PIP face to face assessment advice

Well now I feel weird! We got the letter finally yesterday and the DWP have awarded my son PIP!! We had prepared ourselves for a big fat "NO!" and the resulting appeals and tribunal in the new year but now I feel bad for assuming the worst!. The points given were pretty fair, he has got the higher rate for both parts and they have given it to him 'til Oct 2021, so we can stop worrying for 3 years! It is such a relief!! We can't quite believe it!. 

Hey, another update! Rang again today and they finally got the ATOS report on dec 1st so just gotta wait for the decision now!! Hopefully before christmas but it is not gonna be much fun getting a "computer says no!" Letter right on top of Xmas!!!. Hoping for the best but planning for the worst!! 

Thanks for the reply but I rang ATOS as well and they confirmed it had not been sent yet. They said claims are picked at random for checking and there is no time guidance for them!. I think the whole system is a joke! and call me cynical but why, when you go to tribunal do the assessors not have to be involved??? all seems a bit fishy to me!. I have filled the forms, answered loads of questions over the phone, taken my son to the assessment and they still are stalling??!!. I just don't get it!!. It would not surprise me if every report is "audited" and manipulated to suit!!. Let us hope they prove me wrong but I am not holding my breath!.

I was given the same message when I chased and then the letter arrived the next day! It comes across as though they're allowed to tell you much by phone. Don't forget the DWP relies on humans to run its service so waiting times are just a guide. It is the time of the year when people start to be off with colds and flu, plus a lot of people take annual leave to go Christmas shopping so services do tend to slow down.

Hi, here is an update! It has been 4 weeks since the assessment and we have heard nothing so this morning I rand the DWP. They informed me that they have not had the report from the assessors as yet!!!!!. We have been waiting every day expecting a letter from them but now it will be weeks more waiting!! I am soo annoyed. Especially at this time of year, we don't know where we are until we knowone way or another and my son has exams in the spring so if we have to go to tribunal it could be a nightmare!!

Great news, I hope the wait isn't too long. 

Thanks for all your replies, i have just come back from the assessment and it was not too bad. The assessor allowed me and my husband in the room and both of us contributed to the assessment. It was sometimes hard to describe WHY he can't do things but we did our best. He was asked to remember 3 words and then after the physical assessment was asked to repeat them back and only remembered 2 of the 3. He was also asked to fold a piece of paper 3 times but only did it twice before he gave it back. Oh well we just have to wait now until we get the decision. i'll let you know the results when I get them.

I've been to two and have been awarded enhanced rate daily living at both. As misfit61 mentioned, the benefit isn't given out solely based on what label you have. Its a points game and the benefit will only be awarded if you meet enough points across the different categories. Unfortunately, a number of people do lie on their form (I work with someone who did that) so you will be asked a number of questions based on what you have written to clarify that the statements you have made are true. At both of my assessments I have taken along supplementary independent evidence, which proved what I was saying was true. This included PDOC letters, OH reports, fit notes, a letter from a manager at work etc. Is your son still attending school or college? If he is could you get one of his teachers to write a witness statement. This would certainly help if your son is likely to lie.

I read a lot of horror stories on the internet before my first assessment and that caused a lot of needless worry. My first assessor was really lovely and went out of her way to put me at ease. The second one came across as really quiet and didn't talk much but she was very efficient at her job.

It might be worth asking CAB or similar if they can accompany you?