PIP Delay

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charlywilson
charlywilson Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA

I rang the Independent Assessment Services today as I sent my wife’s PIP form back 9 weeks ago and hadn’t heard anything. They said they we’re looking at a paper based assessment and that they were trying to contact my wife’s specialist palliative nurse and her GP via the telephone (even though the GP wrote an excellent supporting letter)

When I originally sent her PIP form back I included 24 pages of evidence with letters stating she had painful spasms coming from her spine into all four limbs, that she was unable to use her hands due to severe nerve pain (Hyperphathia) and that she had pain on any movement, the last couple of letters confirmed she was bed-bound. I would have thought they would have had enough evidence without contacting anyone.

I was hoping you guys might be able to shed some light on what the assessor might be up to?

I’m also worried what will happen if they can’t get in contacting with anyone.

Thanks in advance for your help


Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Hi,

    Sometimes they need to contact a medical professional to confirm a few things. Once that's done they will then decide if a paper based assessment can be completed. If it can't then an appointment will be sent out for a face to face assessment.

    Even though it was 9 weeks that the form was returned, there's no timescales. Backlogs are just part of the reason a decision can be delayed.
  • charlywilson
    charlywilson Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    Thanks for your reply.

    From what they told me on the telephone, it seems they're having trouble contacting the community palliative nurse as she's out on visits. Do you know the procedure is if they  are unable to contact the health professionals?

    I'm happy for them to do a home visit,  but as per the evidence I sent in, my wife as a major cognitive impairment due to the opiates and ketimine she's been prescribed, so she wouldn't be able to comply in an assessment.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    If they are unable to contact anyone then a face to face assessment maybe needed.

    I'm assuming that if she has a cognitive impairment then you must be her appointee? If so then during a face to face assessment you will be able to answer all the questions on her behalf.
  • charlywilson
    charlywilson Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    If they are unable to contact anyone then a face to face assessment maybe needed.

    I'm assuming that if she has a cognitive impairment then you must be her appointee? If so then during a face to face assessment you will be able to answer all the questions on her behalf.
    Thanks for the reply.

    I’m her appointee and her carer.

    To be honest I would rather my wife have a home visit, at least I get to engage and say how her disability affects her.

    If they contact a health professional, and that doctor or nurse doesn’t give the assessor a clear picture, then even though it’s a paper based assessment one is not guaranteed an enhanced rate for either components. I would imagine the assessors are well trained and versed in manipulating health professions to give a low award. Then again perhaps I’m being paranoid!


  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    No problem. Whether it's a face to face or a paper based assessment the HCP will only give recommendations in the report and no your wife isn't guaranteed an award. No one can speculate anything at this point.

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