Independent Assessment Services Avaliações 

I am a carer for someone with severe mental health problems and I am
In disbelief about how this phone call assessment has gone. The assessor was rude, I was trying to prompt and no time to answer questions properly! It caused the person I care for to have a melt down I don’t understand how they can do this!

I am going through the process of claiming PIP at the moment,my initial claim was made in Sept 2020. I am trying to claim for COPD (not sure they know what that is). I have also had 2 suspected heart attacks in the last 18 months. Received a letter saying that "I have decided" So no points for me then. They are saying they used all medical input available. My G.P. and local hospitals tell me they have had no requests from them for my medical records. How can they make a decision based on just one generic 30 minute phone call. I'm thinking of getting my MP involved now. These people should have their contract revoked.

I would give a zero if I could absolutely disgusting and when you complain they don't listen . Shouldn't be allowed to do their jobs

Always ask for a copy of your consultation report, its called a PA4 and it will be sent to you.
Then you further clarify where discrepencies in your PIP award have come from.
In general they are an extremely poor service that fail to demonstrate any healthcare/needs expertise of any kind.

I don’t see why applying for PIP is incredibly difficult. They say it can take up to 12 weeks to get your decision. Took 27 for mine!
They also completely disregard every thing you say in your form and in your assessment and belittle your mental illness.
“You said you can’t do xyz I decide you can”
Who are these people deciding what I can and can’t do after a half hour phone call?! They don’t take your answers seriously and obviously have no training in mental health and the way it can affect you.
“Your psychological distress does not meet the threshold” so having panic attacks every time I leave the house and dissociating doesn’t meet your threshold?? What bloody does meet them then?!
Had a mental breakdown reading the decision letter as my answers obviously aren’t being believed and the decision letter implies that I’m lying.
They obviously have ZERO care for the people they’re making these decisions for.
Also impossible to get into contact with them, can be on hold for hours with useless replies.

I had a telephone assessment for PIP a couple of months ago. When I received a copy of the report prepared by the healthcare professional, I thought that I had been sent the wrong report!! There were things on there that I never even said or even hinted at. HPs should be more personally accountable for their reports; we are talking about how those who need this benefit really need it to have a positive impact in how they live their lives. I hesitate in saying that the HP lied. You can forgive one or two mistakes but when it equates to every single aspect of PIP requirements, is a little suspect.

I'm absolutely f@#k#@g pissed off with these people, I've suffered from mental health issues and bad anxiety for as long as I can remember, and was so anxious waiting for this call. I rely on my mum for most things, cooking, cleaning, to drag me out of bed to wash, to force me to eat even a little food, my days and nights are spent staring at 4 walls like I'm in a prison cell, when I applied for pip I gave them permission to talk to my doctors, my mum wrote a letter stating everything she does for me, she even came round to get me up as my appointment was at 9am, this "lady" (i'd love to call her worse but I'll refrain myself) was the nicest person you could imagine, she was asking how I was as I told her I suffer from bad anxiety and had been anxiously awaiting this call, so was heavily breathing and could hardly get my words out, but after me heavy breathing and stuttering my way through her questions which only lasted 26 minutes long, I did as a lot of you did and requested my report before they gave me their decision, and what was in there couldn't of surprised me more, she practically said on every question that I didn't have any mental health conditions and can do everything myself, all this by talking to me for 26 minutes, and obviously not reading any of my proof or contacting my doctor who had permission from me to give them all the information needed.. I'm also on esa in the support group so they obviously know I have a long term mental health issue, there are far too many bad reviews on here without anything changing, and it's been going on years!!

