Please can you help me - PIP F2F Appointment !!

Thank you again for your help.

I have a few questions regarding re arranging a PIP F2F if I may.

1) If one re arranged the pip face to face appointment - is an alternative date(s) offered there and then on the phone? Or do you simply announce your need to cancel and you have to wait for an appointment to come through the post?

2) I know if a second one is arranged - this cannot be cancelled! But can different appointments be discussed on the phone before finalising a rearranged appointment? Or is it literally what they say first and there's no alternatives?

3) Would it be possible then if the alternative appointments offered were less feasible than the original or were months & months down the line could one keep the original appointment? Or if you ring and even discuss alternatives is the first already arranged appointment lost be default?

Sincere thanks for your response.

Again, many thanks for your help.

I have some other questions please again if I may ask:

I need to rearrange this appointment as discussed as it clashes with a very important consultation. I have now sent off the extra supporting evidence.

Perhaps I am naive, but I'm hopeful that this additional report which I have now sent will provide enough extra evidence so a F2F may not be required and a paper based review would be carried out only? Does this happen often when someone offers new evidence prior to an assessment? Is it likely?

Already this is really effecting my health incredibly badly, the run up to meetings, the meeting itself and the after effects are very serious. I hope the new evidence will put this across, this amongst many other things.

1) Would you advise rearranging the appointment very soon? The whole rearranging process I find overwhelming and I fear that it may suggest that since I'm rearranging (partner on my behalf) then I must be fine with the idea of a F2F? Would this erroneously imply that I must be able to attend? I went into massive detail in the PIP2 regarding this and how this kind of thing / meetings have a hugely bad effect on me & how I would have to rely entirely on family to bring me and accompany me as a default but due to the effects on my health and the episodes I have which so frequently happen, then I could have to cancel at late notice, which would make me worse --- perhaps a letter from my GP confirming this would be useful to backup what I have said??

2) I'm considering not rearranging yet and hoping that the F2F will be cancelled due to enough evidence? If they were happy with the evidence, that it was enough, would rearranging now effect this decision and perhaps encourage them to go ahead by still requiring a F2F?

If the evidence is received and appointment cancelled, I assume they would write to me? New evidence was signed for today at the address on my appointment letter (a PO BOX), I'm unsure how quickly someone will actually see it? And secondly scan it in? And thirdly actually link it with my claim and actually act on it, if at all prior to the F2F? Is this likely?

3) If I didn't ring to rearrange and have heard nothing, I am considering that I would have to contact them (partner on my behalf) by middle of next week? To ask if the new evidence has changed their decision? and if not, to rearrange the appointment then as it will be two weeks prior to the currently scheduled appointment. Would it be advisable for my partner to reiterate on the phone - to point out what I mentioned above about meetings etc on my PIP2? The fact that I need substantial help, relying on family to bring me and my accompany me etc?

Sincere thanks for your advice.

Thank you so much for your response - the advice has been invaluable thank you.

In regard to the suitability of a home assessment - it would alleviate many issues but would raise others for me - I know the run up to this and the post effects will still also have a seriously detrimental effect on my health. It's very very difficult. Should I speak to my GP also about writing to explain the issues regarding a home assessment also? As well as at an office? Or leave it as the office appointment only as this is the current reality? Both are huge triggers for me, because my chronic anxiety has a direct link with my diabetes, my levels reach seriously debilitating levels hence perhaps the need to express the issues with both office and a possibly consequential home appointment? I thought this had been made clear in my form but having it from a medical authority is evidently key here.

Could my GP fax it directly to ATOS? I can only find a general one on the contact us page? Would this be ok to use if faxing was appropriate?

Would you advise waiting the 3-4 days not only to ring to rearrange but for it to be faxed through / arranged to be delivered via recorded about then to give time for the new evidence to be looked over prior to the GP letter?

As always, sincere thanks for your invaluable help.