Step by step advice leading up to, during and after your telephone assessment. 

Select from the below options to jump down to the relevant section:

Before your 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 DWP. 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 Sign Language interpreter.
  • Request an appointment with a health professional of a specific gender.
     

What you need to bring for your telephone assessment
Select the + sign for details.

    You will not be asked to show ID, but you will be asked some security questions.

    If we are calling you on your mobile phone, make sure your phone is fully charged before the assessment. Try to be in a quiet place, with a good signal and no background noise.

    If you have any new evidence of how your health condition or disability affects your daily life, please discuss this with the Functional Specialist. You will need to send a copy of this to DWP after your assessment.

    Please send any new evidence to:
    Freepost RTEU-HAGT-SLBL
    Personal Independence Payment 1
    Mail Handling Site A
    Wolverhampton
    WV98 1AA

    Who can join you at your assessment?

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    We encourage you to have someone with you during your assessment. This could be a friend, family member, carer or support worker. They 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. 

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    If your companion cannot be with you in person, we can add them to the telephone call. We will call you first, so please let the health professional know if you would like your companion to be added to the call. You will need to provide your companions telephone number and they need to be ready to answer the phone at the time of your appointment. 

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    If there are, for any reason, issues with the signal or telephone line, we will try and call you back.

    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, you will need to agree to 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 appointment, 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 Capita.

    To find out more about audio recording, please visit our FAQs page.

    During Your Assessment

    Be ready for the call...

    You need to be ready for the health professional to call you at the time of your appointment. The call will come from an 0808 or withheld number. Our health professional will try to call you up to three times over a 20-minute period. If you do not answer the phone, we will return your claim to the DWP.

    Remember to let the health professional know if you would like your companion to be added to the call.

    The health professional will identify themselves by telling you their name and saying that they are calling from Capita PIP.

    The health professional will need to ask you some identification questions before your assessment can go ahead. If you have any concerns that the health professional is not who they say they are, please get in touch with Capita.

    Our health professionals are specially trained to carry out functional assessments.
    It is important to remember that the assessment 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 assessment will take as long as is necessary for the health professional to gather the information they need - this is usually around an hour.

     


    To find more, watch this video ⤴
     

    After your assessment

    The health professional will write a report for the DWP.

    The report will be based on the evidence you have provided as well as anything you discussed during your assessment.

    They will send the report to the DWP so they can make a decision on your claim.

    The DWP 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 DWP (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) on 0800 121 4433 (textphone: 0800 121 4493).

    If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can also contact DWP through Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 4433.

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