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Pip phone assessment
- rjstone
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4 years 6 months ago #252268 by rjstone
Pip phone assessment was created by rjstone
I am diagnosed bipolar, agoraphobia, panic disorder. Previously sectioned in hospital. Normally sedated with quetiapine 400mg, carbamazepine 200mg, diazepam 20mg, zolpidem 10mg daily.
I have a care plan in place and get regular support from a consultant.
I have received a letter from IAS to say they need to phone me for an assessment regarding my PIP claim for mental health.
I have already sent the claim form with 13 additional pages, several years care plans and prints from my GP records.
I am suffering severe anxiety, panic and thoughts of suicide.
I really cant cope at the moment and am scared stiff when the phone rings, i have all calls blocked except numbers i know.
I really cant talk to anyone outside my support group about my mental health.
I will not be able to answer the phone.
Will my claim be refused?
I have a care plan in place and get regular support from a consultant.
I have received a letter from IAS to say they need to phone me for an assessment regarding my PIP claim for mental health.
I have already sent the claim form with 13 additional pages, several years care plans and prints from my GP records.
I am suffering severe anxiety, panic and thoughts of suicide.
I really cant cope at the moment and am scared stiff when the phone rings, i have all calls blocked except numbers i know.
I really cant talk to anyone outside my support group about my mental health.
I will not be able to answer the phone.
Will my claim be refused?
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- Gary
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4 years 6 months ago #252274 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic Pip phone assessment
Hi (0-0)
You are free to request a paper-based assessment, but they are unlikely to grant one without a doctor's letter confirming that it would cause you 'overwhelming psychological distress' to have a telephone assessment. Be warned even then the DWP and/or the assessment services sometimes ignore such requests. I've only ever heard of a few people get paper-based without a medical professional's back up.
If you have a paper-based assessment are you chances improved or disadvantaged? it's almost impossible to say in the current circumstances. Paper-based assessments are great in there is no stress or intrusive questions from an assessor, however, they have a disadvantage in that there is no opportunity to clarify any questions the assessor may have or say something you have forgotten on the form.
Gary
You are free to request a paper-based assessment, but they are unlikely to grant one without a doctor's letter confirming that it would cause you 'overwhelming psychological distress' to have a telephone assessment. Be warned even then the DWP and/or the assessment services sometimes ignore such requests. I've only ever heard of a few people get paper-based without a medical professional's back up.
If you have a paper-based assessment are you chances improved or disadvantaged? it's almost impossible to say in the current circumstances. Paper-based assessments are great in there is no stress or intrusive questions from an assessor, however, they have a disadvantage in that there is no opportunity to clarify any questions the assessor may have or say something you have forgotten on the form.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- rjstone
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4 years 6 months ago #252829 by rjstone
Replied by rjstone on topic Pip telephone assessment
when i received my first letter for a telephone assessment i called the IAS and was told the appointment would be cancelled and a paper based review completed.
Next i get a letter from them with a new telephone assessment date.
I suffer bipolar, agoraphobia, and a panic disorder and have to take quetiapine 400XL,100mg, Diazepam 5mg 3 times daily when needed, Zolpidem 10mg at night, Carbamazepine 200 daily. Also Gabapentin for nerve pain when required.
Due to the severe stress this is now causing me i will be taking large doses of my medications to stay calm buy i will be very sleepy even struggling to stay awake.
I am constantly getting thoughts of suicide and not sure what will happen. i will be in no fit state to answer questions in any detail. it annoys me because they already have years of my care plans, copies of my gp records and a well completed form showing how i am affected. I will need to take a lot of medication which will leave me heavily sedated and difficult to think and talk
Next i get a letter from them with a new telephone assessment date.
I suffer bipolar, agoraphobia, and a panic disorder and have to take quetiapine 400XL,100mg, Diazepam 5mg 3 times daily when needed, Zolpidem 10mg at night, Carbamazepine 200 daily. Also Gabapentin for nerve pain when required.
Due to the severe stress this is now causing me i will be taking large doses of my medications to stay calm buy i will be very sleepy even struggling to stay awake.
I am constantly getting thoughts of suicide and not sure what will happen. i will be in no fit state to answer questions in any detail. it annoys me because they already have years of my care plans, copies of my gp records and a well completed form showing how i am affected. I will need to take a lot of medication which will leave me heavily sedated and difficult to think and talk
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- BIS
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4 years 6 months ago #252849 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 (0-0)
I'm sorry that you are in such distress over this. Did you ever get a letter from your doctor asking for a paper-based assessment? If you didn't I don't know whether there is time for you to get one. If the GP was to agree you could still ring up and tell them what this is doing to your mental health. Last resort is to contact your MP, but they don't always act quickly.
If the phonecall goes ahead, you need to tell the assessor immediately about the amount of medication you have had to take and the difficulties you will have being coherent. They may postpone.
BIS
I'm sorry that you are in such distress over this. Did you ever get a letter from your doctor asking for a paper-based assessment? If you didn't I don't know whether there is time for you to get one. If the GP was to agree you could still ring up and tell them what this is doing to your mental health. Last resort is to contact your MP, but they don't always act quickly.
If the phonecall goes ahead, you need to tell the assessor immediately about the amount of medication you have had to take and the difficulties you will have being coherent. They may postpone.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- denby
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4 years 6 months ago #252875 by denby
Replied by denby on topic Pip telephone assessment
Hi 0-0. I'm not a moderator but may I suggest, I hope you see this in time, that if you do get a call trying to start a telephone assessment, as well as saying about medication as BIS says, tell them this has made you really suicidal, as I believe they are not supposed to endanger your life. The benefit issues can be sorted once you are safe, with GPs letters etc.
We did get a paper based assessment, with a GP letter as mentioned by Gary. The paper based assessment report had lots of untruths in, but I was able to sort those out with a speedy letter before the decision was made.
With sympathy and best wishes, Denby
We did get a paper based assessment, with a GP letter as mentioned by Gary. The paper based assessment report had lots of untruths in, but I was able to sort those out with a speedy letter before the decision was made.
With sympathy and best wishes, Denby
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- rjstone
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4 years 5 months ago #253257 by rjstone
Replied by rjstone on topic Pip phone assessment
Thank you, just to update i was heavily sedated at the time of the call. I answered the call and the person seemed very nice and understanding. I have no memory of what was discussed apart from the first 10 minutes. I will wait and see what happens, glad thats over though just trying to get my mental heath more stable now. There is no way this was a fair and reasonable assessment, but i cant cope with this anymore and will not challenge any decision
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