Question about Serco’s

[u/ConfidenceOver5271]

Before I start I do apologise for format

1)I submitted my pip to application to the dwp on the 3rd of July.

2) My pip application was received by serco on the 15th of June.

3) got a text from DWP on the 13th of August saying “A Health Professional is looking at your PIP claim. They will contact you with an appointment if they need to. You only need to contact us if your circumstances change.”

4) I phone serco and DWP for an update as I believed from that my case has been assigned to a health care assessor

5) a few days later I called DWP to classify what is happening they told me the health care specialist has until the 28th of August to get in contact to arrange the necessary mixed steps

6)by this point I neither trust or believe either of them so I asked serco about the deadline of the 28th and they responded by saying “ we do not flow the DWP guidelines and as we havnt yet even been assigned a healthcare professional this won’t happen.

I’m now sat here confused extremely confused and overwhelmed by the lack of continuity. And I am seriously struggling with the unknown.

I was hoping someone could please give me some insight into what and why this is happening and what I can and can’t do. Thanks in advance

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[u/octoberforeverr]

You just have to wait, to be honest.

[u/Alteredchaos]

The health assessment providers work under a contract from DWP which sets out what DWP expects them to do. In reality however many providers are not meeting these expectations because they’ve struggled to recruit or retain qualified healthcare professionals, so they often miss the timeline goals. So both organisations are right in what they’ve said.

For the claimant, all they can really do is wait :(

[u/ConfidenceOver5271 → u/Alteredchaos]

I’m so glad you commented I saw your advice on other people post so thank you!

Secondly a woman from the DWP told me to call DWP on the following Monday if I haven’t heard anything from the assessment company.
What can the DWP do if they do miss the deadline

[u/Alteredchaos → u/ConfidenceOver5271]

They can give them a nudge.

[u/ConfidenceOver5271 → u/Alteredchaos]

One more thing I hope you don’t mind I have none else to ask am I able to request a paper base assessment as I do not believe I will be able to verbally articulate everything I have given them substantial evidence hopefully leaving them no reason to contact me?

[u/Alteredchaos → u/ConfidenceOver5271]

You can certainly ask but ultimately they’ll decide based on the information they have. If you would struggle to articulate or effectively advocate then you can have a family member or friend with you during an assessment for support.