Pip telephone review

flustered1
flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener
edited December 15 in Start here and say hello!

Hi

I'm new here and starting a new thread with a couple of questions regarding my pip telephone review.

I'm so confused and would love any help/information regarding my queries. I had my telephone appointment via phone call, totally out of the blue 3 weeks ago now from someone claiming to be from pip. My assessment only lasted 4 minutes and she really didn't want to speak to me but spoke to my carer instead, asking a serious of questions which only lasted 4 minutes.

This was someone from from Haas maximusuk.

Surely the length of the phone call is a bad sign? And the fact I didn't really get to speak to her (I'm partially deaf in both ears since birth) makes me feel that my claim or anything I've said has been dismissed. Is this a good sign or bad sign? Has anyone else gone through this?

I had no prior texts or letters with my appointment too. This call was totally out of the blue. This is my renewal review also.

Again, I'm grateful for any help/responses. TIA

Flustered1 x

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Comments

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,644 Championing

    When I applied for PIP I also had an unexpected phone call.

    This means you had what's known as a paper based assessment, where the assessor feels they have enough information without a full assessment.

    As part of paper based assessments they often call unscheduled, to clarify anything they need to. Sometimes that is only one or two questions.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,407 Championing

    The length of time it took for any assessment is no indication on what the decision will be. For my recent PIP review I also received an unexpected phone call and they just wanted to ask me one question, which just took a couple of minutes.

  • Razr
    Razr Online Community Member Posts: 192 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/126876/hi-my-name-is-flustered1

    @poppy123456 I am not sure if Poppy is a benefits worker or was but generally Poppy is right i have to admit, her advice is good

    "The length of time it took for any assessment is no indication on what the decision will be. For my recent PIP review, I also received an unexpected phone call and they just wanted to ask me one question, which just took a couple of minutes."

    My support worker got a very short phone call out of the blue, everything turned out good

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener

    Hi

    Thank you all for the replies. My anxiety is through the roof atm and I'm just worried sick, all I can think about is the "what ifs" and if I should have tried to contact my assessor back to explain more like I did on my renewal forms.

    My carer told me to just leave it be for now and wait and see but my nerves are getting the better if me at times over this.

    I've had the text from DWP last week saying that the assessor has now sent in their report and I don't need to do anything else unless my circumstances change, that my decision could take up to 8 weeks.

    I was worried that receiving a response that quickly from the quick assessment, assessor report to the DWP telling me they have it, meant bad news for me as I have been told many assessments usually take up to 2 hours.

    I'm glad to know that the short assessment call doesn't mean bad for me. Thank you all for the replies. My carer rang up for a copy of my assessment report on my behalf yesterday and was told it will be sent out in the post between 7-10 working days. So, just a waiting game now.

    Flustered1 x

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 124 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    edited December 15

    Hi @flustered1. Welcome to the community! I hope you're well? I can see you've received some great feedback from the community so I won't add anything at this time. It also looks like you've got to a good point in the process, with your post expected imminently! Please keep us updated and shout if you need anything.

    Just to let you know I've updated the title of your post to PIP telephone review. This is just to make it easier for other users who are going through similar situations to find, as may benefit from your post and the responses. I hope this is ok.

    Have a great day! ☺️

    Holly

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,407 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/954551#Comment_954551

    Thank you. No, I've never been a benefits advisor as such. I just advise here freely in my own spare time. My knowledge comes from my own personal experience, research, as well as many years of advising a long side other knowledgable people.

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener

    Hi Holly

    Thank you . I'm not doing as great today with pain I'm experiencing (costochondritis) but it's "normal" to some degree for me to experience the usual pains on a daily basis. Just today is a little bit heavier than the usual so I'm waiting on my carer coming by with helping me out today.

    On my pip renewal, well it has been an ongoing process for me for a couple of years now. My pip actually run out last year, July I think, then I was sent out these renewal forms which I had my carer send back for me. So it's been a long anxious wait. I'm only just hearing back now, bits at a time apparently. I'm up to the point of waiting for my renewal decision. I'm riddled with anxiety and worry over the whole process. I just don't like this waiting game.

    Thank you for your comments and I hope you are well also. Sorry for the long post

    Flustered1 x

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener

    Does anyone know what the success rate of paper based assessments are also?. I didn't realise I even had a paper based assessment, I thought that 4 minutes phone call was my assessment from the pip woman. I thought it was way too short and she didn't really speak to me but asked for my carer instead which has me worried and anxious now :(

    Flustered1 x

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 124 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @flustered1 I’m so sorry you’re not having a good day today with pain. I hope that the carers visit can help to ease it somewhat. Or at least make you feel a little better in yourself. ❤️

    It's such a shame you’ve been going through the PIP process for a long time now. I can see exactly why you’d be feeling so anxious about the outcome with it dragging on for so long.

    With regards to the success rate, unfortunately I don’t know that. A community member who has been through the process may have a better idea of this from their personal experience.

