PIP update

Thought I would update you on my PIP invitation, I am at present on High rate mobility and middle rate care, do not have an end date, but was "invited" to claim for PIP back in May. Well last week got an appointment letter to attend Leicester at the end of October. I decided to ring them to try to change this to Nottingham as this was 15 miles nearer, guy on the other end of the phone fell over himself to say I could have a home visit, my appointment is with Capita. When I was put through to a lady she said would I like someone to ask me my questions (obviously relating to my submitted forms) there and then - I declined, she then made me a telephone appointment for today and I made a point of asking if the person I speak to today would be the person who would come out and assess me, she assured me it would. Well I got my call 30 minutes later than was booked, got asked no questions whatsoever, apart from security questions. When I asked the lady if she was coming out to see me in two days time she said no, and the reason she didn't ask me any relevant questions was because there wasn't enough time to let the assessor know what I had said as my face to face is in 2 days time. Firstly, to say that asking questions from your filled in forms prior to your face to face is going to cut down on the time that you are with the assessor to me seems ludicrous, because surely the assessor is going to ask you the exact same questions when he/she comes out to see you. The upshot is the person I spoke to today said they would speak to their superior about what I was told in my initial conversation, so will update again when I have had my interview in 2 days, feel though that this is all very short notice and feel at a disadvantage because I have not been asked questions beforehand.

Well, just received a phone call from Capita cancelling my scheduled appointment for the home face-to-face tomorrow, what a surprise!!! Told to wait for another appointment to come in the post, considering I only spoke to someone yesterday afternoon assuring me my appointment was still on tomorrow, I find this to be appalling, wonder if anyone else has had this problem. Now another wait with the worry and all that goes with it....

corsa40 wrote: Well, just received a phone call from Capita cancelling my scheduled appointment for the home face-to-face tomorrow, what a surprise!!! Told to wait for another appointment to come in the post, considering I only spoke to someone yesterday afternoon assuring me my appointment was still on tomorrow, I find this to be appalling, wonder if anyone else has had this problem. Now another wait with the worry and all that goes with it....

Hi c40,

Yes, unfortunately you are not alone.

We have heard from several members where they have had their PIP Assessment cancelled at the last minute.

Basically, Capita and ATOS do not have the capability to deal with the volume of PIP Assessments.

Average time from the start of a PIP Claim to a decision now stands at around 35 weeks.

As things stand, it doesn't look very encouraging for when they plan to start transferring all existing DLA Indefinite Award recipients over to PIP "sometime after October 2015".

If you wish to complain to Capita, you can do so by e-mail :

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please keep us updated.

bro58

Well, another update! Got a letter from Capita on Friday with a new appointment, unfortunately clashed with a doctor appointment, so rang them up. Now have my home visit a week on Friday, but he did want me to answer my questions there and then, which I declined so he made a telephone appointment for today at 2pm, lo and behold... no phone call!! I did ask him on Friday why I needed another phone call when the week previously I had told the last person who rang me my updated medication, he said she hadn't written it down. What I find so annoying is that they insist on this prior to the face-to-face phone call, make the appointment and then don't bother ringing, all worked up again over nothing! Anyway will update when I have had the face to face, unless they again cancel at the last minute, I am one with an indefinate date, but because I'm in the East Midlands they have started on us already. My husband also receives DLA and his award runs out in April 2015, but as yet he has had no recall, they picked on me instead.

Had my assessment about an hour ago, very pleasant lady, unlike others who have had a face to face in their homes, my assessor did not touch me at all physically, no blood pressure, gripping my hands etc. She sat across the room from me and just asked me questions from her computer, did say I would get my points for the aids I had, was here 1 hr 30 mins, must say I felt exhausted after an hour. I did have some relevant extra information from a specialist, but was informed that Capita are not allowed to take the information in case they lose it, so will send it recorded delivery to DWP. My biggest worry is the mobility element as I have a mobility car and use this for my wheelchair as well as getting out, the stress seemed to be on how long it takes you to walk 3 metres not how far you can walk!! Anyway thought I would update and will let you know the outcome. All the extra information that you send eg reports etc, the assessor does not see, she only has access to the form you filled in, and she did say she only scanned it briefly. The DWP keep all the other information to themselves.