Awarded PIP in September without F2F

Hi,

I was awarded PIP without a face to face in September and was told I would not be contacted again until at least 2018.

Today I've received a letter saying the DWP requires that I attend a face to face assessment.

I claim for severe social anxiety and panic disorder. I am a recluse and do not and have not left my house for many years.

I explained all this in the form, as did both my GP and psychiatric doctor in separate letters I submitted as evidence. I also said if a face to face assessment was required that I request it be at my home and with my care worker present.

I am currently not sleeping over the receipt of this letter. I definitively will not be leaving the house to attend a face to face assessment. Suicide is more palatable to me than leaving my home.

If I do not attend and ignore the letter and they stop my PIP I will have no income whatsoever.

I was told I could not claim ESA because my national insurance contributions were too low for 2 years ago and my partner works more than 24 hours per week so I cannot claim income related. The only money I have is PIP and Housing Benefit.

What are my options?

Hi and Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

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So, you had a decision letter in September of this year and have now been sent an appointment for a face2face assessment? Did you have a new PIP form to complete?

Although DWP are legally able to reassess a PIP claim at any time, in practice this is the first time I have heard of it happening so soon - especially if you have not had another form to complete first.

I'm afraid the only way you will know what is happening is to phone DWP and ask