F2F SUSPENDED QUESTION

I read the link that has been posted to the government website. I am a first time person claiming PIP currently my form has been sent over to the assessment people. Now, I want to know if I am reading this correctly face to face assessments are cancelled for 3 months but it could be reviewed earlier where does this leave people? Am I going to be waiting 3 moths as I was advised last week on the telephone that my form had been sent and to wait 8 weeks if no reply then phone dwp who would give me there contact details to chase. So, are we going to be assessed by telephone or paper assessment as the government website suggests? or are they going to find a way around this? Thank you

Hi both

I can only tell you what I've heard from DWP advisors myself. I called up to check something with DWP the day before they made the decision to suspend assessments and the advisor told me to expect to see that in the news very soon.

She advised me that my assessment would most likely be cancelled, and that medical assessors will be falling back on telephone assessments and paper-based assessments.

When she said this, I asked if I could express a preference for an alternative assessment format (as I have a hearing impairment and cannot cope with long telephone calls, and also because I do not have a private/safe place to have an hour-long conversation about my needs). She said that was absolutely fine, and she made a note on the system for assessors to email, write a letter or text me if they had further questions. I asked if I could call beck in a few weeks to see if there had been any movement on my case and she also said that was fine.

They are surely inundated with work at the moment so their mass communications are probably not great. If in doubt, call DWP and ask an advisor to check your record. Also ask them to note your communication preferences/needs on the system if you have any. And always ask the advisor's name!

Jamie