However, if findings are expressed as a measurement, the HP should put this into context for the CM by also describing the range with reference to the normal range of movement, for example he can turn his head to the right by 40 degrees, which is about half normal movement. Before your PIP assessment, you should plan your journey to your assessment centre. The claimant or companion may keep the notes and do not have to provide a copy to the HP, although the HP may record that notes were taken. For urgent help, please see Help & contacts. You should also. For example, there is an inconsistency of evidence if a claimant bends down to retrieve a handbag from the floor but then later during formal assessment of the spine, declines to bend at all on the grounds of pain, or if the claimant states that they have no mobility problems but they appear to struggle to walk to the consulting room. The person chosen is at the discretion of the claimant and might be, but is not limited to, a parent, family member, friend, carer or advocate. 20 April 2020 at 1:28PM in Disability money matters. She Has A Condition Called Cerebellar Atrophy, and Also Suffers From OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). This could include advising on the nature of a diagnosis, the use and significance of medication, the interpretation of functional examination findings, the significance of special investigations and the nature of surgical or other treatments, requesting non-prescriptive advice of a general nature on the likely functional restrictions arising from a specific health condition or impairment, requesting advice on whether a claim is being made for substantially the same condition as a previous claim, to inform a fraud investigation (such requests are likely to be rare). 1.7.28 Where it is felt that this is still insufficient, the HP would be asked to contact the health professional the claimant has identified on the claim form, to obtain information in order to advise the DWP. She is an advocate for Mental Health, Motivational Empowerment, and Personal Development. Attendance Allowance (AA) for people at State Pension age. 1.10.5 The HP should clearly outline their reasons for selecting the no review required option using the free text box for example, the claimants level of functional ability is stable and will not improve or deteriorate in the long term or the claimant is due to undergo surgery and it is likely they will no longer experience their current functional limitations in X months.. HPs need to ensure that they explore claimants functional ability in everyday life and in a variety of environments/situations that may not be ideal. 1.6.56 HPs should use their judgement about the presence of companions during any examination. 1.4.6 DWP has 3 standard pro forma for use in seeking evidence in writing from (a) GPs, (b) hospitals and (c) other professionals. PIP telephone assesment today. It must be the claimant who attends any consultation. someone helps or encourages you to go out. The healthcare professional will ask you questions and note down your answers. . The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. As it is probable that the peripheral neuropathy was due to diabetes he did not have to fulfil the 3 month qualifying period for either component as it would be considered he was suffering from substantially the same condition. However, HPs should be prepared to adapt their approach to the needs of the particular claimant, not taking a prescriptive approach and ensuring that claimants are able to put across the impact of their health condition or impairment in their own words. Mood disorders Stress Anxiety You may be eligible for PIP, and should consider making a claim to the DWP, if you have daily living needs because of a mental health condition. HPs should ensure that this does not create an unfair perception of the young persons abilities and the impact of their health condition or impairment. 1.8.8 For claimants living outside the UK (known as exportability cases) a slight change to the process is required. You will be required to talk about how your condition affects you despite detailing it in your PIP form. Such examinations should be tailored to the individual claimant and will vary depending on the nature of the disabling conditions present. That said, the HP should make every effort to obtain evidence in order to conduct a paper-based review in these circumstances. Assessments may still be carried out by telephone or video, but you might be asked to attend an assessment centre. You should check for yes if you have one of the following conditions: This is another sample PIP assessment question on mental health: Are you unable to go out because of severe anxiety or distress?YesNoSometimes. 1.1.5 Claimants currently make an application for PIP by phone and once basic entitlement conditions are established, the claimant is asked to complete the How your disability affects you questionnaire, referred to in this guide as the claimant questionnaire. The PIP assessment 1.1.10 The assessment for PIP looks at an individual's ability to carry out a series of everyday activities. If you plan to travel by taxi, you must get the assessment centre to agree to this before your assessment. 1.7.19 If no DS1500/BASRiS has been provided and there is no additional medical evidence, a telephone call to the relevant clinician will always be required. They will discuss your capability to do daily tasks with your disability, illness or health condition. If the claimant is persistently uncooperative or if they are clearly under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the consultation should be terminated and the case returned to the DWP, along with an explanation of why the consultation had to be terminated. 