PIP phone interview help

[greyhat]

I am autistic, have problems with verbal communication and have a PIP phone interview next month, despite the fact when applying it was said I wasn't able to communicate on the phone.

I want to continue with it but don’t know how to proceed, as it feels like they are trying to set me up to fail.

 

Thank you

[honeybee13]

Hi. Do you have anyone to support you during the phone call if it goes that way?

 

Hopefully people will be along to comment for you. 

 

HB

[greyhat]

Hi, I had help for the application, but I won't have any help/support on the interview day.

It also says on the letter I received that people aren't allowed to talk for you.

[conflictinghistory]

Hello Greyhat,

                         I know it is difficult, but can you contact Citizens Advice Bureau or Welfare Rights, and ask them to help? I don't know if you have already done so. But I will tell you DWP have broken the rules. Because you have Autism and you made them aware of this, they Must make reasonable adjusts, and your case, not do any interview on the phone. Your anxiety must be through the roof. DWP are not medically trained, but they are experts at breaking the rules and ignoring a claimants situation. It is a matter of urgency, that you reach out and ask for help from such as CAB. They can get the interview put back, or a face to face interview, but that too is stressful. A trained welfare advisor, can actually do the interview for you. Please be strong and don't quit trying to get PIP, which is what DWP want.

                        I too have Autism, and fought tooth and nail to get into the ESA Support group. Not had to apply for PIP yet. But I did get Welfare Rights who are based at the Council to handle the appplication and then an appeal that they won for me. I was a nervous wreck and cracked a tooth from grinding my teeth, it had to be removed. I know how hard it is to get people to believe you can';t cope with all of this. The Welfare Rights officier actually didn't believe some of my disablities. he made me very uncomfortable. But he did his job and I won.

                       Benefit and Work website have guides on claiming PIP, but they do charge a membership fee of about £19 a year, if you are on benefits.

[unclebulgaria67]

I wonder if DWP had any information about how the level of autism impacts on your ability to take part in any benefit interview. DWP have a responsibility to make sure the process followed is correct.

 

As you have been advised Council welfare rights or Citizen Advice can help you. But the Doctors you may have been seeing e.g. your GP will have full details of the help that is available locally and they should have provided this, had you spoken to them about this.

 

Have you asked for help from GP or NHS Doctors and Citizens Advice or Council welfare rights ?

[greyhat]

Thank you for your help, I managed to change the appointment to a face to face one with only a two-week delay.

[honeybee13]

Well done and thank you for telling us. Please let us know how you get on.

 

HB