pip telephone call. In this brief blog, we have talked about PIP assessment questions on mental health, what the PIP assessment is for, the procedure of the PIP assessment, and more information about PIP assessment questions on mental health. 1.2.4 The HP may also be asked to provide advice to the CM on a range of other aspects of a claim. This gives the claimant the opportunity to explain to the HP how their impairment or health condition affects them. HPs enable CMs to make fair and accurate decisions by providing impartial, objective and evidence-based advice. 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. 1.7.15 If the claimant is already in receipt of PIP and the case has been referred under SREL as a change of circumstances, the HP must include an indication of when the claimant first became terminally ill. Failure to provide this information may result in the advice being returned for rework. HPs should give consideration to the fact that in cases of complex conditions, knowledge and involvement of the GP may be limited, with specialist practitioners potentially better placed in some cases to provide useful evidence. This PIP assessment question on mental health is important for people who may be suspected to have hearing complications, learning complications, autism, stress, anxiety, or other mental health concerns. The HP should note in the report that they have explained the procedure to the claimant and obtained their consent to proceed. They should not move the claimants limbs. Any relevant side effects which affect the claimants functionality should be recorded here and an indication of the effectiveness of any treatment provided. Advice should be clear, succinct, justified and in accordance with the consensus of medical opinion. In a reasonable time: Does it take you a lot longer to do the activity than it would take most people? In addition, variability in a condition may suggest findings which initially seem inconsistent. This will also indicate the assessment centre that you will be assigned to take your PIP assessment with questions on mental health. For many of us, it can mean that we need extra support to get to work, see friends and family, and carry on living our lives. . This section of the consultation must also explore the impact completing an activity may have on functional restriction immediately following and for the rest of the day. This will indicate when your appointment will be for PIP assessment with questions on mental health. Well enough: For example, you may be able to make a meal, but you will not be able to eat it if it is undercooked. The HP should do this by using open-ended questions and not just by asking a series of closed questions. Hi Zoe, I had my PIP telephone call last July and I have only just won my case. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. The HP should ideally wait for the return of any further evidence requested before deciding whether a consultation is needed. The roll-out of PIP to existing DLA claimants commenced from October 2013. 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. The phone call for PIP The government will be expecting you to get your first access in this benefit by calling them. The telephone assessment should last between 20 minutes . 1.9.2 The CM also needs advice to help inform decisions on when claims should be reviewed, taking into account issues such as the likely progression of the condition and whether it is likely to improve, stay the same or worsen. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the. In the case of sensitive/special information, the claimant must be fully aware of the nature and content of the information being processed. Where can I get support for my mental health? The HP should act within the guidelines, and be able to justify their actions. There is an expectation that this will remove or reduce the need for claimants to record consultations. You can read further in this article on what you need to expect from the PIP assessment with questions on mental health. 1.15.8 Should claimant consent not have been provided at the initial claim stage, it can be sought verbally by APs over the telephone. 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. 1.8.4 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. These times have reduced significantly from the peak in July 2014 (42 . This will ensure you are familiar with the journey, so you arrive in plenty of time and reduce the possibility of being stressed before your assessment. 1.4.16 HPs should identify who they are and the purpose of the call. You may be asked to provide medical evidence as to why you cant attend the assessment centre. Where cognitive difficulties are a common symptom of a relevant condition, these should be assessed. If the HP notices that a claimant is covertly recording their consultation, the restrictions above should be explained to the claimant. Following this you will receive a PIP medical assessment appointment letter from Atos or Capita - usually within four weeks, however in specific areas there are delays, and it could take longer. In the PIP journey, such claimants are considered to require additional support from DWP and elements of the PIP claims process have been adapted to provide further support for this group. