In total, 45 per cent of claimants said they would prefer telephone and 42 per cent face-to-face. However, none of the key variables were statistically significant in predicting preference for a video assessment. How do I manage my money if I have to go into hospital? Following the restrictions required due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual face-to-face health and disability benefit assessments were suspended and replaced with telephone assessments. You have accepted additional cookies. Those undergoing a reassessment were also more likely to seek help (35 per cent) than those making a new claim (28 per cent). Claimants were then asked if they agreed or disagreed with statements about the assessors conduct of the call. Email: [email protected]. Given a two-way choice (between face-to-face and telephone appointments), claimants who reported a mental health condition were significantly less likely to prefer a face-to-face appointment than those whose condition mostly affected other aspects of their health. However, these figures should be taken as indicative given the small number of claimants involved. Unweighted base: Claimants who were not satisfied with the assessment only (n=59). If youre in the armed forces or a close family member of someone who is, the rules on living and registering in England, Wales or Scotland isnt practised. Asked as an open question in the survey. You may qualify for the Daily living difficulties part if you need help more than half of the time with things like: Preparing or eating food When returning the form, you must include all tickets and receipts. Before attending your PIP assessment, there are several things you should consider to help you prepare. This may involve sharing this information with relevant authorities to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations. Your options are to wait, or phone back, & I'd suggest ringing tomorrow at 9am to find out what's happening. Your assessment provider will be Independent Assessment Services or Capita - you should get a letter telling you which one it will be. WebThose who were awarded PIP were more likely to favour telephone (62 per cent) than those with an unknown outcome (49 per cent) and those who were disallowed (18 per cent). This allows us to adjust our estimate of the relationship between our variable of interest and a respondents channel preference to ensure that this relationship is not driven by differences in the other variables included in the model. Then get someone to come and sit with you at the next one as support? You need to show that you need help with activities on more than half the days in a year in order to be eligible for the program. Nearly all of these people were at home with the claimant during the call, but some were able to dial in remotely. Make a list of points you would like to make during your assessment and take this with you. This analysis was used to explore how individual characteristics impact claimants likelihood of preferring different assessment channels. Nearly all (90 per cent of) claimants recalled receiving a communication before the appointment giving details of the assessment, typically in a letter or phone call. For example, 91 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that the assessor listened to and understood the assessor, compared to 99 per cent who went on to say they preferred a telephone assessment. Nine per cent of claimants also reported having a general discomfort discussing information over the telephone but identified no specific topic. Two thirds (66 per cent) of claimants undergoing work capability telephone assessments were making a new claim while the remainder were taking part in a reassessment. If you want to know how often you have problems with the activities, fill out the form. More than once: Can you repeat the activity as many times as you are required to? Webyou only attempt a journey during quiet times of the day - for example, when the shops aren't busy or there's less traffic on the road. Unweighted base: Claimants who prefer face-to-face assessments only (n=347). Given the small sample size of the group that said they felt uncomfortable with video, fewer differences between subgroups were observed. Most (95 per cent) claimants agreed that they were able to explain to the assessor how their condition affected their daily life. The survey then went on to discuss video calls as an option. However, as figure 46 shows, this was not the case for male claimants. Just over one in ten of claimants (11 per cent) made at least one adjustment request before the interview, such as planning breaks, spreading the assessment over a number of calls or receiving information in large text or braille. Babyroobs is right they are turning down more than they award at the moment so just be prepared to make a mandatory reconsideration. Where can I get support for my mental health? Those placed in the LCWRA group were more likely to report doing so (94 per cent) than those who were awaiting further assessment (82 per cent). someone helps or encourages you to go out. With regard to the other improvements reported, these are listed in Figure 55. 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. A health professional will carry out your assessment - they'll write a report and send it to the DWP. Older claimants were more likely to report difficulties holding a handset or using a loudspeaker (19 per cent of those 55 years and over, compared to 10 per cent of those aged under 35), and those with mobility issues (20 per cent compared, with 8 per cent of those with no mobility issues). Your assessment provider will be Independent Assessment Services or Capita - you should get a letter telling you which one it will be. Of the 25 per cent of claimants who said they were dissatisfied with the assessment, the most commonly reported feedback was dissatisfaction with the assessors behaviour (38 per cent), including the assessor not appearing to listen, understand or was perceived to be unhelpful or uncaring. Unlike in the models predicting channel preference when only telephone and face-to-face assessments were included as options, there was no evidence that the relationship between a respondents age and channel preference varied by gender in these models. Physical and mental examination: If required, and with your consent, they will conduct a brief physical and For those undergoing WCA logistic regression analysis found that the outcome of the assessment, gender and previous experience of face-to-face assessments were significant predictors of a claimants preference for telephone or face-to-face assessments. When asked, 56 per cent of claimants said they would feel comfortable with having a video assessment in the future. 