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PIP Telephone Assessment
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4 years 10 months ago #248681 by Kay
PIP Telephone Assessment was created by Kay
Hi - I applied for PIP for my son who has ASD. The application was received on 27th February 2020 (I phoned them to check). Because of Covid-19 there are no face to face assessments. I phoned to find out what was happening with his application and was told he will be getting a telephone assessment. I explained that in the communication part of the application form I had put that he cannot use a phone properly and this is not the best way for him to communicate. But I was told the phone assessment will go ahead (we haven’t got a date yet). Can you give any advice please? Will I be able to speak for him or not? I’m worried that this won’t be taken into consideration - my son often just hangs up the phone because he can’t deal with it - or he will just answer Yes or No or say anything so that the call will end quickly. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you - from a desperate Mum!
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4 years 10 months ago #248688 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP Telephone Assessment
Hi Kay
Much of this depends on the assessor. If you feel that the telephone assessment is beyond him then you need to fight the fact he is being forced to have one.
Possible options: 1) Ring the DWP and ask to speak to a manger. They will try and resist but insist. If he has autism he should be marked down as vulnerable and they have a special team to support claimants. You want to ascertain whether he is allowed this help. You then explain what you have been told and clarify, whether this is true. Ask them why a paper-based assessment can't be done. They should give you a reason.
2). Contact your local MP as a matter or urgency. They may be able to intervene. You are the second member this week with a child with autism being bullied into telephone assessments. It's clearly not fair.
3) Get a letter from his GP saying a telephone assessment would disadvantage your son.
If a call is made, will you be present with your son? How much you are allowed to speak depends on the assessor even if you are an appointee. Some are happy, but others aren't. If you do have to go through with the call. Make sure you have the ability to have the phone on loudspeaker. However, if you interrupt without their say so - they can cancel the call and say he didn't cooperate. But I would ask from the very beginning what the parameters are - so it should be you who answers the call.
BIS
Much of this depends on the assessor. If you feel that the telephone assessment is beyond him then you need to fight the fact he is being forced to have one.
Possible options: 1) Ring the DWP and ask to speak to a manger. They will try and resist but insist. If he has autism he should be marked down as vulnerable and they have a special team to support claimants. You want to ascertain whether he is allowed this help. You then explain what you have been told and clarify, whether this is true. Ask them why a paper-based assessment can't be done. They should give you a reason.
2). Contact your local MP as a matter or urgency. They may be able to intervene. You are the second member this week with a child with autism being bullied into telephone assessments. It's clearly not fair.
3) Get a letter from his GP saying a telephone assessment would disadvantage your son.
If a call is made, will you be present with your son? How much you are allowed to speak depends on the assessor even if you are an appointee. Some are happy, but others aren't. If you do have to go through with the call. Make sure you have the ability to have the phone on loudspeaker. However, if you interrupt without their say so - they can cancel the call and say he didn't cooperate. But I would ask from the very beginning what the parameters are - so it should be you who answers the call.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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4 years 10 months ago #248710 by Kay
Replied by Kay on topic PIP Telephone Assessment
Hi BIS - I will action all of this ASAP. Thank you very much for the advice. I will let the forum know how I get on.
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4 years 10 months ago #248778 by Kay
Replied by Kay on topic PIP Telephone Assessment
Hi BIS
I contacted the DWP PIP dept and just wanted to update you. I am now my son’s official appointee, as I was told that I will then be able to speak on my sons behalf. The person I spoke to was extremely helpful and understanding of the situation. He is going to put a case forward that a paper assessment is recommended in my sons case, and that a BF56 form is now in the system which shows I am the official appointee. This also means that if a telephone assessment goes ahead, the date and time of the assessment will be sent to me directly. He also explained that once my sons application has been looked at - he may just be awarded PIP without the need of an assessment - so fingers crossed that this is the case.
Thank you again for your advice - I hope this helps others reading this forum.
I contacted the DWP PIP dept and just wanted to update you. I am now my son’s official appointee, as I was told that I will then be able to speak on my sons behalf. The person I spoke to was extremely helpful and understanding of the situation. He is going to put a case forward that a paper assessment is recommended in my sons case, and that a BF56 form is now in the system which shows I am the official appointee. This also means that if a telephone assessment goes ahead, the date and time of the assessment will be sent to me directly. He also explained that once my sons application has been looked at - he may just be awarded PIP without the need of an assessment - so fingers crossed that this is the case.
Thank you again for your advice - I hope this helps others reading this forum.
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