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge . The assessor will also make a note of your mental state during the assessment - for example, they'll record whether you look depressed or happy, tense or relaxed and how you cope with social interaction. HPs should remember that prognosis can be uncertain and if in their opinion life expectancy is, on balance, likely to be less than 6 months, they should advise accordingly. If the presence of a companion becomes disruptive to the consultation, the HP may ask them to leave. Mr Z has diabetes and depression with agoraphobia. Unsolicited DS1500s should be sent urgently to the DWP, with an explanation as to the reason why the AP is sending the form. It is likely that the claimant will not experience their current physical functional limitations post-recovery period. There may also be activities that could be carried out by the young person, but for which the parent or guardian continues to assume responsibility. Make any notes of changes to your condition, Make notes of anything you feel you want to say, which you havent put on your form. Cost-of-living crisis and your mental health. Before attending your PIP assessment, there are several things you should consider to help you prepare. PIP telephone assessment | Mental Health Forum Unanswered threads Talk with people who know what it's like! If you plan to travel by taxi, you must get the assessment centre to agree to this before your assessment. 1.13.2 Reasons for supplementary advice might be (but are not limited to): further evidence having been received from the claimant after the assessment report has been returned to the department, help interpreting and explaining medical terminology the claimant has provided in claim packs or that health professionals have included in medical reports. 1.6.29 The HP should explore all the PIP activity areas for daily living and mobility, focusing on the activities most likely to be affected by the claimant's condition. Daisy2016 Forumite. 1.3.7 Should the HP discover a case that appears to fall under the SREL provisions, it should be processed under the fast-tracked SREL arrangements. Can I claim Welfare Benefits if Im living with a mental illness? 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. Does medication affect PIP value? We have translated the site; would you prefer to read in Welsh? Although the condition has been present for a few years there may be some change in functioning in the future so a review of 3 years would be appropriate., 5 year review His autism spectrum disorder was diagnosed in early childhood and will be lifelong. structure and follow a path to a location you know and it doesnt concern much on how you get there, structure and follow a bus or train path to a place you dont know, Deal with places that you dont recognize, if necessary, leave the house due to stress or anxiety, you need help and assistance but dont receive it, your stress, anxiety or other mental health concern make it hard for you to go out, you find it difficult to deal with sudden changes to travel, for instance, roadworks or diversions, you only try travelling during quiet periods of the day, for instance, when the shops arent busy or theres less traffic on the road, someone assists or encourages you to go out, your mental health concern makes using a bus or train challenging, you cant structure a path to an unfamiliar location yourself, you find it hard to deal with sudden changes to a trip, for instance, bus diversions, train cancellations. If there is any doubt, the telephone call should be terminated and, if necessary, the claimant or their representative should be contacted using the telephone contact number on file. 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. 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. 1.6.32 The HP should be making informal observations and evaluating any functional limitations described by the claimant from the start of the consultation. You are currently in the en section of the site. 1.5.1 HPs should carry out assessments using a paper-based review in cases where they believe there is sufficient evidence in the claim file, including supporting evidence, to provide robust advice to the DWP on how the assessment criteria relate to the claimant. 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. Assessment providers should improve training for assessors to make sure they are mental health informed with knowledge and understanding about how someone's mental health can fluctuate and impact their lives on a day-to-day basis so that people can get the financial support they need. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. 1 comment 100% Upvoted Log in or sign up to leave a comment Where there is clear and current evidence of a claimants functional examination findings in a particular area, HPs do not need to conduct an examination of that area. The AP then conducts the assessment, gathering any further evidence necessary before providing an assessment report to DWP. This part of the assessment is an opportunity for you to explain your needs face-to-face. 1.7.23 Every effort should be made to provide advice in SREL cases. If the HP identifies such a condition, they have a responsibility notify a suitable person involved in the claimants care. Lancashire. PIP telephone assessment | Page 2 | Mental Health Forum Unanswered threads Talk with people who know what it's like! Location. 1.4.17 The DWP currently pays for 2 specific forms of evidence: factual reports from GPs and GP- and consultant-completed DS1500s. For example, if the evidence of terminal illness comes from the claimants GP, the HP should telephone the GP to confirm whether the claimant is aware. Consent may need to be obtained at other points during the examination as the HP should explain throughout what they are about to examine. 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. The claimant or their representative may also be able to provide updated information on treatment received or planned. 1.6.49 Claimants who request a copy of their report should be advised that HPs are not authorised to give them a copy at the time of the consultation and that the claimant can request a copy of their report from the DWP. Getting the right support can mean that we won't face a financial . your mental health condition makes using a bus or train difficult. 1.7.9 The DS1500 gives factual information about the claimants condition, any treatment received and any further treatment planned. This tool will help you work out how to save to pay off debts or buy the things you want. 1.10.8 Selecting the Yes box will indicate that the claimants functional restriction is likely to still be present at the recommended point of review, regardless of whether it is likely to improve, remain the same or deteriorate. 