Can I claim ESA and PIP at the same time?

Thank you both for your advice!

Yes, I have recent medical letters from both my general physician and specialty doctor explaining a little about my conditions and inability to leave the house. Would I be able to a arrange a home assessment? As I mentioned before, I have been unable to leave the house; it has been nearly two years now.

As an autistic with anxiety, the idea of talking with someone sounds terrifying to me at the moment; especially an ‘assessor’ which is a daunting prospect in itself. When I am nervous I tend to be forgetful; what if I forget to mention something important or what if my answers are not as comprehensive as they may need them to be?

I was recently required to fill in a ESA50 form for the Department for work and pensions in which I detailled my healthcare professionals, my conditions, medication, treatments [past and present] aswell as daily living issues including: [all of which require assistance, prompting and/or supervision]

- Learning how to do tasks
- Awareness of hazards or danger
- Starting and finishing tasks
- Coping with changes
- Going out
- Coping with social situations
- Behaving appropriately

I thought about repurposing this into an F.A.Q of sorts that I could hand to the PIP assessor if I decide to claim. This could a effective way for me to say very little but still provide them with the information that they need. Some minor elaborations may be required but, with the support of a family member present, I will do my best in the moment- but at least the F.A.Q would have highlight the main points already. Is this a good idea?

Thank you again. Please keep your advice coming.

Yes you can arrange a home assessment.

The PIP process is slow. If you rang up today and your form came late next week you'd have 4 weeks to send it back. You can look up the descriptors today and start preparing your answers so that would give you at least 5 weeks to keep coming back to the form and adding any extra info. I updated my medical conditions in May and have a home assessment with Capita this weekend. Therefore, even after you've sent the form off there's a number of months to gather additional evidence to hand in on the day.

From what I remember the assessment is more of a conversation aimed at checking what you've written down is true, as well as an opportunity to find out more information if needed. If you think a FAQ sheet would help you could certainly add that as additional info at the start of your home visit. 

I've normally attended the assessment alone but as it's now at my house at a wekeend my husband is going to be there and has agreed to add any additional information if he thinks it would be beneficial.

Yes you can arrange a home assessment.

The PIP process is slow. If you rang up today and your form came late next week you'd have 4 weeks to send it back. You can look up the descriptors today and start preparing your answers so that would give you at least 5 weeks to keep coming back to the form and adding any extra info. I updated my medical conditions in May and have a home assessment with Capita this weekend. Therefore, even after you've sent the form off there's a number of months to gather additional evidence to hand in on the day.

From what I remember the assessment is more of a conversation aimed at checking what you've written down is true, as well as an opportunity to find out more information if needed. If you think a FAQ sheet would help you could certainly add that as additional info at the start of your home visit. 

I've normally attended the assessment alone but as it's now at my house at a wekeend my husband is going to be there and has agreed to add any additional information if he thinks it would be beneficial.

Thank you for the update. I am glad to hear that your assessment went well. There is some really useful information in your message! Much appreciated.

If there is no section to fill in to request a home assessment, perhaps I could enclose a cover letter of sorts with my form to explain such; aswell as my doctor and specialist letters to back it. What do you think?

Thank you again!

I had my assessment this morning. Mine was with Capita and when I rang up to make the appt they explained they only had availability for a home visit, so this is what I had, they've never asked for medical evidence in relation to choosing the assessment location.

Here's a link to the form, I think page 31 is what Deepthought is on about -

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/713118/pip2-how-your-disability-affects-you-form.pdf

My assessor was lovely today and the assessment only took 30 minutes. She just went through the descriptors and I verbally explained how my life was affected This is the bit where I think they're checking to see if what you verbally state matches up to what you've written. She did ask at the end if there was anything else I'd like to add and I gave her a few medical letters I'd been sent since sending off my form - I'd annotated these to highlight how they related to PIP.

She said it would be 4-8 weeks until I hear anything back but did state they'd probably get me in for a review again in a few years time.  If they were going to decline my award there wouldn't be anything to renew so I take it she'll be recommending to the decision making that my award is extended  It was recommended I was reviewed every 4 years last time.

To give you an idea of time scales, I posted my updated application on the 27th May, assessment took place on the 25th Aug and I'll hear back by the end of Oct. I did chase the DWP after I handed my form in so my assessment would have been booked in a few weeks later if I'd have waited for a letter to call them to arrive.

That is great advice and thank you for the information!

Creative26 said:

How do I arrange a home assessment? will that be a section of the form to fill in OR will I need to phone them up especially?

Like the ESA form there is section at the end of the PIP form asking about attending an interview. You will need of course a letter confirming that you require home visits from your GP, and if you keep your home appointment letters ~ copies of the most recent ones will further support this. You may well be sent an assessment center appointment anyway. so as such you will need to make a telephone call to get the home visit booked instead, and PIP is now reviewed every three years requiring updated or new information on each occasion.

Excellent. Thank you for your advice.

How do I arrange a home assessment? will that be a section of the form to fill in OR will I need to phone them up especially? Also, how often is PIP it usually reviewed?

Thank you again. I appreciate your help.