PIP telephone review assessment - can someone assist the applicant?

My sister has schizophrenia and gets very confused when asked questions, and she's very anxious about speaking to strangers, in person or on the phone.

She's been in receipt of PIP for a few years and she's got a telephone review assessment in a few weeks, and our Mum is going to sit with her, listening to the call on speakerphone. There's a charity associated with my sister's NHS mental health trust which provides benefits advice, and a woman from there has arranged with the DWP that she's going to join the call remotely, and she's said that she can intervene and encourage and assist my sister to answer the questions, but our Mum isn't allowed to do that.

I don't really see how that can be true. Surely if someone who barely knows the applicant can assist them, their own mother and primary carer must be able to, but does anyone know for certain what the rules are?

Hi, I think your son being legally "disabled" according to the Equality Act 2010 means he has a right to "reasonable adjustments" to be able to cope with his assessment, so you can for the questions in advance. Look this up first on the equality commision website.

Thanks. It sounds like anyone can help the applicant by talking to them and explaining the questions and what they need to say in response, but the applicant then needs to speak to the assessor themselves to give their answers.

Yes, I think that is correct legally. I'm not sure if the DWP's rules reflect the law accurately though.