1.9.9 After the CM has decided on their chosen descriptors and determined entitlement, they must select the most appropriate award type and duration. There are 3 main benefits that you can claim if you regularly need support to manage your mental health: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people over 16 to State Pension age. For example, it may be used to respond to a request for clarification about medication or treatment that affects the claimants health condition or impairment. Her condition improved with treatment but 6 months later she re-claimed benefit because of depression and paranoia. For urgent help, please see Help & contacts. These occasions are expected to be rare. 1.11.2 The AR1 will be returned to the DWP by the claimant and, where possible, a proportion of planned award reviews will be completed by DWP CMs, who will compare the new information against the evidence from the previous assessment. Hi Pamela In order for the DWP to change from a telephone assessment to a paper-based assessment, you will need a letter from your GP that states it would cause you "overwhelming psychological distress" to take part in a telephone assessment. The DWP will send you a letter once they have made their decision. The report and all other evidence available will be used by the CM who will contact the claimant in due course. It must be remembered that some of the information may not be readily understood by those who are not trained and experienced HPs. 1.7.5 If the claimant states that they are nearing the end of life when applying for PIP, they will be advised by the DWP to obtain form DS1500 from their GP, consultant or specialist nurse. 1.5.4 The HP must where appropriate provide an overall summary justification or an individual justification for each descriptor choice to support the advice and provide the reasons for the advice. 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. The appointment letter will invite you to a PIP medical assessment at one of their assessment centres. If they still require something in writing, the HP should email them a letter providing assurance that consent is held and quoting the GMC advice. Award rates for all claims (excluding withdrawn cases) between April 2013 and January 2021 show that: 42% receive an award for normal rules new . 1.6.11 When considering inconsistencies, HPs should bear in mind that some claimants may have no insight into their condition, for example claimants with cognitive or developmental impairments. 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. Discover your dream home among our modern houses, penthouses and villas for sale It cannot be assumed that in an individual case consent has been given or that consent previously given remains valid. How your condition affects you from day-to-day make sure you read the. Please contact the DWP on 0800 121 4433 or textphone 0800 121 4493. 1.2.3 The report to the department should include: relevant history of the claimant, including information on the disabling health conditions or impairments, their functional effects and information on their current medication and treatment, advice on the appropriate assessment descriptors for the claimant, based on consideration of the evidence on file and, if appropriate, the evidence that the HP has collected during the consultation. If your long-term condition is getting worse, you will need more of this award. 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. 1.6.27 As well as covering all the PIP activity areas, the typical day should also cover other activities such as housework, shopping and caring responsibilities for adults, children and pets, and hobbies and pastimes these details give additional supporting information about functional ability. 1.7.4 If the claimant meets the SREL provisions, they will automatically receive the enhanced rate of the daily living component. 9 weeks from the point of referral to the Assessment Provider to a decision being made on the claim. the safety implications for a home consultation for the HP for example, where the claimant has previously displayed unacceptable behaviour towards the DWP and this has been noted in their case file. If capacity has been lost then the expectation is that the claimant would be accompanied. With regard to requests for personal information, APs should: only ask for what they need, and should not collect too much or irrelevant information, protect it, storing both clerical and electronic information securely, ensure that only staff who need to have access to the personal data in order to undertake their work should have access, not keep it longer than the required retention period and periodically review the data you hold and erase and anonymise when no longer required, not make personal information available for commercial use without the claimants permission. 1.4.12 Should harmful information other than the claimants condition be present either contained in supporting evidence or identified at a face-to-face consultation this should be recorded separately on the harmful information note (PA7) or within the harmful information screens in the PIPAT or PIPAT mobile and clearly marked as harmful. . 1.4.8 A written record should be taken of any telephone discussions seeking further information and the content included in the assessment report provided to DWP or via the PIPAT. 1.8.16 When a third party provides evidence for example, a carer or health professional the HP should evaluate the strength of the opinion being expressed. However, some relevant information about the claimants circumstances will be gathered during the initial claim stage and supplied to the AP. 1.6.61 APs must publicise these conditions and include them in communications sent to claimants before they attend a consultation. The HP should consider whether it would be more appropriate to complete clerical form PA2 or the relevant screens in the PIPAT where in their opinion the claimant meets the Special Rules criteria. 