Covid-19 important info
During your face-to-face consultation
Before your consultation
After your consultation
Consultation centre
Any questions?
Coronavirus (Covid-19) - important information to read before attending your consultation.
Do not attend your consultation if you, or anyone coming with you:
- have symptoms of COVID-19
- have tested positive for COVID-19
To protect you and our staff, and reduce the risk of anyone spreading or getting COVID-19, you must:
- not arrive more than 10 minutes early
- not bring children with you, and
- use the hand sanitiser provided.
If you need support at your consultation, you can bring someone with you.
We recommend you, and anyone who comes with you, wear a suitable face covering, unless you, or anyone coming with you, have a reason for not wearing one.
You can find more information about attending your assessment here.
Contact us straight away on 0808 178 8116 if any of the following apply:
- you cannot attend your consultation because you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19
- you have children and cannot make childcare arrangements. (This is so we can discuss the best way to carry out your consultation.)
You may find it helpful to read some guidance on how to stay safe from COVID-19 here.
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 disability assessor of a specific gender
- Record your consultation - please phone us on 0808 178 8116 before your appointment.
What you need to bring to your consultation
ID
You will need to provide ID:
- one item from list A, or
- three items from list B (if you do not have any of the items in list A)
If you do not have acceptable proof of identity, we may be unable to carry out your consultation. Click on 'A' or 'B' below to view acceptable proof of identity.
- A current passport
- Official European Community ID Card
- Certificate of Registration - Workers Registration Scheme Certificate
- Full/provisional driving licence
- Electoral Identity Card
- Senior Citizen bus pass
- Travel pass with photograph affixed
- Standard acknowledgement letter (SAL)/ARC Card
- EL3 (similar to SAL from the home office)
- Adoption Certificate
- Form GV3 (issued to foreign nationals)
- UK Residence Permit
- NIHE rent book
- Rates Collection Agency documents
- Life assurance/insurance documents
- Paid fuel/telephone bill in customers name
- Marriage Certificate
- Original full or short birth certificate
- Divorce/annulment papers
- Certificate/contract of employment in HM forces
- Certificate/contract of employment under the crown
- Certificate/contract of employment in the Merchant Navy
- P714 (tax certificate)
- Solicitors letter containing information which helps to establish identity
- Cheque book
- Cheque guarantee card
- Store/credit/Post Office Account card
- Trade Union membership card
- Apprentice Indentures
- Vehicle registration/motor insurance documents
- Wage slip, P45, or P60 from current or recent employer
- Medical Card
- Mortgage repayment documents
Medication and equipment
Please bring along any medication or specialised equipment you may need during your consultation. We have a hearing loop, if you need one.
New evidence
If you have new evidence about how your health condition or disability affects your daily life, which you have not already sent to the DfC, please bring this to your consultation.
You will need to send a copy of this to the DfC after your consultation. Please send any new evidence to:
Freepost RTRT-EKUG-KXJR
PIP MOU
PO Box 42
Limavady
BT49 4AN
Who can join you at your consultation?
We encourage you to bring someone with you to your consultation. 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 consultation.
Audio recording
You can request for your consultation to be audio recorded. If you would like to do this, please contact us as soon as possible before your consultation so that we can arrange this for you.
You will receive a copy of the recording after your consultation. The disability assessor will also keep a copy.
You will need to sign an agreement that explains how the recording can be used before your consultation.
The consultation centre
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 consultation.
The consultation centre will be accessible and disabled toilets will be available - we cannot help you to use these.
Our disability assessors are specially trained in carrying out functional consultations. It is important to remember that the consultation is not medical, so the disability assessor 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 disability assessor 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 disability assessor to gather the information they need - this is usually around an hour.
As part of the consultation, the disability assessor may ask you to complete some basic movements. If you feel you cannot complete these movements without discomfort or pain, please let the disability assessor know. You will not need to adjust any clothing or have a physical examination.
The disability assessor 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 disability assessor will write a report for the DfC.
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 consultation 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.
When you get your decision letter, if you want a copy of the consultation report, or you have any questions about your claim or the decision, please phone the DfC on 0800 587 0932 (textphone: 0800 587 0937).
To find out more, watch this short video.
DfC PIP assessment - what to expect
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.