PIP INterview

A friend who has completed a PIP Form stating that he has formally diagnosed with Autism with problems cited about meeting strangers and going to strange places etc, plus due to sleep problems does not function well before the afternoon .... has be offered an office based PIP assessment at 9am in the morning.

Looks like they have not read the form at all..... any thoughts please.

dmtlancs wrote: A friend who has completed a PIP Form stating that he has formally diagnosed with Autism with problems cited about meeting strangers and going to strange places etc, plus due to sleep problems does not function well before the afternoon .... has be offered an office based PIP assessment at 9am in the morning.

Looks like they have not read the form at all..... any thoughts please.

Hi dmtl,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

We have had several members who have reported similar situations regarding having to attend a PIP face to face assessment.

They should take your friend's limitations into account when arranging a face to face and make reasonable adjustments where necessary.

These reasonable adjustments do not only include the travelling distance to and from the assessment centre, they also include providing a home assessment where necessary.

The Assessment provider will probably insist that your friend's G.P. Faxes them in support of a home assessment.

They need to contact the Assessment Provider. (ATOS or Capita)

Have a read through : This Topic, and the other posts from the blue links therein.

What to expect at a PIP Consultation can be read from Page 64 of our : PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on page)

Please reply to this post if you have further queries.

bro58

I think part of the problem is that the staff who make the appointments don't have the claimants' forms in front of them (I don't think they even have access to them)

This has happened to my daughter who suffers with anxiety which can induce panic attacks, along with depression and what I would describe as acrophobic symptoms. I helped her to complete her form and requested a home visit from ATOS for these reasons. The response was and she was given an appointment to attend a unit with 7 days notice.

I rang DWP this morning and using some of the sound bites from B&W such as this would be a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act and if they were to visit they would see the chaos she and her husband live in which would give a better understanding of how her disability affected her in the area's of daily living.

Sadly although the DWP was very helpful she said if I rang ATOS they would inform DWP she has refused to attend!! The comparison she used if she needed medical attention she would have to go to the surgery to get treatment.

The conclusion was that she would need a letter from the Dr to say she is housebound. Given the short notice of the medical and the difficulties of getting hold of GP's these days I have left it as I will endeavour to get her to the appointment but if on the day she is unable to attend I will inform them. However would it be appropriate for me to write a letter confirming this as an evidence trail. Kind regards

Jan Pearl wrote: This has happened to my daughter who suffers with anxiety which can induce panic attacks, along with depression and what I would describe as acrophobic symptoms. I helped her to complete her form and requested a home visit from ATOS for these reasons. The response was and she was given an appointment to attend a unit with 7 days notice.

I rang DWP this morning and using some of the sound bites from B&W such as this would be a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act and if they were to visit they would see the chaos she and her husband live in which would give a better understanding of how her disability affected her in the area's of daily living.

Sadly although the DWP was very helpful she said if I rang ATOS they would inform DWP she has refused to attend!! The comparison she used if she needed medical attention she would have to go to the surgery to get treatment.

The conclusion was that she would need a letter from the Dr to say she is housebound. Given the short notice of the medical and the difficulties of getting hold of GP's these days I have left it as I will endeavour to get her to the appointment but if on the day she is unable to attend I will inform them. However would it be appropriate for me to write a letter confirming this as an evidence trail. Kind regards

Hi JP,

"Sadly although the DWP was very helpful she said if I rang ATOS they would inform DWP she has refused to attend!! The comparison she used if she needed medical attention she would have to go to the surgery to get treatment. "

They often use this argument with claimants !!

However, whether or not the claimant can carry out the return trip using "Public Transport" should be taken into account when making "Reasonable Adjustments"

If they can't, then either a Taxi for the return trip should be offered where appropriate, or a Home Assessment.

What if the claimant doesn't own a car, or can't drive, for whatever reason.

The provision of a supporting letter from a G.P. is also the norm.

You are allowed to rearrange once !!

It obviously depends on how far you wish to push the issue !!

bro58

Hi JP,

Yes, you could email ATOS or write a letter as a "paper trail".

If it comes to the day, and she can't attend you should contact ATOS as soon as you know that she will not be able to attend.

As previously stated, you can re-arrange once.

bro58