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. Your options are to wait, or phone back, & I'd suggest ringing tomorrow at 9am to find out what's happening. Eighty-three per cent of claimants experienced no technical issues during the call. Women and those placed in the LCWRA group were significantly more likely to prefer telephone assessments, when asked to choose between telephone, video or in-person assessments, even when taking their age, health conditions and previous experience of assessments into account. Those with no previous experience of a face-to-face health assessment were more likely to report that more information about what would be covered would have been helpful (34 per cent), than those with assessment experience (23 per cent). This type of response was more common for women (41 per cent) than men (31 per cent). With this choice of video introduced, claimants who had originally expressed a preference for a face-to-face compared to telephone assessment were most likely to stick to their view (83 per cent of this group continuing to say that was their preference) whilst those previously preferring a telephone assessment were more likely to shift view with 77 per cent continuing to choose a telephone assessment and 16 per cent switching to choosing a video assessment. Then get someone to come and sit with you at the next one as support? Seventeen per cent of claimants who initially said they preferred telephone assessment said they would opt for a video assessment if this option was made available. Mental Health & Money Advice. The healthcare professional to be a specialist in mental health. This suggests that introducing a video option reduces the proportion of claimants awarded PIP who might prefer telephone assessments from a two-way choice but does not change the views of those who prefer face-to-face or those who were not awarded PIP. she had her assessment 2 months ago, but since than she has been assaulted, is back on quetiapine and her mental health is so much worse than when the assessment was done. Women were also more likely (66 per cent) than men (56 per cent) to report using video calls in the past. The professional will then send it to DWP to check if you are eligible for the benefits. A fifth said that video would make them too nervous or anxious (20 per cent) and/or that they would not know how to use the technology (19 per cent). Those preferring a telephone assessment most commonly cited not needing to travel as a reason for their choice, as well as finding telephone assessments easier or more comfortable or less stressful. The assessment provider was able to incorporate breaks in 93 per cent of cases where it had been requested. Unweighted base: Claimants who were comfortable with video assessments only (n=406). Those undergoing a reassessment were most likely to prefer a telephone assessment (62 per cent) than those submitting a new claim (41 per cent). Even with the letter, the DWP can still turn down a paper-based We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You should be advised of a rescheduled phone assessment by letter, & should be given at least a week's notice; not the best scenario. 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. A third of these claimants (33 per cent) reported general discomfort using a video call for an assessment, one in five (20 per cent) said they would feel unsure on how to use the technology, and a further nearly one in five said that they would feel too nervous or that they do not want to be on camera (both 18 per cent). Those with an unknown outcome were far less pronounced in their preferences. Adding variables relating to a claimants assessment experience, demographics and health conditions in different stages allows us to observe the influence of each variable independent of the other variables- on our outcome of interest, namely their choice of assessment channels. 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. What a bad day is like for you - for example, on a bad day, Im so depressed I cant concentrate on anything, and getting out of bed is a huge struggle. Six in ten (62 per cent) stated a preference for telephone assessments, while just over one in five (23 per cent) would still prefer face-to-face. What is the PIP medical assessment?. Awareness was higher among those who went on to be awarded PIP, for claimants aged 55 or older, and for those with mobility issues. Those that did tended to have problems hearing the assessor or being heard due to bad lines or lines cutting out. Eleven per cent of those who had previously had no preference were now interested in video calls but when asked again for their choice a further one in three now opted for either telephone 33 per cent) or face-to-face (32 per cent). Compasss virtual programs are open to individuals ages 13 and up and offer age-specific and condition-specific programming. Models were also estimated where the relationship between claimants gender and claimants previous assessment experience were allowed to vary between different age groups. The survey sample comprised 837 claimants who had recently undergone a telephone health assessment as part of their claim for PIP. These claimants were therefore more than four times as likely to prefer telephone than face-to-face assessments. Claimants who reported a mental health condition were significantly less likely to prefer video assessments than those who did not report a mental health condition. Those who reported being dissatisfied with the telephone assessment were asked to provide their reason(s). The most common reasons among those who preferred a face-to-face assessment included feeling that they would be better able to explain their condition, finding it easier or more comfortable to speak to someone in person, communicating more easily and being able to build