A claimant has successfully secured Personal Independence Payment (PIP) support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after missing two scheduled assessment phone calls due to their mental health condition.
Navigating the PIP Application with Anxiety
The individual, who applied for the benefit due to struggles with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression, shared their experience on a social media forum. They explained that they had requested a paper-based assessment to avoid a stressful phone conversation, but were informed by the DWP that this could not be guaranteed.
An assessor subsequently called them twice in one day – on December 29th and 30th – but the claimant was unable to answer due to severe social anxiety. Despite these missed calls, the DWP proceeded with a paper assessment of their claim.
A Positive Outcome After Months of Stress
The application timeline, as detailed by the claimant, began with an online form submission on September 9th. After months of anxiety and waiting for updates, they received a text on December 31st stating their assessment report had been written.
By Monday, January 5th, they checked their online account and discovered they had been awarded PIP. The decision granted them enhanced daily living at £110 per week and standard mobility at £29.20 per week, with the award set for a period of three years.
"I am so relieved and thankful," the claimant wrote, confirming the official award text arrived on Tuesday, January 6th.
Community Reaction and PIP Insights
The post sparked significant discussion online, with many expressing relief and hope for their own claims. One user with similar conditions commented on the revelation that a conversation might not always be necessary, saying the anxiety for their upcoming phone assessment was "creeping in big time."
Others highlighted the often challenging nature of the PIP system. One person lamented being refused despite suffering from cancer treatment side effects like chronic pain and fatigue. This underscored a key point made by another commenter: "PIP is not about the diagnosis, it is about how it affects you."
The case demonstrates that while phone assessments are common, the DWP can make decisions based on written evidence, offering a crucial alternative for those whose conditions make telephone communication profoundly difficult.
