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Telephone PIP Assessment
- julesd
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1 week 1 day ago #312435 by julesd
Telephone PIP Assessment was created by julesd
This morning after 9month wait had a 2.5hr interrogation. Call 45 min after appt time which rang for 15secs (!) then cut off. I phoned back immediately they faffed around another 40min before returning call and starting 'interview'. Assessor was hurried and clearly irritated. There were keys tapping throughout which broke the awkward prolonged silences. Unstructured interview flipping from one topic to another. Also repeatedly (at least four) returned to PTSD/social anxiety from violent domestic physical assaults (stated she was female and legally need to know). No warning just repeating same trauma. Very triggering reduced me to tears and unable to answer quickly. Nothing but tapping of keys and sighing from her. I am 64 years old and was asked did you go to mainstream school do you have SEN and other perplexing questions. Also knew I was alone and refused a break ('will take too long') after polite request. At that point I was (and remain) extremely distressed and just wanted 'it' to end.
Honest opinion - decision made before call. My mind is racing and blaming myself for not being assertive. At end she mumbled something about case manager, report and 6 weeks. Got text 6 min after end of call stating assessment notes sent for decision and wait will be 8 weeks.
What can I do now?
I apologise as rambling but really feel battered by this experience. I live alone, no support and now feel very anxious.
Am I just unlucky and is this torture normal? She did give her name but not job title. For all I know was talking to the office cleaner.
Any advise how I can help myself?
Thanks
julesd
Honest opinion - decision made before call. My mind is racing and blaming myself for not being assertive. At end she mumbled something about case manager, report and 6 weeks. Got text 6 min after end of call stating assessment notes sent for decision and wait will be 8 weeks.
What can I do now?
I apologise as rambling but really feel battered by this experience. I live alone, no support and now feel very anxious.
Am I just unlucky and is this torture normal? She did give her name but not job title. For all I know was talking to the office cleaner.
Any advise how I can help myself?
Thanks
julesd
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- BIS
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2 days 2 hours ago #312556 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Telephone PIP Assessment
Hi julesd
I'm so sorry to hear of the awful experience you had. It sounds absolutely disgraceful, especially as she lied to you. She did not 'legally" need to know about your trauma. They do often throw in curveball questions such as 'where did you go to school?' which has absolutely nothing to do with your ability to 'cook a meal' or 'manage budgeting' etc.
You may not want to - but you can ring the DWP if you haven't already and ask for a copy of the assessment report. It's called a PA4. That will give you some idea of what the outcome might be.
You could, if you wanted, put in a complaint about your experience - but as you are already feeling battered, I would wait until you get hold of the assessment report before you make any decisions about what to do next.
BIS
I'm so sorry to hear of the awful experience you had. It sounds absolutely disgraceful, especially as she lied to you. She did not 'legally" need to know about your trauma. They do often throw in curveball questions such as 'where did you go to school?' which has absolutely nothing to do with your ability to 'cook a meal' or 'manage budgeting' etc.
You may not want to - but you can ring the DWP if you haven't already and ask for a copy of the assessment report. It's called a PA4. That will give you some idea of what the outcome might be.
You could, if you wanted, put in a complaint about your experience - but as you are already feeling battered, I would wait until you get hold of the assessment report before you make any decisions about what to do next.
BIS
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- denby
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1 day 20 hours ago #312573 by denby
Replied by denby on topic Telephone PIP Assessment
Dear JulesD, if it's any comfort to you, in the experience of the relative I support, and my own, sadly the sort of experience you had is quite normal, even if some people get much better assessments. Please don't blame yourself for not being assertive, their behaviour is designed to weaken and disorient every claimant. Gather any energy you can from knowing the entire B&W community here will be on your side, and consider preparing to challenge any less-than-it-should-be result. As BIS says, you may not want to, but seeing the PA4 would be a good step. Feel free to keep us posted, we would love to hear how you go on.