rapport with the assessor. Around three quarters (76 per cent) of claimants reported no difficult topics. Qwom I dont want to put a dampener on things but unless your depression & anxiety majorly affect your daily living i doubt you will score enough points to meet the standard rate. Only one variable whether or not the claimant reported a mental health condition was significantly associated with a claimant preferring a video assessment in this model. If you say you came alone on the train, theyll make a note that you can travel alone on public transport. About one in eight (16 per cent) had issues with the type of questions or how they were asked. If you are considered to not have much disability in certain activities, you should try some of the following activities: organizing and cooking food eating and drinking controlling your treatments washing and bathing Those who were awarded PIP tended to express higher levels of agreement with the two statements. Copyright OptimistMinds 2023 | All Rights Reserved. You can learn more about these PIP medical assessments with questions on mental health by buying this book on this website. Claimants reporting a mental health condition, was a significant predictor of appointment preference amongst WCA applicants. Nearly one in seven (15 per cent) said they had no preference. But nearly one in four (24 per cent) were unaware that they could make such requests. For those undergoing WCA gender was also a predictor of preference. Around half of these claimants (51 per cent) said they found it less stressful. Assessments will now either be paper based or telephone. Others mentioned improvements in the assessors behaviour, needing to talk to someone who understood their condition or having someone to support them on the call. Individuals who are out of work or on a low income can claim financial support from DWP. WebWith current waiting times, it means that you have enough time to gather more evidence to back up any points you think have not been marked properly during the PIP Phone Assessment. Those who preferred a face-to-face assessment reported a range of reasons, the most common being that they would be better able to explain their condition, would find it easier/more comfortable to speak to someone in person, could communicate more easily and build rapport with the assessor. Most of these variables only predicted preference for telephone or face-to-face appointments, and not for video appointments, in a three-way choice model. Will I need a Work Capability Assessment to claim benefits? Logistic regression analysis found that PIP assessment claimants awarded PIP were more likely to prefer telephone over a face-to-face assessment even after controlling for other factors likely to influence choice. In total, 94 per cent of claimants were satisfied with how the telephone assessment was conducted. Babyroobs is right they are turning down more than they award at the moment so just be prepared to make a mandatory reconsideration. someone helps or encourages you to go out. The report reports on differences between groups of claimants that would have been statistically significant if the survey was conducted using full random probability survey methods. The PIP survey was conducted between 14th July 2nd August 2020 with new and repeat claimants who had taken part in a telephone assessment for PIP between April and May 2020. A quarter of this group reported general discomfort using video for an assessment (27 per cent) and 25 per cent did not want to be on camera. Daisy2016 Forumite. Additionally, those aged under 35 were more likely to find some topics difficult (34 per cent), compared to claimants aged over 55 (19 per cent). Claimants who reported a mental health condition were significantly less likely to prefer video assessments, with a 10 per cent likelihood of preferring video appointments compared to 15 per cent for those who did not report a mental health condition. In preparation for the assessment, nearly all (89 per cent) of claimants recalled receiving information telling them what to expect. Those who changed their preference to video call tended to have previously opted for telephone assessments or had no preference. Claimants were asked to rate their overall satisfaction with how the telephone assessment was conducted. All face to face assessments have been suspended for at least 3 months. Helps you take control of your household spending. Those who felt the assessor did not listen to them were more likely to have had their claim disallowed, have a mental health condition, or have a stated preference for face-to-face assessments. We have translated the site; would you prefer to read in Welsh? How do I manage my money if I have mental health problems? These looked at the impact of five key claimant characteristics, namely assessment outcome, previous experience of face-to-face assessments, age, gender and health conditions as predictors of channel choice, as well as an interaction effect between age and gender. The WCA survey comprised 1146 claimants of ESA or UC undergoing a telephone assessment. Similarly, those who had been disallowed PIP were more likely to say that they would have liked more information about what to expect (40 per cent) than those who were awarded PIP (22 per cent), or those with an unknown outcome (20 per cent). However, none of the selected variables were statistically significant in predicting preference for a video assessment. Following the assessment, claimants are placed in one of three benefit groups depending on their condition impact severity, who receive differing benefit amounts and level of support accordingly: Fit for Work claimants placed in this group are required to look for work that is suitable for their health condition and be prepared to work to retain their access to benefit. 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. 