After being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2015, I was awarded standard rate care PIP, however, in March 2017 when my condition began to affect my ability to function properly on a daily basis I decided to contact the DWP to let them know that the worsening of symptoms meant my circumstances had changed.
The DWP advisor who answered my call went through a number of questions and then warned me that the outcome of a reassessment could result in my award going up, down or being stopped completely, to which I answered "how would I lose my award completely? I have just told you that my symptoms have worsened significantly, and I have the same condition as when I was originally awarded in 2015, a condition which is unfortunately chronic and cannot be cured" She simply replied "I am just warning you that it could go either way!"
I dismissed what she had warned, assuming she had been mistaken? But sure enough in the June 2017 re-assessment appointment, I was awarded zero points for both the daily living and the mobility and subsequently the financial assistance I had relied on even more so was snatched away just like that.
Mandatory reconsideration upheld the assessment report twice, but a tribunal awarded me the standard rate care and mobility but I was only awarded the back payment to the assessment date in June 2017 and not the March 2017 which it would have been backdated to had the HCP not completely lied on her report.
But as it was a tribunal decision, my award had an end date for June 2020, meaning I would have to reapply, however, I reluctantly contacted the DWP in the May 2020 to report two additional diagnoses and therefore a change in my circumstances (for the worst obviously).
Now also struggling with C.O.P.D and post-traumatic stress disorder which had gone undiagnosed since 2006, on top of the debilitating symptoms caused by Fibromyalgia, I felt that surely I must be entitled to the enhanced rate of daily living at least if not the enhanced rate for both that and the mobility.
But because of the restrictions caused by coronavirus, I was told that my award was automatically being extended for another six months and they would contact me in a couple of months to advise when I needed to inform them of my change in circumstances.
Received a letter from the DWP in September 2020 stating that as my award was coming to an end on 14th December 2020 it was now time to re-apply for PIP if I still needed it.
Questioned this straight away because I was trying to report a worsening of my health with the two additional disabilities, but was this time told it was not possible in my case because it was the decision of the tribunal and not the DWP so I had to start all over again.
Sent everything back to the DWP before the deadline on 23th October 2020 and discovered in mid November 2020 that my claim required a health assessment and had been referred over to Independent Assessment services who would be contacting me to conduct a telephone assessment as F2F was still not permitted due to COVID.
Worried now that my much needed award was going to end before any assessment had been offered, not to mention the 8 plus weeks it takes to get a decision and or award, I contacted the DWP again early December 2020 because now it was less than 2 weeks until the end of my award.

After having to speak with a manager who investigated and called me back, I was assured that my claim had been fast-tracked to the top of the queue for my assessment to hopefully take place before the close for Christmas.

Of course nothing happened, and I had to chase again on 5th January 2021, received a text message advising me that an appointment for my assessment had been made for Wednesday 20th January 2021 and 13:10pm.

I was so desperate to have my appointment without any problems, my phone was fully charged, I had my mobile phone in my hand from 13:00pm so I definitely wouldn't miss the call, and finally at 13:27pm private number flashed up on my phone, just as I was about to accept the call, it cut off.
Waited 6 minutes to give them a chance to call again, then called the customer services department to tell them what the HCP had done.
I was told that my assessment was recorded as missed, because I didn't answer that call but apparently the further 2 calls within the 6 minutes I had specifically waited for another call. Lies, so angry as now my claim is at the bottom of the queue again despite their clear incompetence.

I was supposed to have a telephone assessment at 11:30 on 26 January 2021. Nobody rang, so I rang the helpline after 18:00 to see what had happened. I was told that I had been phoned, but there was no reply! This is just a blatant lie. There were 3 of us in the house all day, and they definitely didn't phone. I shall be contacting my MP to make a strong complaint about this Government-appointed company of liars.

CURRUPT ASSOSSORS so many lies I have Osteoarthritis in both knees and left hip and cannot walk more than 30 metres with an aid and also have mental health problems which are being dealt with by a mental health group yet they say i can walk upto 200 metres if i take pain medication ands because 35 yrs ago i achieved a 2x CSE exams so i don't have mental health issues they also lied about what what said in the telephone assessment while with my mother was next to me it should be law these are recorded there HOW ARE THEY ALLOWED to get away with this I even have hospital/mental health reports and GP letter something has to be done about Capita,Atos and Maximus this cannot carry on people are contemplating/commuting suicide.................STOP THIS please government

They completely disregarded anything I said to them over the phone and gave 0 points in things I clearly told them I had issues with and everything else I have very severe mental health issues and receiving their disgusting letter 3 days before Christmas has absolutely destroyed me I've never cried so much in my life reading the lies they had wrote on their vile piece of paper and I cannot eat due to stress atm they said they would review my assessment over 8 weeks but they rushed it along so quickly I had it in 2 they don't care about people like me

I had my pip assessment today with Chris..
I have to say that with all the negative comments, I was very nervous at the thought of having a rude and obnoxious gent asking me about my personal life.. I shouldn't have listened to any of these reviews, as he was absolutely professional from the very start until the end...well done Chris

I had to attend in person as my assesment was prior to the pandemic, my partner was with me as I don't always find face to face interaction all to easy, this is because I have social anxiety and having lung disease I can get a little out of puff with verbal conversations.
The assessor was a paramedic who clearly had absolutely no idea about Alpha 1, COPD, or GAD.
He went on to ask me questions used to assess patients with dementia, learning difficulties, and/or head injuries, none of which I have...
He then asked me how many metres I can walk before I need a break, I told him I can walk down to the shop, five minute walk takes me ten to fifteen minutes and I tend to stop once in normal weather and multiple times when it's cold, I also explained that I need someome with me to help me with walking.

