Mental Health and PIP phone assessment. - Benefits and Work 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. 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. Inconsistencies could result in claimants either over or under emphasising the impact of their conditions and efforts should be made to avoid both. If your long-term condition is getting worse, you will need more of this award. 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. In such cases a short award period with no review required should be advised. If you miss your assessment, the DWP will contact you asking you to explain why. In such cases the claimant may not be able to give an accurate account of their health condition or impairment, through a lack of insight or unrealistic expectations of their own ability. 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. 1.10.10 The Not applicable box should be selected where the HP considers that there is no health condition or impairment affecting function present on the majority of days over the 12 month required period. 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. 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. PIP tips & tricks | Disability Claims The HP can assess the disabling effect of the pain by considering such description (where applicable) along with all other aspects of the case, for example disease activity/severity, effect on daily activities, treatment, pain relief, pain management strategies, examination findings and informal observations. The health professionals will be reviewing your PIP form once you reach the assessment centre. 1.6.28 The functional history is the claimant's own perspective on how they manage the daily living and mobility activities. Once diabetic control was maintained his mental health condition improved so he was not entitled to either component. She Has A Condition Called Cerebellar Atrophy, and Also Suffers From OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Simply use the buttons below to share on your social network. This is to ensure the safety and privacy of staff and other claimants. If your overall health is getting better, your award will be minimized or stopped. To note: It is important that the HP ensures that valid verbal consent is obtained and recorded where appropriate. 1.15.35 Personal information should never be left on answering machines or voice-mail facilities. Some problems have improved, some have got worse. I am worried about the cost-of-living crisis. At this stage claimants are encouraged to provide any supporting evidence they already have that they feel should be considered alongside their claim information for example evidence from a health or other professional involved in their care or treatment. 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). These occasions are expected to be rare. It is also not appropriate for the provider to release information to a third party such as the claimants representative, appointee, attorney or MP. This will usually be their GP. The mental function assessment will be specific to your situation. You can learn more about having an assessment at home by buying this book on this website. This includes the different processes for Special Rules cases, paper-based reviews and consultations, including guidance on when the different types of assessment should be used. In addition, the guidance is not a stand-alone document, and should form only a part of the training and written documentation that HPs receive from APs. 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. 1.6.69 The HP has a duty to protect the confidentiality of the information obtained during the consultation. More information on claimants who require additional support can be found in section 1.12 of part 1. 1.6.47 Prior to concluding consultations, HPs should give claimants an overview of the findings they have taken from the consultation, including an indication of the fluctuation and variability of function they have recorded. The PIP decision timescale (How long does it take?) - OptimistMinds There are still many people who have yet to move from DLA to PIP, and some of these would be better off moving voluntarily, rather than waiting to be moved by the DWP. Anyone making a request must be advised that requests for information should be made to the DWP. 1.6.4 The relevant information required when offering advice on a consultation is set out in the clerical form PA4 or the relevant screens in the PIPAT. For example, they might ask you how you travelled to the assessment centre. 1.1.6 Once the claimant questionnaire has been returned to DWP, in cases where an assessment is required by a Health Professional (HP), the case is referred to an assessment provider (AP) along with any supporting evidence provided. The invite letter must go to the deputy who will arrange for the claimant to attend. 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. How do I manage my money if I have mental health problems? There may be very occasional circumstances where the claimant reasonably requires the support of more companions and this would be acceptable. PIP assessments usually take place at a centre; however, if you cant attend an assessment centre because you are housebound as a result of a mental health condition, you can request a home PIP assessment. 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 article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. In such cases, where the available information is consistent, the HP should consider whether they can use their own expert clinical knowledge of the condition(s), its severity and known impact in other areas to determine, on the balance of probabilities, the likely impact in the remaining areas. PIP telephone assessment | Page 2 | Mental Health Forum 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. you 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. PIP can be paid to those who are in full or part-time work as well as those out of work. 