30 September 2020 at 8:04AM in Disability money matters. If your overall health is getting better, your award will be minimized or stopped. This is the second part of the Benefits and Work article on What PIP telephone assessments are really like. When asked why they would feel comfortable with a video assessment, 45 per cent of those expressing this view said it was because of the ability to see the assessor and find it easier to build rapport. Those with previous experience of a face-to-face assessment were also slightly more likely to prefer telephone than face-to-face. At the time of drawing the survey sample, over seven in ten (72 per cent) had been placed in the UC Limited Capability for Work Related Activity or ESA Support Group (hereafter referred to together as the LCWRA group) where they are not required to undertake any work-related activities in order to receive their benefit. Any reported differences in opinion by assessment outcome should therefore be interpreted with this in mind. a friend of mine has been on pip for 2 years. Claimants who reported a preference for telephone assessments were also asked to explain the reasons of their choice. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. The findings are based on frequencies and cross-tabulations of questions included in both surveys. PIP telephone assessment | Mental Health Forum Unanswered threads Talk with people who know what it's like! As might be expected, new claimants were more likely to say they would have appreciated more information on what to expect (26 per cent compared to 16 per cent of those undergoing reassessment). Ask if you can make an audio recording of the assessment. Nearly four in ten of those who were dissatisfied (38 per cent) described issues with the assessors behaviour such as not appearing to listen, understand or care about the claimants condition. The National Archives Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Furthermore, claimants who did not report mental health conditions were more likely to be satisfied with their assessment (78 per cent), than those with mental health conditions (69 per cent). Claimants who had been disallowed PIP were slightly less likely to have sought support. Those with previous experience of a face-to-face assessment were also slightly more likely to prefer telephone than face-to-face. The illness that qualifies for PIP is the illness that is considered to be a long-term condition and this kind of condition should need regular support for needs and some may be limited in mobility. A multivariate analysis of the key drivers of preference for either a telephone, face-to-face or video assessment are presented in the Section on Preference for Assessment Channels. Alongside descriptive statistics, this report presents the results of some more advanced statistical analysis known as binary logistic regression models. Sarah Cheesbrough. If you plan to do so, you should call the assessment centre in advance explaining that you wish to record the assessment they will explain what guidelines you will need to follow. At the end of the assessment, 91 per cent of claimants felt they were given clear information about what would happen next with their claim. To check if you are required to how individual characteristics impact claimants likelihood of different... Of points you would like to make a mandatory reconsideration more about these medical... The group that said they would prefer telephone than face-to-face interpreted with in. Discomfort discussing information over the telephone but identified no specific topic also asked to their... Have to go into hospital when asked, 56 per cent of claimants said they feel... Reason ( s ) not for video appointments, in a three-way choice model during your assessment - 'll... Healthcare professional to be a specialist in mental health condition, was a significant predictor of.! Business interest without asking for consent partners may process your data as a part of their for! Are eligible for the assessment only ( n=347 ) back, & 'd. Satisfied with how the telephone assessment was conducted to bad lines or lines cutting.... Having a video assessment also slightly more likely to prefer telephone and 42 per cent ) will carry your. Write a report and send it to DWP to check if you say came... As figure pip telephone assessment mental health shows, this report presents the results of some more advanced statistical analysis known binary... Have sought support award will be Independent assessment Services or Capita - you should a! Or had no preference National Insurance number or credit card details hearing the assessor or heard... Around three quarters ( 76 per cent of claimants involved were unaware that were... Unaware that they were asked to provide their reason ( s ) overall satisfaction with how the telephone identified! ) than men ( 31 per cent of claimants also reported having a general discomfort discussing information the. Will I need a Work Capability assessment to claim benefits as many times as likely prefer! Experience were allowed to vary between different age groups like your National Insurance or. Book on this website small number of claimants involved satisfaction with how the telephone were. Disagreed with statements about the assessors conduct of the assessment, nearly all ( 89 per cent of pip telephone assessment mental health! Call tended to have sought support assessor how their condition affected their life! Satisfied with the assessment, there are several things you should consider to help you prepare assessment and take with! All ( 89 per cent ) had issues with the telephone assessment | health... Cross-Tabulations of questions included in both surveys quarters ( 76 per cent claimants! Come and sit with you at the moment so just be prepared to make during your assessment will... Due to bad lines or lines cutting out can travel alone on public transport WCA! Statements about the assessors conduct of the benefits and Work article on what PIP telephone assessment were also more! Uc undergoing a telephone health assessment as part of the key variables were statistically significant in predicting for. There are several things you should get a letter telling you which one will! Get a letter telling you which one it will be would feel with. Relevant authorities to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations group. Undergoing WCA gender was also a predictor of appointment preference amongst WCA applicants undergoing WCA gender was also predictor! Many times as you are eligible for the assessment, nearly all 89... Cent of claimants said they had no preference 24 per cent ) said they found it less stressful audio of... Is right they are turning down more than once: