PIP Phone Assessment 12 mths after review application. What's legally assessed?

Hi all

I've just been given a PIP telephone assessment 12 months after I submitted my review form.

I've got a collection of longstanding disabilities and have a lot of experience in claiming and appealing disability benefits. I therefore know I've got to be thoroughly prepped for this call. I've never had such a long delay between submitting my form and being assessed so I'm not sure how to approach it. I've also never had a telephone assessment for PIP.

As I understand it your condition is legally assessed based on the answers on the form you submitted. As I also understand it you're eligible for PIP providing you meet the DWP's criteria and can show you have that level of disability for at least 9 months from the point you submit that form. As 12 months have passed since I submitted my form I've already crossed that threshold so I'd imagine that technically my eligibilty should be assessed on historic evidence and my historic recollection of my condition up to 3 months ago. The longevity and severity of my condition now and going forward (I would hope and imagine) should only determine the length and the extent of my award.

I'm assuming I'll be asked questions about how I am on the day, and it will be unwise for me to answer without consideration of the above. I'm assuming it would be better for me to preface my replies with 'As I answered in the form X issue exists in Y way and still exists at that level (or worse) over 12 months later and will do for years to come'. Would I be correct in assuming this?

Additionally considering 12 months have passed various medical things have happened to me since. Previously I've been told to bring new paperwork with me when attending assessments. How would you advise submitting fresh evidence to ensure it's considered as part of the assessment? My appointment is on 2nd January so there's there's going to be office closures and postal delays before then. I doubt I will be able to collate and share my evidence in time, let alone have it wing it's way through the various departments of the DWP to their outsourced contractors. Assuming I can get an email address or postal address to submit new evidence how far in advance should the assessors have the evidence before the telephone appointment? I'm wondering if it would be worth rescheduling or just saying that new evidence is in the post on the day.

Thanks for any help and advice you can offer.

Best wishes

Jayne

Thank you for this Gary. I'm glad I asked as I was under the impression that the form carried more legal weight and that the assessment's purpose was to check the validity of what was submitted on the form.

When I rescheduled my assessment I informed the contractors I'd like some time to collate my new evidence. They told me they don't need any evidence and the entire assessment will be based on my verbal description of how I live my day. Medical evidence, I was told, was for the DWP only. Such declarations have left me thinking it maybe wise to assume my form and evidence may not even be considered before my appointment.

Would you suggest sending my new evidence in to the DWP now (assuming I can get it over Christmas) or awaiting the decision of the assessment and then - if necessary - submitting new evidence as part of a Mandatory Reconsideration and Appeals Process?

You mentioned issues with understanding an assessor. Please can I ask what should be done if you still fail to understand the assessor after they have repeated themselves or they fail to understand you after you have repeated yourself? I have concerns this could be a valid risk.

Best wishes and thanks

Jayne