Some time later we got the response and were shockef to see what it said.

Firstly, the assessor had changed my answers, he stated that I could walk long distances at a normal pace unaided.
That my conditions did not affect my day to day life in any way.
And that I could think and communicate clearly at all times.

The letter was written in such a way that used phrases such as "I have decided that you are"...

The decision was appealed with a letter written by someone who actually works for The DWP, explaining and correcting the errors,
Within around a week we recieved the exact response as the first time, literally verbatim, but with a different name on the bottom.

I was denied PIP after ten years on DLA, because of their lies, and their corruption, I have been unable to get to the hospital for crucial appointments, appointments I would have previously used DLA to attend.
I'm unable to follow the dietary requirements for my condition as I can't afford them, certain supplements, foods, and over counter medications that help.
I suffer multiple chest infections per year, I am perceived antibiotics frequently, I generally have a cough, I don't sleep right... All this could have been easier, thanks PIP Assessors!

I am trying to make a complaint about my telephone assessment yesterday. After being interviewed for 35 minutes the nurse assessing me had been pushing me to answer hypothetical questions to which I could only give answers to factual and true situations. She then asked me 3 times if I suffered from panic attacks to which I answered No. I told her I was feeling anxious because she wouldn’t accept any of the answers I was giving her. She then said she would have to stop the interview while she consulted with her supervisor. About 5 minuted later she telephoned me back and said “because you said I am making you anxious I have to terminate the interview and you will have to have another assessment interview.” I told her I was fine to continue and would like to continue the assessment but she refused. I asked to speak to her supervisor and she refused. I asked for a contact telephone number and she said she couldn’t give me one but I could ring the telephone number on the front of the letter. She ended the conversation. The telephone number she referred to is for the DWP.
I spoke on 3 separate occasions to DWP personnel that afternoon. They said that they can not deal with my complaint I have to contact the IAS, yet my interviewer had told me to ring the DWP. However the DWP were all very professional and understanding they documented the facts on my file and gave me a telephone number 03003300120 to contact the assessors to make a complaint. I rang this telephone number to be told that the line was closed. I then rang the customer service centre for the IAS 0800 188 4880 which told me I had 2 options, 1 - was to make changes to my up coming interview 2 contact the DWP ! There is no way of speaking to this service. I then went on their website on how to make a complaint. There it states I can pick up a leaflet on how to make a complaint at there consultation centre. Where is that? Is it open during COVID?. Or would you believe ring their customer service team the 0800 188 4880 which I have explained above Is an automated service and is useless for my complaint. I have ticked the box for IAS to read this review can they contact me to allow me to make a complaint?

Why we can't give less than one star is beyond me.
I have today sent a letter of complaint to the IAS, the MP for DWP and DWP as well as the MR for my husband. If I don't fight for him and speak up for others like him who will??

Below is a snippet of the letter I sent outlining what they appear to adhere to as their 'Code of Practice', basically gives a quick insight into the assessment he had. He is still suffering the after effects and his assessment was on the 30th August 2020.

What we promise to do
1. We will treat you with compassion and respect.

Where was my husband’s compassion and respect during this assessment? Do not assume that because you are on the phone, that the person you are calling is not in an anxious state, shaking, struggling to breathe, constantly tapping his legs, looking at me to answer as he just can’t get the words out to answer the question, tears running down his face. He was bullied, humiliated, intimidated and was made to forcibly agree to answers he did not even give. The assessor was unforgiving.

2. We will look at all the information you, your GP and any others involved in your care have given.

The report is missing 6 medication items, states that the Respiratory Nurse is reducing contact from 3 months to 6 months), this is 6 weeks not months! States in report, Asthma 2019, my husband has been asthmatic since the age of 12, with it becoming more and more severe during the last 5 years!! Report states Asthma is well controlled, letter clearly states Husband is on maximum tolerated therapy. The Asthma is hard to control due to complexity and severity and a Specialist Respiratory Professor has been contacted for further input.

