Recording assessment and my Award is about to end

Good afternoon dear team,

Following your advice in the “Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Claims and Reviews on Physical Health, Mental Health and Learning Difficulties Grounds”, Version 60 April 2024, page 109 (“We would encourage everyone to ask for their assessment to be audio recorded.”), last week I sent a letter to Atos/IAS requesting them to audio record my PIP renewal assessment next Tuesday.

Then they phoned me from 0800 188 4880 out of the blue a couple of days ago probably in regard to that letter but I missed the call as I am no feeling well to respond to telephone calls at the moment and they didn’t leave a voice message either.

I know I could just ring them back to enquire the reason of their call but I’ve been diagnosed with severe anxiety, severe depressive disorder and PTSD, so I am not well enough to handle with a call that could trigger another difficult flare up of paralysing severe anxiety attacks coupled with repetitive panic attacks.

I am extremely worried for the reasons explained below and also have some question below I will definitely be grateful to get advice/input on:

1) What do you think they phoned me about? What should I expect of them to say to me if I manage to pick up their call if they ring me again today before 8:00 PM or tomorrow?
2) Atos/IAS lost its contract with the DWP and will be replaced by Serco in September 2024 so I worry that because they are soon to finalise their contract with the DWP they have already started to behave more inhumanely and dishonestly than usual with PIP claimants (the Nurse that assessed my original PIP claim in 2021 was very inhumane and dishonest in the assessment report) and that my PIP renewal could end up badly harmed as a result (I don’t have enough health to make a complaint, a MR or even a tribunal’s appeal).
3) Will Atos/IAS cancel my PIP renewal appointment/consultation of next Tuesday? I read a comment from an user on this site saying that if Atos/IAS receives a request for a consultation to be audio recorded they apparently cancel the appointment and re-arrange a new one.
4) Is the above at 3 correct? If so, does that mean my PIP payments will stop until the renewal assessment is completed? (My current Award runs out on Sunday). If Atos/IAS can’t conduct my renewal assessment appointment/consultation on time, will the DWP ask me to make a fresh PIP application?
5) Important point: It was Atos/IAS who arranged an appointment/consultation for such a late date in my PIP renewal process.

Thank you!
Star.

I can tell you that they phoned me before the assessment to ask whether I would agree to their supervisor listening in. Obviously I don't know whether that might be the same for you but wanted to reassure you that it may not necessarily be a bad thing. I agreed as I figured they would be less likely to be half hearted and economical if they were being supervised.