1.13.9 Where the assessment was completed using the PIPAT, it will be necessary to create the appropriate supplementary advice on the PIPAT and once submitted a PA5/PA6 will be output to the DWP. 1.8.7 For a scoring descriptor to apply, the claimants health condition or impairment must affect their ability to complete the activity on more than 50 per cent of days in the 12 month period. This would be considered together with other factors such as their manner, hearing ability, walking ability during the history taking, through to the conclusion of the consultation. 1.8.11 All evidence must be interpreted and evaluated using medical reasoning, considering the circumstances of the case and the expected impact on the claimants daily living and/or mobility. In these cases, the AP and the DWP must ensure the claimant is not inadvertently advised of their prognosis. In these cases, the CM is likely to make a fixed term award of benefit. (I got a cancellation) i have ongoing mental health issues heart condition that affects my daily activities such as walking and shopping and (anything strenuous) also struggle with communicating with us can't interact I get severe anxiety . The health professional will use this time to listen to you about some aspects of your condition when you are engaging in daily activities in life. Nine months later both lower limbs were amputated following a road traffic accident and he applied for PIP again. The assessor will have already read your PIP form and any supporting evidence you provided, so its vital that you update them if anything has changed since you submitted your form. It is also recommended that the HPs could also consult with clinical coaches or other experts prior to the assessment for advice and support on how conditions present and how this might affect function. Where cognitive difficulties are a common symptom of a relevant condition, these should be assessed. 1.4.18 APs are responsible for making payments for GP factual reports (GPFRs) where they have sought them, with the DWP reimbursing them the fees paid. CMs will decide whether these conditions are met but need advice from the HP on how long the condition has been present and how long it is likely to last. The AP then conducts the assessment, gathering any further evidence necessary before providing an assessment report to DWP. You should explain the following: These general PIP assessment tips will also help you: We recommend that you record the audio for your face-to-face PIP assessment. 1.4.9 The HP should also clarify whether any information provided by the professional is harmful or confidential. A home environment may also provide either an ideal, good or a very poor environment for testing functional ability, for example, depending on the level of background noise. That way you can refer to it in the assessment and make sure you tell the assessor everything you want them to know about your condition. I am worried about the cost-of-living crisis, Requesting adjustments to the PIP assessment, Planning your journey to the PIP assessment, How to claim travel expenses for your PIP assessment. They should not simply request evidence from all professionals identified as standard. Most people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will be asked to attend a PIP assessment with a healthcare professional. How do I pay for private treatment and therapy? In addition, young people may have limited experience undertaking many activities unsupervised in an independent environment. In common law jurisdictions the term is most commonly used to refer to a type of tort lawsuit in which the person bringing the suit (the "claimant" in English Law or "plaintiff" in American jurisdictions) has suffered harm to his or her body or mind. Miss B was diagnosed with schizophrenia and fulfilled the PIP criteria for standard rate mobility component. 1.3.11 HPs should also consider the needs of vulnerable claimants. He reported that bending would cause pain or worsening of his symptoms so movement of the spine was not assessed. im glad so many people have been awarded pip,but to me mine was and still is depressing,i had my phone assessement on the 27th of january,ive had my condition still july 2020,my condition is osteoarthritis in both hips,i have lld,and these conditions affect my knees,groin,lower back,and basically pain all the way done to my ankles,i have to use There is unlikely to be any change in functioning in the shorter term, but with time, maturity and learning his functional ability is likely to change so a review in 5 years would be appropriate.. Before attending your PIP assessment, there are several things you should consider to help you prepare. 1.12.5 During all consultations, if the AS marker has not already been added on PIPCS, HPs should idetify if a claimant who does not have a PAB required the AS marker to help them engage with the PIP journey, especially where there is a mental health, intellectual or cognitive impairment. However, it should be noted that the named appointee, be this a corporate or individual appointee, can nominate another person to represent them at any consultation. 1.8.12 The HPs advice and justification must provide a clear explanation as to why more reliance has been placed on some evidence than others. