We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Sarah Cheesbrough. The survey used quotas to meet required number of interviews by key variables (age, gender and assessment provider). 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. You have accepted additional cookies. Claimants with mental health conditions were more likely to feel uncomfortable about video (53 per cent, compared with 40 per cent of those with no mental health conditions). Claimants who recalled receiving a communication were asked whether any other information would have been helpful prior to the assessment. Fifteen per cent of claimants felt that the questions were not tailored or relevant to their health condition; 14 per cent felt the assessment needed face-to-face contact, and 13 per cent reported dissatisfaction due to generally finding the assessment uncomfortable or emotional. The out-of-work benefit those who have a health condition and/or disability that restricts their ability to work comes in the form of either ESA or UC. Those reporting no mental health conditions would feel more comfortable having a video assessment (61 per cent) than those with mental health conditions (52 per cent). Claimants who went on to be placed in the LCRWA group were more likely to have sought additional support (35 per cent) than those who were awaiting further assessment (23 per cent). 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. You are most welcome to join today! What do you put on a PIP form for depression? I am worried about the cost-of-living crisis, Requesting adjustments to the PIP assessment, Planning your journey to the PIP assessment, How to claim travel expenses for your PIP assessment. In addition, claimants were asked to identify any topics in relation to their condition that they found difficult to talk about over the telephone. This is why you should always renew your PIP form to make sure that it corresponds well to how you are coping with your mental health condition. 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. someone goes out with you. Your assessment provider will be Independent Assessment Services or Capita - you should get a letter telling you which one it will be. Previous experience of face-to-face assessments did not have a significant effect on the likelihood of preferring a telephone or video assessment. This report explores if, and how, experiences and views of claimants differ by a range of factors including age, gender, type of assessment, as well as self-reported health status and previous experience of face-to-face assessments. Unweighted base: only claimants who are comfortable with video assessments (n=492). Those with previous experience of a face-to-face assessment were also slightly more likely to prefer telephone than face-to-face. The type of reason given for feeling uncomfortable with video assessments varied somewhat by claimants sub-group. Those reporting mental health conditions were also more likely to report difficulties (32 per cent) than those who did not report mental health conditions (19 per cent). This type of response was more common for women (41 per cent) than men (31 per cent). Since the introduction of the COVID-19 lockdown measures in March 2020, the usual face-to-face assessments were temporarily suspended and replaced with telephone assessments. By the time of the interview, over seven in ten (72 per cent) had been placed in the Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA) group deeming them unfit for any type of work-related activity. 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 PIP for Depression and Anxiety It is certainly possible to be eligible to claim PIP (personal independence payment pip) if suffering from a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety but it very much depends on how the mental illness affects you. We are a friendly, safe community supporting each other's mental health 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Those that did tended to have problems hearing the assessor or being heard due to bad lines or lines cutting out. A health professional will carry out your assessment - they'll write a report and send it to the DWP. Furthermore, men were more likely to seek additional support (52 per cent) than women (44 per cent). Base: All respondents who answered this question (n=1072). 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). Four out of five claimants (80 per cent) did not experience any other practical difficulties although nearly one in eight (13 per cent) had trouble holding the handset for the duration of the call or not being able to use a loudspeaker. They do send out text messages for appointments yes. Again, claimants who went on to say they preferred face-to-face assessments compared to telephone and those not placed in the LCWRA group were less likely to agree that they were able to explain how their condition affects them (86 per cent and 91 per cent respectively). For example, those awarded the benefit or with an unknown outcome were more likely to agree that the assessor listened to them and understood them (90 per cent and 83 per cent respectively), compared to those who were disallowed PIP (59 per cent). Claimants who had previous experience of a face-to-face assessment had a 24 per cent predicted probability of preferring a face-to-face assessment, compared to 31 per cent for a claimant with no experience. PIP has two components - daily living (contribution to the extra costs disabled people face in their day to day lives that do not relate to mobility) and mobility (contribution to the extra costs disabled people face in their day to day lives that relate to mobility). We are a friendly, safe community supporting each other's mental health 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The PIP assessment is an opportunity for you to talk about how your condition affects you - it's not a diagnosis of your condition or a medical examination. Nine in ten claimants (90 per cent) reported that the assessor called on time. Fifteen per cent expressed a preference for video assessments, while 5 per cent said they had no preference. Helps you take control of your household spending. Over half (56 per cent) of claimants across both surveys said they would be comfortable conducting an assessment via a video call. Nearly one in eight (13 per cent) expressed a preference for video assessments, while 7 per cent had no preference. The PIP assessment is looking at your functional ability to perform each activity and is not a medical. Unweighted base: Claimants who had third person support only (n=240). 