DLA to PIP Unplanned Capita Home Visit

I am in the process of being transferred from DLA to PIP and was awaiting to hear the outcome of my application which I submitted in August 2014. I am currently on both higher rates of M&C. Reading posts on the forum it appeared that many people were or have been waiting for medical assessments or decisions for some time and though it would be some time before I was heard anything. I was shocked and bewildered that last night I was visited at home by a Capita Medical Representative - he arrived unannounced and I had not received any notification of the appointment. He said that I should have had a letter telling me of the visit and assessment. I didn't want to jeopardise my claim and therefore we let him in to do the assessment. Thankfully my husband was in from work to help with the questions/answers. It took 2 hours and I was physically and mentally exhausted and many of my symptoms were present during the assessment e.g, extreme fatigue and couldn't stop yawning; I got emotional due to depression; I vomited without warning into a paper towel due to digestive inflammation; my legs were elevated due to back problems etc etc.

The assessor attempted to undertake a number of physical assessments to check how I stand and my reflexes but stopped as he didn't want to put me through anymore. I'm not sure if this was a good sign or not. However after he left and I have had time to think about the experience, I am worried sick that I missed so much of my symptoms because of the shock of the visit. Has anyone had this kind of shock visit and what was their outcome? Is this normal practice or were the DWP trying to catch me out?

Thanks so much Gordon, I will just have to be patient and hopefully have my current award maintained - fingers crossed!

Thanks also to everyone at B&W for the excellent work and guidance you provide which have been invaluable to me going through the various ESA/DLA/PIP processes over the past 2 years.

Best wishes,

Happy New Year to you all.

Just wanted to provide you with an update to my PIP Home Assessment and Claim - I have finally received the decision of my DLA to PIP claim and was awarded Enhanced Rate Mobility and Standard Rate Care. I scored 11 points for the Care element and was very disappointed that I have not remained on the higher rate for both components! My health and several diseases are complex and have certainly not improved, if anything they have deteriorated.

In my claim there are a number of the descriptors where I feel I presented sufficient information to qualify for points where I scored only one or no points. I have therefore requested a MR by phone and followed this up with a letter (as advised by the B&W guides -thanks). I have done this within the one month limit but was wondering if I will receive an acknowledgment from the DWP that they are dealing with my MR? How long does it take to receive a new decision? I said I would try and provide further information to support my MR but to date I have been so unwell to even contemplate writing or thinking of how to do this as I felt I had submitted plenty medical/clinic letters in the first place. Do you think a diary would be of help at MR stage?

Also in the past week I have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Widespread Pain Syndrome involving the Central Nervous System and linked to my Lupus! Therefore this will mean a change in circumstances - I am very unsure as to when I need to advise the DWP if this? Before or after my MR?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sorry for all the questions!

BETSY10 wrote: Happy New Year to you all.

Just wanted to provide you with an update to my PIP Home Assessment and Claim - I have finally received the decision of my DLA to PIP claim and was awarded Enhanced Rate Mobility and Standard Rate Care. I scored 11 points for the Care element and was very disappointed that I have not remained on the higher rate for both components! My health and several diseases are complex and have certainly not improved, if anything they have deteriorated.

In my claim there are a number of the descriptors where I feel I presented sufficient information to qualify for points where I scored only one or no points. I have therefore requested a MR by phone and followed this up with a letter (as advised by the B&W guides -thanks). I have done this within the one month limit but was wondering if I will receive an acknowledgment from the DWP that they are dealing with my MR? How long does it take to receive a new decision? I said I would try and provide further information to support my MR but to date I have been so unwell to even contemplate writing or thinking of how to do this as I felt I had submitted plenty medical/clinic letters in the first place. Do you think a diary would be of help at MR stage?

Also in the past week I have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Widespread Pain Syndrome involving the Central Nervous System and linked to my Lupus! Therefore this will mean a change in circumstances - I am very unsure as to when I need to advise the DWP if this? Before or after my MR?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sorry for all the questions!

Hi B10,

You would not normally expect confirmation of receipt of an MR Request, you could however telephone the PIP Helpline for an update.

PIP helpline :

Telephone: 0345 850 3322

Textphone: 0345 601 6677

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

They may be able to confirm that The MR request has been registered on your file, although it can take up to a fortnight for this to be done.

MR's are currently taking 6-8 Weeks to deal with.

The provision of a daily diary may indeed help.

You can inform The DWP of the change/deterioration in your medical conditions.

However, the MR and any subsequent Appeal will look at how you were at the time of the adverse PIP decision, and not how you have been since that time.

If you prove that you were suffering from the limitations/daily living needs, (as they are the important issue rather than the medical condition itself) as a result of the then undiagnosed conditions, this would obviously help to reiterate your limitations and needs.

So, you would have to tie the newly diagnosed conditions and resulting limitations/needs to the time of the adverse decision under MR.

bro58