PIP and medical assesment

twink wrote: Could you please offer advice, my cousin has applied for PIP on mental health grounds, (he is frequently sectioned for depression, but not under a section at the moment) he has been called in for a face to face assessment by ATOS, he does not feel able to go. He may be able to get a letter from his GP or psychiatrist saying this would be detrimental to his well being. Could you please advise if all PIP applicants have to have a face to face medical or is it likely that he will have to go to the center or have a medical at home. Thanks in advance for your advice.

The PIP legislation allows for recommendations to be made from the PIP2 form and any evidence attached and even just a phone interview with the claimant, in addition to a face to face assessment at the Assessment Providers (AP) offices or in the claimants home.

Recommendations made without a face to face are quite rare, the original intention was that no more than 2% of claims would be made in this way, advice from the DWP at the end of last year increased the target to 15-20%, however, we have not seen this reflected in comments from the forum.

The decision on whether to forgo a face to face lies with the AP, a letter from the claimants GP may be sufficient, but if it is not then there is little that the claimant can do to challenge this, the involvement of their MP may help. If it is deemed that a face to face assessment is required and the claimant does not attend either of two appointments then it is likely that their claim will be closed.

Gordon