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. In this model, only reporting a mental health condition was associated with a slightly decreased preference for a video assessment. 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. About one in eight (16 per cent) had issues with the type of questions or how they were asked. Namely, claimants with a PIP award were more likely to prefer telephone over a face-to-face assessment even after controlling for other factors likely to influence choice. Also, those who had been awaiting further assessment were more likely to say they would like more information than those who had been placed in the LCWRA group. Can I claim Welfare Benefits if Im living with a mental illness? Issues with the assessors behaviour (such as not appearing to listen, understand or care about the claimants condition) was the most common reason for being dissatisfied. and Pensions or any other government department. Men were also more likely to prefer a telephone assessment over face-to-face (54 per cent) but this was only twice as high as their predicted probability of preferring face-to-face (28 per cent). We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Those who were joined by someone to support them (PIP- 31 per cent, WCA - 22 per cent) on the call were most commonly joined by a family member. How do I ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration? They need to use that actual phrase. So we give the right advice for you, can you answer which Nation you're from? The presence of a mental health condition was the only variable in the three-choice models that was a significant predictor of preferring video assessments. The remainder had no preference. The health professional has already read your PIP form with the supporting evidence that you have to provide about your medical condition. A health professional will carry out your assessment - they'll write a report and send it to the DWP. Then get someone to come and sit with you at the next one as support? For example, 24 per cent of those with a mobility condition, and 27 per cent of those with a mental health condition, had someone supporting them during the assessment (compared to 18 per cent of those without mobility and 20 per cent of those without mental health conditions). Nine per cent of claimants also reported having a general discomfort discussing information over the telephone but identified no specific topic. Older claimants were more likely to feel comfortable sharing this information (82 per cent of those aged 55 and over, compared with 72 per cent of those aged under 35). Similarly, claimants placed in the LCWRA group had a strong preference for telephone (over face-to-face) after taking their other characteristics into account. 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). All interviews were conducted via telephone and lasted around 25 minutes. For PIP claimants one in ten (10 per cent) stated that the assessment needed to be face-to-face and 8 per cent asked for more information prior to the call. Women were also more likely to report practical difficulties (36 per cent, compared to 26 per cent of men). Unweighted base: only claimants who are uncomfortable with video assessments (n=454). Higher satisfaction levels were expressed by those who were placed in the LCWRA group (97 per cent compared to 86 per cent of those awaiting further assessment), those who preferred to have telephone assessments (97 per cent) and those who said they had mobility issues (96 per cent). For those undergoing WCA, over six in ten (62 per cent of) claimants would prefer a telephone assessment, with nearly one in four (23 per cent) wanting face-to-face. In terms of coping on the telephone with the assessment, if you feel you cant maybe you can reorganise it? The points you score for each kind of activity in a section are added together to reach an overall score. Its based on the results of over 250 responses to our readers survey which is still open. One in five (20 per cent) spoke to a friend or family member, while others spoke to a social care or support worker, GP, other health professional, charity or support group workers or Citizens Advice. Claimants who said they preferred face-to-face assessments were also asked to give reasons for their choice. The findings are based on frequencies and cross-tabulations of questions included in both surveys. 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. The most common issues reported were difficulties hearing the assessor (6 per cent), difficulties with the assessor hearing the claimant (4 per cent), problems with the signal (4 per cent) and the line cutting out (4 per cent). Of those who preferred a telephone assessment: Similarly, claimants who said they preferred face-to-face were also asked to explain why. UC was introduced in 2013 in an attempt to simplify the welfare system, gradually replacing six previous means-tested benefits and tax credits, including ESA. Cost-of-living crisis and your mental health. 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