Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment

Before your PIP assessment, please read the notes you have been sent with your appointment date, this is very important. 

There is also a very good short video on YouTube – just type in DWP disability services videos explaining PIP

Please keep your appointment

A PIP assessment is very daunting, but the assessors are very nice and are not there to catch you out; please do not believe anything you read on the internet, they do not have a certain number of claimants that they have to fail!  

The Health Care Practitioner (HCP) – Assessor

The Health Care Practitioner (HCP) who interviews you will be medically trained, they could be a nurse, GP, paramedic and so on. They have had excellent training and have a comprehensive knowledge of medication, treatments and therapies.  They have good communication and listening skills. Please do not ask the assessor what their qualifications are or whether they are qualified to assess the impact of your particular medical problem.

The Health Care Professional (HCP) does not make the decision about your application.  They do a report on your assessment and send it to a Decision Maker.

Decision Maker (DM) - this is the person who makes the decision about your application, so there is a disconnect as this person does not meet you or speak with you.

Number of assessments

A really good thing that has happened this year is that the PIP assessors now do three assessments a day and not four.  This means they have more time to do their assessments, so relieving the pressure on the claimant as they are now allowed more time to do the assessment.

Audio recordings

Atos, who carry out some of the PIP assessments, are investing heavily in audio equipment so that audio recordings may be carried out.  If Atos are carrying out your assessment and you would like your PIP assessment to be recorded, please let their customer services know at least two days before your assessment.  If your assessment is on the telephone, then the Health Care Professional carrying out your assessment will read out a quick form for you to agree with, if your assessment is face-to-face, then you will be asked to sign a form.  Your assessment will then be recorded and the recording will be sent to you in ten days. 

Telephone assessments

During COVID lockdown assessments were held on the telephone and this is still happening.  There are pros and cons for these.  If your assessment is on the telephone, you can have someone else patched in, so I do a lot of these.  You have to convince someone you have not met and cannot see you, that you have disabilities which stop you carrying out the daily descriptors and/or the mobility part of PIP and that you should be awarded PIP in order to help you live your life.

Home appointments

You may ask to have an assessment at home or on the telephone if you cannot get out due to your disability.  There is a long wait for home appointments, so if you can get to an assessment centre, please do, or have a telephone appointment instead.

Assessment centres in Plymouth

The assessment centres in the Plymouth area are at Princess Court, Plymouth,

PL1 2EX.  There is parking in the multi storey car park, but if you have trouble with mobility then you will need to ask someone to drop you off outside.  There are steps on the access from Princess Street, but not from the other side on Notte Street.  The other assessment centre is Rhin House, William Prance Road, Derriford, Plymouth, PL6 5WR, where there is parking and no steps. 

Taking a taxi to the assessment centre

You may claim your travel expenses to get to the centre.  When you attend the centre, please ask for a travel claim form.  If you need to take a taxi, you must let the assessment organiser know a couple of days before your assessment.  You will need to explain why you need to catch a taxi.

Telephone assessment

Be ready before the HCP telephones - this means getting an area ready with plenty of space to open your form and supporting evidence and a copy of your prescription. Have a glass of water ready, if you need glasses have them ready.  Also, a pen and paper, make sure your telephone is charged and not blocking any numbers and obviously have the copy of your UC form with you.  Have someone either patched in on the call or with you to give you support. Get the person supporting you to read your form or notes before the interview begins so they know what you will be speaking about.

Read your form a few times before the assessment to remind yourself of the things you put.  It is the story of your life, but you will have put in coping mechanisms which you will do automatically, so need to remind yourself about. 

The person supporting you may prompt you, they cannot answer the questions for you.  Please see notes below.

Visiting an assessment centre

Having your assessment at an assessment centre, you will need to prepare a bag, so take a copy of your form, something to read or do in case you are delayed for a while, polo mints are always good, a packet of tissues, a pen and paper.  Get to the assessment centre in plenty of time and take someone with you for support. 

Give the person you have with you a copy of your UC form, they cannot answer questions for you but they can remind you to say something to the Health Care Professional (HCP) doing your assessment.  They can tick the things off that you mention as the assessment progresses.  Anything that you do not mention, your helper should nudge you into saying. This is so important because the HCP writes a report of the assessment and this is sent to the Decision Maker (DM). The DM does not speak to you so there is a big disconnect here.

NB You will be watched from the moment you enter the building, no-one is trying to catch you out, it is their job, so if you have stated on your initial form that you walk slowly with a limp, that is what they will be expecting to see.  What can happen is the occasion takes over, applicants’ anxiety kicks in and they suddenly turn in to a racing ferret and almost run in to the room!  They then may not be able to walk for a few days due to the pain they have caused themselves, but the HCP will not know that.  Just do everything as you normally do.

