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PIP REVIEW AR1 FORM & ADDITIONAL SUPPORT MARKER

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5 years 11 months ago #210417 by libra1
Replied by libra1 on topic PIP REVIEW and FURTHER MEDICAL EVIDENCE
Hello Gordon,

I phoned IAS again today to clarify what I was told on the phone by them yesterday.

To cut a long story short, the man I spoke to did not accept the appointment had been made in error as the lady the day before had told me. He told me the same HP who spoke to me last week who assured me I would not be asked to attend an assessment pending reviewing further medical evidence being obtained is the same HP who within a day after speaking to me (and sending off for info from my GP as well as writing to me to say info was being sent for before deciding whether or not I need to attend an assessment) then actioned putting an appointment through for a face-to-face assessment, citing insufficient information and the need for an informal observation at assessment. When I pointed out that the letter sent to me the same day the HP spoke to me specifically stated that I would not be asked to attend an assessment pending review of further information being obtained from my GP, the man I spoke to told me it was a 'generic letter.' I then pointed out that it made no sense to then make an appointment and sending me a letter citing the information has been reviewed without allowing the GP to even receive their form or allowing him time to fill it in and return it. The most the man I spoke to would say is that this is down to the HP and he could not comment on why this was done. He did not accept it made no sense. He told me the first letter I received was simply 'generic' and that an appointment has to be put in place to work to the DWP's timetable they set IAS. I told him that what I am being told between two letters sent within days of each other conflict with each other. He did not accept this and said no error has been made.The most he advised is that the information from my GP may arrive in advance of my appointment next week and reviewed and then the HP would cancel my appointment if they felt a report could be completed without it. I said this left little time. I also told him that the appointment at the end of next week would not be suitable anyway as I need my sister to accompany me and she cannot make that day. He told me I could phone and reschedule once as late as the day before, but an appointment has to be in the system. He told me it would buy me more time to reschedule it next week.

The most he seemed to concede is that he understood my confusion but no error has been made and that this is the 'HP's fault' and he could not comment on it. When I got upset and tearful because I failed to understand how being verbally told one thing by the HP, having been written to in a 'generic' letter to confirm what the HP told me verbally that an appointment was then made within a day contradicting what I was verbally told as well as told in writing. He got impatient with me when I referred to the 'generic' letter as being rendered meaningless and that I should legitimately expect what it says in plain English to mean what it says and that no appointment should be required until after medical evidence requested is obtained and reviewed. He then told me that I was now too upset for him to deal with and that he had exhaustively explained everything to me and ended the call.

What do you think I should think? The upshot of what I got out of this call is that basically IAS work to the DWP's set timetable and the processes they are supposed to follow mean little and the 'timetable' and meeting its target surpasses providing a service that makes any sense to the claimant. I suppose I should feel lucky that they even bothered to try to obtain further medical evidence. Maybe, I should not hope that the medical information my GP provides will change anything and that they will want to see me regardless. It means that the short form AR1 where you tick 'no change' and provide no supporting updated evidence yourself will likely result in a face-to-face because they consider the original PIP2 and supporting evidence to be insufficient to review a case. That much is clear.

I will phone IAS the day before the appointment next week to reschedule it and live in hope that my GP's form will be enough for them to complete a paper based assessment and cancel it.

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5 years 11 months ago #210428 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP REVIEW and FURTHER MEDICAL EVIDENCE
Libra

I was worried that this would happen which is why I recommended to contact them again.

Yes, phone them the day before, hopefully a home assessment can be sorted out.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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5 years 11 months ago #210430 by libra1
Replied by libra1 on topic PIP REVIEW and FURTHER MEDICAL EVIDENCE
Gordon,

I wasn't asking for a home assessment. I was told a face-to-face may not be required at all pending reviewing my GP's evidence - told this both verbally and in writing.

It seems that the same HP who told me this also actioned the appointment, perhaps, fearing having already tried to contact my GP on the phone unsuccessfully that a report from him might not be forthcoming and that an assessment should be in place in case... yet leaving no time to wait for the GP to even receive the written request for info form, never mind reviewing it. Makes no sense to me.

I will reschedule and hope that in the meantime my GP's info arrives and is sufficient evidence to do a report without seeing me at all.

I will keep you updated. If they are seeing me regardless, I would appreciate knowing what to expect. I have a fluctuating mental health condition and if the assessment falls on a 'good' day, then I guess I will lose my PIP award because the assessor goes on 'informal' observations. With an invisible disability, if I don't present as 'mentally ill' enough, what I have to say about how bad it gets and how often may not be believed. IAS are ATOS, after all in spite of the name change. And, recent reports on the fitness for purpose of these PIP assessments with mental health claimants leaves me with very little confidence in their assessors' competence. It's a lottery.

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5 years 11 months ago #210432 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP REVIEW and FURTHER MEDICAL EVIDENCE
Libra

The PIP Claim guide has sections on the assessment and the questions you are likely to be asked.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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5 years 10 months ago #211608 by libra1
Replied by libra1 on topic PIP REVIEW and FURTHER MEDICAL EVIDENCE
Hello Gordon,

As previously discussed, I went ahead and phoned the day before the first assessment appointment 10 days ago to cancel and reschedule it, as advised. A new assessment appointment was booked for next week, when my sister can accompany me.

In the meantime, my GP's factual report which IAS requested 4 weeks ago arrived with IAS at the end of last week. I phoned IAS to ask that it be reviewed in case a paper based report can be completed, given that it was IAS that requested the GP report in the first place. The advisor told me she would forward an email to expedite the GP report being reviewed. She told me that I may still have to attend the appointment next week if a paper based report could not be completed on the basis of the further information received. She told me that I would be telephoned to update me, otherwise I should still plan to attend my face-to-face assessment next week.

I was telephoned this afternoon by IAS. I was spoken to by a Health Professional who said that the GP report had been considered and that she was able to complete a paper based report without the need for me to be seen at a face-to-face assessment. She told me that she knew I had an assessment booked in next week and that I did not need to attend as the report could be completed without it. I asked her if she was cancelling the appointment. She told me that I would hear about that in due course. I am confused. Who would be informing me of the cancellation formally? Is it the DWP? Also, should I wait to hear from the DWP with their standard 'we have everything we need' notification before contacting them to ask for a copy of the HP's report?

I was so thrilled to be told by the IAS 'assessor' completing my report that I don't need to attend next week and yet I feel worried that the appointment is still in place technically. I know it is paranoid of me but is there any way they might still make me go? I am just confused as to why I am told I do not need to attend and at the same time the appointment is not yet officially cancelled.

Hope you can put my mind at rest. Have been having horrible sleepless nights dreading this face-to-face assessment.

Many thanks.

Libra

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5 years 10 months ago #211617 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP REVIEW and FURTHER MEDICAL EVIDENCE
Libra

I can understand why you are worried, the simple answer is for you to contact IAS again to confirm that the face to face assessment has been cancelled, you say it is next week, so maybe give them a call tomorrow.

Gordon

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