We want to help you feel prepared and ready for your face-to-face consultation.
Here is some step-by-step advice leading up to, during and after your consultation.
Everything you need to know about your face-to-face assessment
Let us know if you would like to...
- Change your appointment - it's really important that you keep your appointment. If you don't, we will return your claim to the DfC. If you cannot keep your appointment for any reason, tell us straight away. You can only change your appointment once.
- Request a language translator or British/Irish Sign Language interpreter.
- Request an appointment with a health professional of a specific gender
What you need to bring to your assessment
Select the + sign for details.
Who can join you at your assessment?
We encourage you to bring someone with you to your assessment. This could be a friend, family member, carer or support worker.
Your companion should not speak for you, but they can help you to answer any questions or explain the difficulties you face more clearly. If your companion will be translating or interpreting for you, they must be over 18.
Please do not bring children with you. If you cannot make childcare arrangements, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can discuss the best way to carry out your assessment.
Here are some useful guides you can download
Here are some useful Easy Read versions of our guides
Audio recording
1
If you would like your assessment to be audio recorded, please let the health professional know at the start of your assessment.
2
Before the assessment starts, you will need to sign an agreement that explains how the recording can be used.
3
If you decide you no longer want your assessment to be recorded, let the health professional know. They will stop the recording and your assessment will continue as normal.
After your consultation you will receive a link to your recording by text message or email, and a separate text message with a one-time password. The password will expire after 24 hours and can only be used once to access and download your recording. This is to protect you and the information you provided at your appointment.
If you would like a CD copy of the recording, please let the health professional know. We will also keep a copy of the recording.
After your assessment, if you have any difficulties accessing your recording, or need a CD copy, please contact us.
To find out more about audio recording, please visit our FAQs page.
Please let reception know that you have arrived for your appointment.
We aim to start all appointments on time, but there may be delays if somebody else's appointment takes longer than expected. You can take a seat in our waiting room before your assessment.
The consultation centre will be wheelchair accessible and disabled toilets will be available - we cannot help you to use these.
To find information on your consultation centre go to our consultation centre page:
Our health professionals are specially trained in carrying out functional assessments. It is important to remember that the consultation is not medical, so the health professional is not looking to diagnose your symptoms or recommend treatment. Instead, it will focus on how your health condition or disability impacts your day-to-day life.
The health professional will ask you how you manage your daily activities and will record your answers on a laptop. This is your opportunity to explain how your health condition or disability affects you.
The consultation will take as long as is necessary for the health professional to gather the information they need - this is usually around an hour.
As part of the consultation, the health professional may ask you to complete some basic movements. If you feel you cannot complete these movements without discomfort or pain, please let the health professional know. You will not need to adjust any clothing or have a physical examination.
The health professional may also be able to see some of the difficulties that you have with certain tasks during the time you spend together. They will include these observations in their report.
The health professional will write a report for the Department for Communities.
The report will be based on the evidence you have provided as well as anything you discussed during your consultation.
They will send the report to the DfC so they can make a decision on your claim.
The DfC will look at your claim and all supporting information. This includes the assessment report, your ‘How your disability affects you’ form and any other evidence you have provided.
Once they have made their decision, they will write to you to tell you if you can get PIP. This letter will also tell you what to do next if you do not agree with the decision.
When you get your decision letter, if you want a copy of the assessment report, or you have any questions about your claim or the decision, please phone the DfC on 0800 072 0397 (textphone: 0800 587 0937).
If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can also contact DfC through Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 4433.
Don’t forget to claim your travel expenses
We will refund both your and your representative’s travel expenses if you travel to the appointment by public transport, or pay for your mileage and parking if you drive there.
A claim form will have been posted to you with your appointment letter. Please ensure you return it to us with all tickets and receipts for the public transport or parking. You can use the envelope provided with your appointment letter – you don't need a stamp.