The form you completed will also be sent to the DM, but the HCP's report will always trump your form, so it is very important that everything in your form you say out loud to the HCP so that they type it up in their report. You must not omit anything, thinking that it will be alright as it is in the form you completed so the DM will see it; it is better to cover all points.

The assessment

At the beginning of the assessment, the HCP will give you their name, please remember it and use it during your assessment, especially at the end when you thank them for doing the assessment.

Two parts to PIP

PIP is made up of two parts, so the daily living descriptors will be discussed with the mobility being done separately.

Helpful notes

You may have mental health disabilities so you may say  - 'I am extremely nervous and anxious today, I am being supported by my advocate, wife, husband, partner or friend - I find speaking to people I do not know very difficult due to my mental health disabilities/anxiety and that is why I am being supported today’.

If your assessment is on the telephone and you are using a hands-free set because you cannot hold a phone, please say so.  The HCP cannot see you, so you need to explain what is going on.

If you have not got a copy of your form, say - 'I have not got a copy of my form in front of me as it is … so I cannot use it to remind me of what I wrote as I forget things quite a lot and I am very anxious, so please can you refer to my form that you have in front of you'. The HCP should have a copy of your form that you completed on their computer screen.

Supporting evidence

You should also have sent in some supporting evidence from your GP, support worker, etc. You should also have a copy of these so you can discuss them with the HCP, please bring them to the attention of the HCP who should also have copies in front of them.

Answering questions

NB – I know I am repeating myself but this is so important -

 If you do not understand the questions, please ask the HCP to repeat themselves, remember they are doing a good job in very difficult circumstances, get them on your side. You need the HCP to like you, you want them to write a report mentioning everything you tell them and this will take time, so be very patient.

Keep to the question, if you are asked about your shoulder, do not start talking about your feet!

If you feel the HCP is rushing you, please ask them to slow down and explain that you are having problems processing the questions. It does not matter how many times you ask them to slow down or to repeat a question, keep asking until you understand the question and do not guess the answer, use your form to help you.

Take a breath before answering the questions

When the HCP telephones you or sees you at the assessment centre, they will probably ask you how you are, it is in our DNA to answer positively, so before you know it, you have answered that you are fine thank you. Do not do this please. Take a breath before answering the questions and answer all the questions truthfully. Say if you are having a bad day, a worse day or a better than bad day. If you are having a good day, then you can say so, but usually people applying for PIP do not have good days, just not such bad ones.

At the beginning of the assessment, the HCP may inform you that they are going to ask you a few questions and it will not take long.  They are trying to get you not to worry, but be prepared that the assessment will take a long time, be prepared that it could take between one and two hours.

Moving around during the assessment

If you need to move around during your assessment, please do so and explain why, so to relieve pain or get comfortable, similarly, if you are anxious and need to get your breathing under control, please say so and ask for a few seconds to do so.

If you do not have a copy of your form, please put notes under the following headings to help you, I have put a few pointers on to start you off.  Please put things, for example - if you need reminding to do each thing, do not assume that because you say you need helping with one thing that the HCP will think you need helping with other things, you need to say for each descriptor exactly what you need help with –

Needing help with daily descriptors (questions)

If you need help for any descriptor, say why and by whom.  If no-one helps you but you need help, say so.  No-one wants help with washing and bathing so everyone usually says no, they do not need help as they do not wish another person to see them without their clothes on, but imagine a robot and if you say yes to one helping you, then you need help!

Can or do

Again, I am repeating myself, but this is also very important.

When you are asked a question, so ‘can you do something?’  In your mind substitute the word CAN for DO. So, if you are asked ‘can you make a sandwich?’  You probably think, ‘of course I can make a sandwich’, but actually stop and think.  Do you actually make a sandwich, it is so easy to say you do something when you do not and of course everyone can make a sandwich, but do you actually do so?

The HCP sometimes keeps asking the same question in different ways, so for example about visiting a supermarket.  If you have said you do not go as your disabilities prevent you doing so, the HCP may say ‘even if you do not go, what would you do if you did?’  Do not answer, you are not doing it, so that is the end of it.

Please remember that you would like the taxpayer to pay you, so in return you have to do an interview, just like in a job.

Take a deep breath and make yourself stay calm. Have a stress ball to squeeze with you, it really helps.

Keep talking and do not just answer yes or no. The HCP will be talking about how you are on an average day, so think very carefully about that before the interview. I always advise people to err towards a bad day as how do you know you will ever have a better day than that.