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. If you are considered to not have much disability in certain activities, you should try some of the following activities: The assistance you will get can be a person or a pet or you might be accompanied by a driver to your car or the service might change your home to make you accommodate easily in your condition. Mind's Director of External Relations, Sophie Corlett says: 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. For example, if the claimant has corrective surgery planned for the near future which would be expected to significantly impact their level of ability, a review at a point following the surgery might be appropriate. If a claimant can handle a toothbrush, it is unlikely they cannot handle kitchen cutlery. 1.15.13 Attending a consultation does not mean that the claimant has given consent to a physical examination. 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. 1.6.56 HPs should use their judgement about the presence of companions during any examination. 1.12.6 Examples of health conditions that may affect mental capacity and may potentially mean the claimant could struggle to engage with the PIP journey include (but are not limited to): 1.13.1 CMs may make requests for supplementary advice at any stage in the decision-making process. 1.7.8 The referral sent to the AP via the PIPCS will include the initial claim details together with the DS1500 or other medical evidence if it has been submitted by the claimant. Therefore, consent to inform the GP of the unexpected finding should be obtained from the claimant. 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). HPs will be required to advise on whether the claimant satisfies the SREL provisions (see below), and provide advice with appropriate justification to the DWP. They will discuss your capability to do daily tasks with your disability, illness or health condition. Cognitive disorders (Types, Symptoms & Treatment Options) . GPs are encouraged to avoid prescribing strong painkillers for long-term pain as the harms usually outweigh the benefits and there could also be specific reasons why painkillers are not prescribed, for example intolerance, or the use of other methods of pain relief. 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. 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. where there is uncertainty about descriptor choice because of contradicting or unclear evidence has been received. Report: Once your assessment has concluded, they will produce a report explaining which PIP descriptors apply to you and explain their reasoning. The PA5 should also be used where additional information does not change the original advice. 1.7.3 The criteria for SREL claims set out in legislation are that the claimant: is suffering from a progressive disease and death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 6 months. The mental health conditions that qualify for disability in the UK are depressive disorders, dementia, chronic anxiety such as anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder. What you should say during the PIP assessment. 1.1.3 PIP was introduced in April 2013 for people aged 16 to 64 years and is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults. 1.6.21 The employment status of the claimant might be relevant and this should be explored and recorded as part of the evidence gathered in social and occupational history. everything you need to know before the call - Daily Record After your PIP assessment with questions on mental health, the DWP will assess the following information with the supporting evidence if you are eligible: The DWP will give you a letter if you have claimed your PIP or not according to your PIP assessment report. If you cant attend your appointment, you must contact the private assessment provider who sent you the letter immediately their contact number will be in your letter. As with appointees, the deputy can nominate another person to accompany the claimant. 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. The horror stories are, if anything, even worse than they were in May of this year. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. Claimants should be invited to clarify any points and ask any questions they have about the assessment procedure, and asked whether there is anything else they would like to include. Where there is a complex, fluctuating condition strong consideration should be given for individual justifications being required. 1.15.31 It will be for the individual professional to determine whether they wish to release information about the claimant to the HP. The HP must explain to the claimant that they are going to carry out a functional examination but that it will be different from the clinical examination they might get at their GP's surgery. having considered all the information and evidence of the case, produce a report for DWP containing information on the claimants circumstances and recommendations on the assessment criteria. It should be recorded in the third person, and should make it clear that this is the claimant's story. 1.6.31 Informal observations are part of the suite of evidence used by CMs to help them determine entitlement to benefit. Prepare adequately with our free PIP assessment tips guide. To prepare adequately for your PIP assessment, we advise that you do the following before the assessment: You can request back the money you spend travelling to and from your PIP assessment. PiP phone call - gave no points for mental health If a claimant has been in contact with DWP and has threatened self-harm or suicide, information about the incident will be included in the PIPCS Medical Evidence screen comments box. Helping you understand, manage & improve your mental health and money issues. Clients will sometimes explain that they have a life-threatening condition or they have an organ might go pop at any time. Once this has been provided, the HP should call the health professional involved in the claimants care again. This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. HPs should be mindful that the level of analgesia used does not necessarily correlate with the level of pain. 1.6.36 When considering mental health medication HPs should remember that not all claimants with a mental health condition will be on medication or receiving therapy.