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk. 1.15.20 Where the claimant has told DWP that they want an attorney to act for them, the attorneys details will be on the DWP system (CIS) if it is a PIP claim. Physical and mental examination: If required, and with your consent, they will conduct a brief physical and mental function examination. 1.7.2 Claimants who identify themselves as nearing the end of life on the initial claim form can seek to claim PIP under the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). We have come across some bad results from telephone assessments particularly on Mental Health descriptors. Ask for any adjustments that would make the assessment less stressful: for example, you can request an open room if you struggle in confined spaces. 1.6.63 If it is only the claimants personal data that is being recorded then there are no restrictions on the use the claimant can make of the recording. There may be some activities that have been done for them all of their lives and that a young person without a health condition or impairment of the same age may do themselves. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 16. These kinds of payment are given by the PWD to the people who are suffering from a long time illness or some physical disability to support them with their daily lives. HPs should consider whether there is evidence that such an adaptation or adjustment has taken place. For example, certain types of multiple sclerosis have periods of remission and deterioration, while a person with cancer may respond well to treatment and then relapse. The Mental Health and Money Advice website has more information about the evidence you need to support a benefits claim. 1.6.15 The HP must document the symptoms and history of the condition as described by the claimant. Where there is a complex, fluctuating condition strong consideration should be given for individual justifications being required. 1.8.10 It is essential that the CM is made aware of the evidence the HP has used to complete the assessment report. Explain how your mental health needs are different on a bad day. Replied by BIS on topic Mental Health and PIP phone assessment. You can search for your State Pension age on the GOV.UK website.You must also have the following requirements: There are exceptions to the eligibility rules when you have a terminal sickness or have been serving the armed forces. Charities like Citizens Advice and Scope can look over a draft for you, or they can help you write the entire form. 1.6.59 At a face to face assessment, the claimant must sign a consent form in which they agree to not use the audio recording for unlawful purposes. This is to ensure the safety and privacy of staff and other claimants. If the unexpected finding is of a life-threatening nature, they should seek the claimant's consent to telephone the GP or call an ambulance if appropriate. How do I manage my money if I have mental health problems? 1.6.68 Very rarely during the consultation, the HP may identify that the claimant appears to have a significant undiagnosed medical condition. The HP should base their assessment on what the young person would be able to do if asked that is, what they are functionally able to do not the skills they have or havent learned. You can learn more about having an assessment at home by buying this book on this website. 1.15.2 Consent may be written, verbal and in certain circumstances given by a third party. Severity of a mental health condition does not necessarily correspond with the type or dosage of medication that the claimant is receiving. You will need to contact the assessment provider and request a home assessment. Summarising back to the claimant what has been said is useful to show active listening and to ensure that key pieces of information have been correctly heard. 1.2.1 The HPs role is to assess the overall functional effects of the claimants health condition or impairment on their everyday life over a 12 month period, using the assessment criteria. 1.6.2 Consultations may be carried out at a range of locations, including an assessment centre, local healthcare centre or in the claimant's own home. Youll need to take the following form of identification with you to the assessment: In addition to identification, you should also take the following to your PIP assessment: If you can, you should take someone else if they are over 16 - with you to your PIP assessment. 1.9.6 If there is more than one relevant functional condition, the prognosis should take account of the effects of all conditions and the added impairment resulting from any interactions that may occur. The HP should still make enquiries to clarify whether the person meets the Special Rules criteria and return the assessment report to the DWP with any supporting evidence, stating whether the claimant is terminally ill under the prescribed definition. There is an expectation that this will remove or reduce the need for claimants to record consultations. 1.8.15 If the HPs opinion on descriptor choice differs from information provided by the claimant, the HP should draw on evidence to fully justify their advice to the DWP. When you have fulfilled your PIP form and sent it to DWP, this kind of department will be sending you an appointment letter. The PIP medical assessment is computer led and is an opportunity for you to explain how your condition affects you daily so the assessment provider can write an accurate report for the DWP. 1.6.35 HPs must also take into consideration the invisible nature of some symptoms such as fatigue and pain which may be less easy to identify and explore through observation of the claimant. Physical and mental examination: If required, and with your consent, they will conduct a brief physical and mental function examination. 