Remind the HCP

During the assessment keep reminding the HCP that you are nervous.  If you need to stop to have a break say so, ask to stop to have a drink of water.  Remember if you are doing a telephone assessment the HCP cannot see you so does not know if you are sweating or breathless, so tell them.  If you are in a face to face assessment also tell the HCP, do not presume anything, so if you are sweating and shaking, tell them. 

Please, also remember that the HCP will have a number of assessments to do each day and it is a very intense job, ask them how they are, be nice to them, do not raise your voice or become agitated and never ever swear, as the HCP may end the assessment, you should treat them as you wish to be treated, with respect.

The HCP is not there to be your friend or to drag the information out of you, it is up to you to paint the picture of your life, not a three-stroke abstract painting, but a detailed painting like a Constable with every raindrop, leaf and pebble, explaining everything as it is. When you answer a question explain why you do things, so if you must always take a taxi due to not being able to deal with people on a bus, say so, do not just say you catch a taxi. 

Nothing is ever obvious to the HCP, you have to explain and please never ever say ‘obviously’ as nothing ever is!

Answering the questions

If you do not have a copy of your form, please put notes under the following headings to help you, I have put a few pointers on to start you off.  Please put things, for example - if you need reminding to do each thing, do not assume that because you say you need helping with one thing that the HCP will think you need helping with other things, you need to say for each descriptor exactly what you need help with –

Questions

If you do not understand the questions, please ask the HCP to repeat themselves, please remember it is not an easy job that they are doing, get them on your side, get them to like you and understand your disabilities.  It does not matter how many times you ask the HCP to repeat themselves, DO NOT GUESS the answer.

NB There are no right or wrong answers, so please do not think there are, you are just telling the HCP about your life and how your disabilities impact on you and stop you living your life compared to an able-bodied person.

When you are asked a question, ‘can you do something?’ in your mind substitute the word CAN for DO.

So, if you are asked ‘can you make a sandwich?’  You probably think, ‘of course I can make a sandwich’, but actually stop and think.  Do you actually make a sandwich, it is so easy to say you do something when you do not and of course everyone can make a sandwich, but do you actually do so?

Preparing food - do you use a microwave but are not able to use a conventional oven?  If you can make a sandwich this will count as preparing food.

Eating and drinking - do you need reminding to eat and drink?

Taking medications - do you use a dosette box?

Washing and bathing - do you use aids, can you wash your back and feet?  Can you get in a bath, even if you do not have one you need to mention this, it is important.

Managing toilet needs - do you use the sink or wall to get on or off the loo?

Dressing and undressing - do you sit on the bed to dress/undress and why?  Do you need help to dress?

Communination - this is can you hear and can you speak, not mixing with people.

Reading and understanding - this is a headline in a newspaper and two sentences.

Mixing with people - do you need support to mix with others?  Do you avoid mixing with others?  I someone came to the door with a parcel, would you open the door and engage in conversation?

Making budgeting decisions - can you understand a bank statement, can you set up direct debits?  Have you any County Court Judgements/bailiffs?

Planning and following a journey - can you read a map, understand a bus timetable, can you go anywhere you know on your own?  Can you go somewhere you do not know on your own?  What would happen if you were driving and there was a diversion?  Would you follow the diversion or, due to anxiety, go home.

Mobilising - how far can you walk? This is really important and you need to know, do it in time, distance or number of steps, but do not say 'I do not know', it is your job to know. Say what is stopping you walking, is it pain and explain it in detail.  At what pace do you walk, if it is slow, how slow?  Perhaps it is half the pace of an able-bodied person.  Do you stop on the way?  If so, why? It could be to get your breath back and/or relieve the pain.

At the end of the assessment the HCP will ask you if you have suicidal thoughts and if so, have you informed your GP about them.  If you have not, the HCP will telephone your GP there and then to let them know. By law they must do this.

Exercises - At a face-to-face assessment the HCP will ask you to do some easy exercises.  If you cannot do them, DO NOT, explain why but do not do them if you cannot as it will hurt you too much.  Some people are so anxious that they try to do them and end up in bed the next day. 

The person attending the assessment with you, on the telephone or at the assessment centre, is allowed to speak, they cannot speak for you, but can remind you of things that you have put in your form.  They should also be respectful to the HCP, just like they would like to be treated.

The end

At the end of the assessment you will be exhausted, nervous tension and concentration will have drained you, so be kind to yourself and do not think about your answers.

Good luck, you will be excellent, you are just telling the story of your life as it is. 

One Stop Advocacy