    I’m keeping everything crossed for you. I hope you get the most positive outcome and quickly. Please keep us updated on your outcome and look after yourself in the meantime.

    All the best,

    Holly.

  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 12,438 Championing

    I am just wondering if the carers have turned up and they have given you something to eat and drink.

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/954967#Comment_954967

    Hiya Holly,

    Thank You very much for your explanations and kind words. Yeah I suppose it doesn't really matter which form assessment I have as this could go either way no matter how I got there.

    I'm trying not to think too much about and trying not to look too much into it as I know that this could just worsen my anxiety.

    I am just waiting on my copy of the health assessment report and guessing from what they have said, how it is likely to turn out. I think that the DM's usually go in favour of what is on the report but I know that this isn't always the case.

    I'm just trying hard not to dwell and hoping for the best. Do fingers crossed 🤞 and I'm hoping for the best 🙏

    Thank You again and I'll keep you all posted on my outcome.

    Flustered1 x

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener

    Hi @durhamjaide2001

    Oh of course, thank you for the concern.

    My carer arrived this morning around 11:30ish. She had cooked up a bit of dinner and brought some round for me ☺️ some chicken, few Yorkshire's and the veg.

    I only drink water so I have bottled water at home for whenever I want one.

    I've been well fed and watered lol. Don't worry about me.

    I'm managing my pain with ibuprofen for inflammation and paracetamol but I need to let my carer sort that out with the timing of the medications etc because I'm also taking citalopram so she knows what the correct dosages and times are for them.

    Thanks again and I'll keep you all posted on my outcome.

    Flustered1 x

  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 12,438 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/954996#Comment_954996

    aww I am so pleased you are fed and watered I just wanted to check I hope that's ok with Scope staff and that I'm not being a nnucens

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener

    Hi

    I'm just writing with an update. I'm still waiting on recieving a copy of my health assessment report so this is day 5 of the 7-10 working days that I was told I should receive it by.

    With it being so near the Christmas holidays now, I'm thinking I probably won't receive this until next year now since our post is always usually late.

    I'm still a nervous wreck just waiting and pondering on what was said about me in the report.

    I'm currently only on SDL and no mobility so I'm dreading seeing the results incase they decide I'm not as sick enough for even that and then it'll stop altogether.

    I feel like I should receive mobility at least the standard rate because I do need help with everything at home from bathing, cooking to dressing. But, that was their decision back then two years ago so I left it at that. No energy to fight the decision at the time due to a cancer diagnosis etc. mentally and physically draining.

    I'm just wondering though, if anyone knows and could help me out. Is the health assessment report my actual results?. I haven't been through any of this process before with paper based so not sure how it all works. My last assessment was f2f which I near had a breakdown in the centre and it ended abrupt. She told me there and then that I would receive something.

    Thanks again for your support and for this forum.

    I'll keep in with the updates.

    Flustered1 x

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,644 Championing
    edited December 18

    You will receive a cooy of the assessment. This will contain the assessors recommendation.

    The DWP Decision Maker has the final say, they usually go with the recommendation from the assessment, but not always.

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener

    Thank you Kimmy87

    I see. So my health assessment report is not my actual decision on my award? It's the DWP that decided in the end?

    Thanks again

    Flustered1 x

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,644 Championing

    That's correct, yes the DWP Decision Maker has the final say.

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener

    Ah got you now Kimmy87. Thank you very much.

    So it's just an estimation then really. Hopefully she said good things about me. I only wish for a fair an honest report as I've heard of people having reports with so many lies in them. Hopefully mine isn't.

    I only got a phone call from someone from pip but she asked to speak to my carer instead and the call only lasted 4 minutes. I have done everything I can now though so it's just a waiting game. It's excruciating.

    Flustered1 x

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,407 Championing

    The mobility part doesn't take into consideration the help you need at home with daily living activities such as washing, dressing, undressing, cooking etc. This comes under the daily living part.

    The mobility part takes into consideration either your ability to walk outside on flat surface, if you have physical conditions such as pain, fatigue or breathlessness.

    For those with mental health, cognitive and sensory issues this will come under following and planning a journey, which is your ability to leave you home and plan and follow the route of a journey.

    Daily living and mobility are added up separately.

  • flustered1
    flustered1 Online Community Member Posts: 14 Listener

    Hi poppy123456

    Thank you very much for your explanation. Yes I understand how that would fall under the DL parts now. It makes sense.

    Although I do have severe anxiety, panic disorder and severe depression as well, I don't leave my home. So as far as walking so many meters, well, I can't say that I would be able to because I can't leave my home now without experiencing panic attacks. I would never be able to plan or organise any journeys either, the thought of that terrifies me.

    My carer does all of my shopping and bill payments because my memory and concentration is very bad. All I can can concentrate on is the severe terrifying aspects of being out in public during having a panic attack.

    It's gotten that bad. I'm a mess, I know. But I have been refused more therapy from talking therapies last year because they said that my last 3 sessions with them didn't help me and they aren't doing phone call sessions at the moment.

    Thanks again for your input.

    Flustered1 x

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