not down to them to make a decision they only make recommendations it's the dwp decision maker that makes the decision

ps. If DWP make the decisions(as ive always thought) then i assume what the Atos lady was hinting to me, is the suggestions made by the assessor...But of course, the final decision is totally with DWP.

poppy123456

They couldn't have known the outcome because no decision will have been made that quick.

Middleton

poppy123456 said:

They couldn't have known the outcome because no decision will have been made that quick.

I think the comment from the lady at Atos ,was maybe from the notes they have sent to dwp aka the report., in all honesty , i havent a clue. Her comment was just so unusual, so im assuming she may have seen the suggestion from the assessor? Do Assessors give suggestions on their reports to DWP on whether an applicant should get
standard or Enhanced?

calcotti

Middleton said: Do Assessors give suggestions on their reports to DWP on whether an applicant should get standard or Enhanced?

Yes. The assessor makes a recommendation - but it's not a decision.

poppy123456

Middleton said:

poppy123456 said:

They couldn't have known the outcome because no decision will have been made that quick.

Do Assessors give suggestions on their reports to DWP on whether an applicant should get
standard or Enhanced?

No, not exactly in those words. The assessor writes the report and puts a dot next to the descritptor/activity they think applies. Underneath this they write a justification for descriptor choice. Any points are not added in the report because it's a recommendation. DWP decision maker awards the points.

Middleton

poppy123456 said:

They couldn't have known the outcome because no decision will have been made that quick.

I think the comment ,from the lady at Atos ,was maybe coming fromthe notes they have sent to dwp aka (the report.), in all honesty , i havent a clue!!.

Her comment was just so unusual, so im assuming she may have been clarifying that the assessor has requested a certain level on their report.
Do Assessors give suggestions on their reports to DWP on whether an applicant should receive standard or Enhanced?