Best,
Denby
Sending all strength to you Julesd
Best,
Denby
Sending all strength to you Julesd
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- julesd
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1 day 6 hours ago #312583 by julesd
Replied by julesd on topic Telephone PIP Assessment
Hello BIS
Thanks for your reply and advice. I've contacted the DWP to get a copy of the PA4 which I hope is on its way. Why on earth do they send it via post why not digitally? I applied online - think I know the answer - be too quick, simple and painless. Took four calls to get through after 5 options to choose, about 2hr wait (in total) with three calls cut off. What answered I don't know but sounded robotic. Eventually the human asked more ID questions (already answered) and 5min wait for 'discussion with DM' and then advised a copy report was to be posted taking up to 10 days to arrive!
Another thing whistling around my mind is - she asked and became insistent I tell her who filled out form with me as very detailed and what was my last job. Completed the application over a month alone and only had one job 40 years NHS Trauma & Emergency Nurse (med ret) then she asked me where I went to school etc. I should have been more assertive but had waited so long for the appointment. Warned I couldn't use a transcriber or record despite advising HAAS (I have continual tinnitus) which I have to do for phone calls. HAAS advised prior to phone assessment that transcript and audio recording only for personal use. Over twelve years ago had a F2F WCA by ATOS and got ESA Support group until migration to UC LCWRA last year. Those applications had issues but don't compare at all to the PIP experience. I'm trying to stay calm and be logical but am scared dreading the thought of MR, or indeed, Tribunal. Doesn't give much time when decision letters and report copy take up to 10 days to arrive. I'm angry that the system has ground me down BUT I will continue and hope someone somewhere will see sense. Sorry for the rant.
Thanks B&W for the guides and forum which do help navigate the system.
julesd
Thanks for your reply and advice. I've contacted the DWP to get a copy of the PA4 which I hope is on its way. Why on earth do they send it via post why not digitally? I applied online - think I know the answer - be too quick, simple and painless. Took four calls to get through after 5 options to choose, about 2hr wait (in total) with three calls cut off. What answered I don't know but sounded robotic. Eventually the human asked more ID questions (already answered) and 5min wait for 'discussion with DM' and then advised a copy report was to be posted taking up to 10 days to arrive!
Another thing whistling around my mind is - she asked and became insistent I tell her who filled out form with me as very detailed and what was my last job. Completed the application over a month alone and only had one job 40 years NHS Trauma & Emergency Nurse (med ret) then she asked me where I went to school etc. I should have been more assertive but had waited so long for the appointment. Warned I couldn't use a transcriber or record despite advising HAAS (I have continual tinnitus) which I have to do for phone calls. HAAS advised prior to phone assessment that transcript and audio recording only for personal use. Over twelve years ago had a F2F WCA by ATOS and got ESA Support group until migration to UC LCWRA last year. Those applications had issues but don't compare at all to the PIP experience. I'm trying to stay calm and be logical but am scared dreading the thought of MR, or indeed, Tribunal. Doesn't give much time when decision letters and report copy take up to 10 days to arrive. I'm angry that the system has ground me down BUT I will continue and hope someone somewhere will see sense. Sorry for the rant.
Thanks B&W for the guides and forum which do help navigate the system.
julesd
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- BIS
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3 hours 37 minutes ago #312608 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Telephone PIP Assessment
Hi julesd
The DWP or HAAS cannot stop you from making a recording in your own home. It is none of their business, and personally, I would never ask for permission. I know some people do - but why give them a chance to say no? Ask for them to make a recording, but we always advise people have their own backup because too often recordings on their side fail.
They also lied to you about you not using a transcriber! Plenty of claimants record their assessment and then get a transcribing service to transcribe for them. It would not have mattered if you had someone taking it all down on the call! You sound as if you have been very unlucky in what you were told.
BIS
The DWP or HAAS cannot stop you from making a recording in your own home. It is none of their business, and personally, I would never ask for permission. I know some people do - but why give them a chance to say no? Ask for them to make a recording, but we always advise people have their own backup because too often recordings on their side fail.
They also lied to you about you not using a transcriber! Plenty of claimants record their assessment and then get a transcribing service to transcribe for them. It would not have mattered if you had someone taking it all down on the call! You sound as if you have been very unlucky in what you were told.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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