3. If we think we need to, we will meet you face-to-face and really listen when you tell us how your disability or health condition affects your daily life.

Obviously, not F2F but what the assessor did do was try and answer (incorrectly) for my husband when he was struggling. Repeatedly asked why my husband was talking about cognitive and physical difficulties when his conditions listed would not support this. This is where my husband got very upset, the assessor actually making out that he was lying. Why would someone lie about describing (whilst crying), how degrading he feels at 40 years old, to have to gradually rely on your wife to do aspects of your personal care, have to dress you, make sure you take your medication and on time, make sure you eat properly and dress accordingly. Not be able to do simple things such as take your son to the park and do all the things that Dads do with their boys, bend down to feed your animals, take your dog a walk, go on family outings with your family and wife. Not be able to simply walk into another room and go upstairs without feeling out of breath. He has no quality of life. But hey, assessor obviously knows best!

4. We will provide DWP with a fair and accurate report as soon as we can.

Some aspects of the report are accurate, but the majority is not, and were the words that the assessor assumed my husband to have said, not what he actually said. Nothing mentioned about his struggle to answer, his regular breaks he needed, the number of prompts that my husband had from both the assessor and myself. The fact that my husband completely broke down and could no longer participate so I had to take over. The fact that my husband regularly got upset on the phone, especially with questions relating to personal care and not being able to do things for both me and our son anymore.

I have sat through many assessments for friends and family and have never come across anything like this in my life. IAS will most likely give the assessor a pay rise. 'Well done, a job extremely well done lad, zero points to client and a shiny bonus for you'

If I could put zero I would ..my phonecall was 10 min late, and when he did call the signal was awful, he said he was having technical difficulties and would ring back in 15 min, which he did..HOWEVER..although he was polite and APOLOGETIC his accent was so strong ( African/Congo) i could not understand him ..I had to say "pardon I'm sorry I cant understand you)..he tried to explain that he would talk slowly BUT should he speed up he would not be offended if I stopped him mid sentence (I think this is what he said)..he then proceeded with incorrect information and I was unable to make him understand .. it was 10 min of stressful hell ..I had to bring the call to an end abruptly as my stress levels were through the roof! .. my condition is exacerbated by stress and the result was the rest of the day was a right off ... now whilst I'm understandably pixxed off I'm also confused...am I not entitled to an interview with someone who speaks and understands my mother tongue? .now awaiting a replacement call ...CAPITA sort this out!

Outrageously unprofessional and incompetent. I put my claim in 6 months ago, last week I finally received a letter telling me I'd be having a phone appointment. When the person called I made it clear I would be recording all my calls (because I've heard about the corruption and falsification of reports). She said that if I was going to record it, I would have to wait for a face to face assessment instead. Fine.
Literally days later, I receive another telling me I'm having another phone assessment! So i called up and asked if they had now changed their minds about the fact to face appointment. The operator sounded like a school leaver/ first jobber. I explained the situation to her 3 x and she insisted the phone appt was going ahead and that they had not changed their minds?!? An obvious contradiction. I told her I had audio evidence that they told me I would have to wait for a face to face appointment so clearly they had changed their minds. She got uppity, kept speaking over me, was very disrespectful. I said i would raise a formal complaint if they wasted my time on the phone again. She then suddenly said that no, I would in fact thave to wait for a face to face appntment! So I was right and she was wrong but instead of apologising, she had a terrible attitude. She said "it's not my fault, it's my first day back". What an outrageously unprofessional thing to say! I have NO confidence in these people. How did they ever get the contract for this work?

Lying all lies got my report back and what he wrote compared to the points and the ticked boxes didn't match up , spelling mistakes called me he instead of she... put words in my mouth questioned my mental health tried to trick me made me feel suicidal he put me down that bad his name was Stephen the paramedic well I hope he would never be looking after any of my family members or any of his kids suffer with mental health or traumatic stress ! These people should not have the right to judge our health and mental health when they don't have a clue no wonder their is so many suicides with these evil people

I'm someone with long term serious mental health issues, I got scored 0 points and told that there was nothing wrong, even though i'm in treatment with a mental health team.

I challenged this in court and got full rate. the assessment was all lies and they contantly tried to catch me out. they are awful and i honestly hope they get shut down.

they need to be looked into by professionals and you should get a relevent professional for your diagnosis. I got someone that did not understand mental health and was not a mental health specialist. I don't know how anyone who works or is associated with this company sleep at night. Horrible people.