pip renewal & home visit help plz

This surprises me. The new renewal form is much shorter and in general just asks if there have been any changes.

The DWP have pointed out that in the majority of cases where nothing has changed and/or evidence has been submitted if there were any changes it would be dealt with on a paper basis.

Very few renewals under this new system would have a face to face if one had been carried out earlier with the initial claim.

So I have no idea why they will be coming to see you - it may be to clarify what you have put down and no evidence has been submitted if your health/difficulties have changed.

Maybe you are in the same boat as me in that I am on number 18 face to face assessment over the past 20 years - this time for Attendance Allowance. I had been assured that having a face to face for AA (DLA for those over 65) was most unlikely! 

It depends on your condition.  If it is a fluctuating or variable condition they may want to see you face to face, to satisfy themselves that the circumstances have not changed.  It also depends on what level of award you get at the moment - if you are on standard rate they may think there is an imminent change which may warrant a higher award, especially if you have told them that you are undergoing more treatment.  If your initial award was only for two years it suggests that they may have been expecting some sort of change in your condition, so this is why they want to see you face to face.  You don't get to 'request' an assessment - the assessment provider decides that, but the very fact they are doing a home assessment means that they acknowledge you would have difficulty travelling to or attending their premises.  Try not to worry too much - I know there are many horror stories out there, but many more people have fair assessments carried out by competent and compassionate assessors.  Try to relax during the assessment and answer the questions as fully as you can - give as much detail as you can even if you are not specifically asked for it (see my earlier post on here - PIP assessment myths and fact) as you need to paint a picture of how your disability affects you - remember it is not the disability itself that scores points, but how it affects your ability to carry out the activities being assessed.  They have to allow for the time it takes you to complete the activity (no more than twice the time taken by a non disabled person) so say how long each activity takes you.  You also have to be able to do the activity as often as necessary throughout the day, safely (without making your condition worse) and with due regard to any pain you feel.  If doing something once means you would not be able to do it, or any of the other activities for the rest of the day then you cannot do it at all.  If the assessor makes notes during the interview you are entitled to review them at the end of the interview to make sure they have accurately recorded what you have said.  Above all, make sure someone is with you while you have the assessment, and if possible ask them to make notes throughout, so that you have your own record of what has been said. 

Hi

How did you get on. My award was for 3 years but I have been told that I am being assessed already and it's at home. What was your home visit like . Did you have to do anything