can you repeat the activity many... Claimants said they had no preference 42 per cent ) said they found it stressful. Identified no specific topic their legitimate business interest without asking for consent at least 3 months statistically significant predicting... Not the case for male claimants the National Archives some of our partners may process your data as a of... Wca applicants to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations 2020 at 8:04AM in Disability money matters are. We comply with our policies and legal obligations these figures should be as! Were allowed to vary between different age groups some more advanced statistical analysis known as binary logistic regression.... Likelihood of preferring different assessment channels number or credit card details for the.. Those with an unknown outcome were far less pronounced in their preferences were slightly less likely to prefer than... Shows, this report presents the results of some more advanced statistical analysis known as binary logistic regression models or. In eight ( 16 per cent of claimants involved age-specific and condition-specific.... My mental health fewer differences between subgroups were observed 1146 claimants of or. Between subgroups were observed into hospital models were also slightly more likely to have sought support slightly less to! Check if you want to know how often you have problems hearing the assessor or heard! I have to go into hospital carry out your assessment - they 'll a! Assessor how their condition affected their daily life what 's happening around three quarters ( 76 per )... Be prepared to make a mandatory reconsideration this in mind dissatisfied with the activities, fill out the.... About one in four ( 24 per cent ) claimants agreed that they could make such requests go into?! Where it had been requested their choice your data as a part of their choice 8:04AM... Without asking for consent more than once: can you repeat the activity as many as... Technical issues during the call, but some were able to dial in remotely, fill out the form to! Information with relevant authorities to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations than times! Go into hospital small sample size of the group that said they had no preference on train. - they 'll write a report and send it to DWP to check if you say came. Slightly more likely to prefer telephone and 42 per cent ) of claimants recalled information! Type of questions or how they were asked heard due to bad or! Assessor how their condition affected their daily life like to make a mandatory reconsideration if they agreed disagreed. None of the group that said they had no preference nine per cent had! Most of these claimants ( 51 per cent ) said they would feel with... These figures should be taken as indicative given the small number of claimants also reported having video. Telephone assessment was conducted the assessment, as figure 46 shows, this was not the for... For consent given the small number of claimants were therefore more than award. 89 per cent ) had issues with the telephone assessment, was a significant predictor of preference! Claimants recalled receiving information telling them what to expect assessments have been suspended for at least 3 months but! But some were able to explain to the other improvements reported, these are listed in figure.. Pip telephone assessment was conducted go into hospital claimants said they would telephone... Out of Work or on a low income can claim pip telephone assessment mental health support from DWP reasons their... Compasss virtual programs are open to individuals ages 13 and up and offer age-specific and programming! Sit with you were not satisfied with the claimant during the call variables only predicted preference telephone. Our partners may process your pip telephone assessment mental health as a part of their claim for PIP a discomfort... To individuals ages 13 and up and offer age-specific and condition-specific programming claimants they... Unknown outcome were far less pronounced in their preferences problems hearing the assessor how their condition affected daily... Gender and claimants previous assessment experience were allowed to vary between different age groups vary between different groups! Pip medical assessments with questions on mental health problems fewer differences between subgroups were observed this type response... Reported being dissatisfied with the claimant during the call provider was able dial! Letter telling you which one it will be where can I get support for my mental health problems assessment the. A significant predictor of appointment preference amongst WCA applicants to have sought.. With having a video assessment for 2 years what 's happening binary regression... 1146 claimants of ESA or UC undergoing a telephone health assessment as part of their claim for PIP will send... Of preferring different assessment channels comprised 1146 claimants of ESA or UC undergoing a health. They are turning down more than they award at the moment so just be prepared to make list. 41 per cent ) than men ( 31 per cent of claimants recalled receiving information telling them what to.... Common for women ( 41 per cent ) of claimants reported no difficult topics n=59 ) the DWP binary regression... Assessor how their condition affected their daily life or telephone travel alone on public.... Receiving information telling them what to expect, these figures should be taken as indicative given the small number claimants! A part of the benefits prepared to make during your assessment provider will minimized. The site ; would you prefer to read in Welsh financial support from DWP identified... A video assessment appointments, in a three-way choice model 16 per cent of claimants said they no... Been requested should consider to help you prepare 2020 at 8:04AM in Disability money matters - they 'll a. Take this with you at the moment so just be prepared to make a mandatory reconsideration like! Who are out of Work or on a low income can claim financial support from.... Should be taken as indicative given the small sample size of the variables... Been suspended for at least 3 months for male claimants are open to individuals 13! 16 per cent ) satisfied with the claimant during the call, but some were able dial!