1.7.14 The HP must provide a summary justification to support the advice to the DWP. Discussion and questions: The Health Professional will ask you questions about how your health affects your everyday life. If the PA3 requires a response to the mobility questions at activities 11 and 12, the HP should select A (zero points) and type the comment N/A Exportability Case. They are there to ask you questions and are not there to ensure you get PIP. Assessments may still be carried out by telephone or video, but you might be asked to attend an assessment centre. Feb 3, 2021. The documents will then be available to be viewed via the claimants record in the PIP Assessment Tool (PIPAT) and/or the PIP Computer System (PIPCS), 1.3.3 Once this has been completed, the case will be referred via the PIPCS to the appropriate AP for them to complete on the PIPAT or clerically as appropriate, 1.3.4 The PIPAT allows the AP to give advice to DWP in an electronic format. PIP telephone assesment today. A bit about my claim: Eating disorder for 15 years (I have come to simply exist with the daily behaviour of an ED and haven't had any recent treatment in years, so little recent evidence on this . After that, the people in charge would see if you are eligible or not to get PIP. 1.15.25 Occasionally a HP may be asked to provide evidence that consent is held in the form of the claimants signature before the information is forthcoming. This is why you should say directly to the health professional what you constantly feel about your condition. Renata Is A Disabled Entrepreneur. 1.15.13 Attending a consultation does not mean that the claimant has given consent to a physical examination. 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The HP should use the following guide when considering review points: 1.10.2 It would be appropriate for the HP to select the no review required option in the following circumstances: where, in the HPs assessment, the claimants level of functional impairment is such that the case manager is likely to consider that they do not meet the threshold for an award of PIP. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 16. What benefits are available for mental health carers? 1.15.12 It is good practice to check that there is valid consent every time further evidence is sought. Where a claimant indicates that they are unfit to travel to a consultation in a location other than their home, or where travel would require high levels of support or cause significant distress to the claimant, for example where the claimant is autistic, has severe physical disability or severe agoraphobia the HP should, at a minimum, consider whether a home consultation is necessary. In exceptional circumstances a written request for further evidence can be issued. The PIP assessment questions on mental health will be asking about the degree of assistance you need in daily activities. 1.8.20 The consultation report is primarily for CMs, but the claimant has a right to see it and can request a copy from the DWP. 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. It must be the claimant who attends any consultation. 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). 1.3.11 HPs should also consider the needs of vulnerable claimants. If Providers are required to gain consent, claimants do not have to write the consent statement in their own words; Providers can use their own words. 1.15.2 Consent may be written, verbal and in certain circumstances given by a third party. HPs should also take into account that some medications are used to treat different conditions, for example some antidepressants are also licenced to treat anxiety. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. PIP eligibility. 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. HPs should consider whether there is evidence that such an adaptation or adjustment has taken place. They themselves do not have to attend. 1.6.62 Video recording of consultations is not permitted. When weighing up the evidence, it is important to highlight any contradictions and any evidence that does not sufficiently reflect the claimants health condition or impairment or the effect on their daily life. There are various sources of further evidence, including, but not limited to: a report from other health professionals involved in the claimants care such as a community psychiatric nurse (CPN), a report from a local authority-funded clinic, evidence from any other professional involved in supporting the claimant, such as social workers, key workers or care co-ordinators, telephone conversations with any such professionals, information from a disabled young persons school or special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO). 1.7.25 Should the HP fail to obtain an unequivocal answer to whether the claimant is terminally ill or their prognosis, their advice to the CM must be founded on the balance of medical probability, which should if possible be evidence based. SREL referrals must be completed and returned to the DWP within 2 working days. 1.6.71 If the claimant declines to give consent for the HP to contact their GP, the HP should make a judgement as to whether the situation is sufficiently serious that it warrants breaking confidentiality by telling the GP even without the claimant's consent. You will be declared capable of doing something if you can do it: If you have better and worse days, make sure you explain this to the assessor. About Personal Independence Payment Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people with a long-term health condition or impairment, whether physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, intellectual, or any combination of these. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today.