Pip Face to Face Assessment Agoraphobia

Candy123
Candy123 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
edited July 19 in PIP, DLA, and AA

I have just received a text from PIP saying that I have to attend a face to face appointment in 7 days time. I suffer from Agoraphobia & was awarded LCWRA in June after having a video appointment. I didn't expect a face to face appointment with PIP and I don't think that I can go through with it. What usually happens when you ask PIP to change the face to face appointment?

Many thanks in advance.

Denise.

Comments

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 6,910 Online Community Coordinator

    Hey @Candy123 and welcome to the community. 😊

    PIP and UC are different benefits, so they wont be checking any notes they may have on you. But you can ask PIP to change your face to face appointment to a telephone one if you give them a call and explain. I understand how tough it can be when you can't leave the house, but they can make adjustments for you.

  • Candy123
    Candy123 Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Thanks so much for your help. I am going to ring them now and I will let you know the outcome.

  • Faithlong
    Faithlong Community member Posts: 33 Connected

    hi Candy, what did they say to you?

  • Candy123
    Candy123 Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Having rang PIP 0800 number they changed the face to face appointment to a telephone appointment for the same date and time. This was done very quickly without the guy on the phone asking the reason why (which I was expecting). I'm very surprised & relieved as I was expecting a lot of questions and hassle. Thanks again for your help.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 6,910 Online Community Coordinator

    Ah that's brilliant news @Candy123 I'm really glad they could sort it so quickly for you. 😊 Best of luck with the appointment.

  • Candy123
    Candy123 Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Thanks Albus. Much appreciated.

  • Faithlong
    Faithlong Community member Posts: 33 Connected
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/890760#Comment_890760

    thank you so much for coming back with to let us know and I’ll pray everything goes well for you! 😊

  • TheManFromLondon
    TheManFromLondon Community member Posts: 323 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/890625#Comment_890625

    That is not accurate. When you call PIP or UC the call starts with something like "We record all calls for all DWP needs". That means even what you say on the phone can be used at any time and any DWP claim.

    But.. to keep it relative to this post, they do have access and do cross check benefits, as when I got my UC they referred to a condition I had reported to my PIP claim but not on the UC as it was irrelevant. And guess what, my UC in 2023, they accessed my PIP form from 2017. There was no other way to find that as it was not even on my medical record. The assessor wanted to check if that was affecting me as it was about physical mobility and I was applying under MH.

    It appears they can see all assessments of any kind as they please. So, it VERY important to keep things consistent between claims and not "change your narrative".

    With all that said, putting a request for phone vs face to face should always be granted if it is under the reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. They may ignore the fact you asked for it before, and they may do that to see how you react.

    In a nutshell, if you couldnt before, you cannot now. Stick to what you can, what you said, what you wrote.

  • Candy123
    Candy123 Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    That's an interesting point that you make that the DWP cross check benefits. Included in my medical evidence on the PIP application form was a copy of my UC85 Medical Report (done by video) which I requested a paper copy of after having being awarded LCWRA two months ago.

    With my having, amongst other mental health problems identified in the UC85, 'severe functional restriction in personal actions' I didn't expect to be called for a face to face assessment for my PIP application. That was my reason for requesting the change to a phone appointment. I thought that the DWP would have considered the UC85 evidence, especially considering my Agoraphobia.

    When I had my UC LCWRA video appointment in May the health care assessor said that I had provided so much historically documented medical evidence anyway that she would be cutting the interview short. It only lasted ten minutes and I was awarded LCWRA five days later.

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