1.4.2 If a consultation has already been arranged and, following receipt of further evidence, the HP concludes that they can now advise DWP on the basis of paper evidence, the consultation should be cancelled. Other conditions might be unlikely to see significant changes in impact, which might suggest a longer period between reviews. 1.7.33 Occasionally, the HP will encounter a case where the contents of the DS1500 reveal that the author has completely misunderstood its purpose; for example, where there is no implication that the claimant is suffering from a terminal illness. Pip telephone assessment experience. A registered and qualified healthcare professional will carry out your telephone Work Capability Assessment. The HPs evaluation could include the level of expertise of the individual offering the opinion; their direct knowledge of the claimants health condition or impairment; and whether it is medically reasonable. Therefore absence of medication does not automatically mean that the health condition is not severe. Make a list of points you would like to make during your assessment and take this with you. Report: Once your assessment has concluded, they will produce a report explaining which PIP descriptors apply to you and explain their reasoning. Confidentiality is breached when one person discloses information to another in circumstances where it is reasonable to expect that the information will be held in confidence. Other conditions are likely to deteriorate over time, so a review may be appropriate to see whether the claimant is now entitled to a higher rate of PIP. The DWP and HPs will be expected to verify that this is the case. You are most welcome to join today! 63 replies 18.3K views. 1.12.2 Some claimants may have a Personal Acting Body (PAB) such as: A PAB is a person formally nominated to act on their behalf, who will ensure that the claimant is supported throughout the process. Nine months later both lower limbs were amputated following gangrene secondary to peripheral neuropathy and he applied for PIP again. 1.8.4 For each activity area, the HP should use evidence to choose one descriptor which best reflects the claimant's ability to carry out an activity, taking into account whether they need to use aids or appliances and whether they need help from another person or an assistance dog. A vulnerable claimant is defined as someone who has difficulty in dealing with procedural demands at the time when they need to access a service .This includes life events and personal circumstances such as a previous suicide attempt, domestic violence, abuse, or bereavement. In the case of fluctuation, the frequency and impact of periods of exacerbation and remission should be explored and recorded. The HP should always ask if there is anything else that the claimant wishes to say before concluding the call. Clients will sometimes explain that they have a life-threatening condition or they have an organ might go pop at any time. Simply use the buttons below to share on your social network. However, claimants must clearly indicate that they agree to the statement- for example by signing their name or ticking a box next to it. 1.1.11 The activities explored during the PIP assessment are: managing therapy or monitoring a health condition, reading and understanding signs, symbols and words. 1.15.28 The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Section 82) creates special provision for a third party to make a claim on behalf of a disabled person without their knowledge. You can read further in this article on what you need to expect from the PIP assessment with questions on mental health. How do I manage my money if I have to go into hospital? 1.10.4 The following are illustrative examples of when it may be appropriate to advise no review required: no review required His learning disability has been present since birth and his functional limitations are unlikely to change now. 1.3.13 If further evidence is requested and returned, a further PA1 or the relevant screen in PIPAT should be completed to inform DWP of the next steps after the review of the further evidence. 1.13.8 If there are changes to the descriptor choice, the HP should complete clerical form PA6 to highlight the evidence used to support any changes and provide full justification for their choice. 1.13.7 HPs should use clerical form PA5 to provide supplementary advice that does not affect the descriptor choices or advice on prognosis in the original report. Only 7% of those surveyed said their GP has been contacted, with a further 35% saying they were unsure. 1.15.11 In any case where consent is over 2 years old, action should be taken to confirm that it still reflects the claimants wishes. The consent process above should be followed. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Cognitive disorders (Types, Symptoms & Treatment Options) . We are a friendly, safe community supporting each other's mental health 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 30 September 2020 at 8:04AM in Disability money matters. However it is important to balance informal observations with evidence from professionals who may have observed the claimant more regularly. 1.8.1 The assessment report is sent electronically through the PIPAT or clerically, where appropriate, using the following clerical forms: PA2 Review report form (Special Rules for End of Life), PA3 Review report form (paper-based review), PA6 Supplementary advice note (change of advice).