PIp Home Visit - Is this normal now?

Hi Folks,

So I'm finally in the middle of my transfer to Pip. It's been months since I sent in my huge form, so I was hoping they'd maybe forgotten me.Alas no - I've got a Home visit next week, but am a little surprised since I didn't request one.
I'm trying not to think about the reasoning behind it, but I can't decide whether it's a good thing or a bad thing!
Anyone got an ideas?
Absolutely dreading it either way, but interested to know your thoughts on it.

Thanks in advance.

Ah, thank you!
Not sure that I am going to be anywhere near comfortable during it, but I guess that's a good thing, then.

Hi Violinbunny
I too was offered a home assessment I really didn’t expect to get one, but very glad I did.. Whilst still stressful it was a lot better then expected, it covered all Pip questions on the pip form. My hubby was with me & when it all got a bit much the assessor with my agreement spoke to him.( I have transverse myelitis and brain damage from encephalitis so major cognitive issues) I would read through the assessment guide on here, and also your claim so it’s all fresh and your prepared.
I’m waiting for my decision, I’m aware I can request a copy of the report but for me I’ve decided to wait for DWP.. we were told should hear in 6/8 weeks.
All the best for your assessment.

Hello Violinbunny.
I too had an unrequested home assessment by a CAPITA, Disability Assessor Nurse, on 11 December 2019. The whole assessment took 90 minutes. The assessor seemed nice enough and carried out the assessment in a professional manner. Bearing in mind I was transitioning from Long Term DLA to PIP, and never having gone through the F2F assessment before, I would have to confess I was feeling extremely nervous.

However I did have a "Named Individual" a close friend, who helped to see me through the 90 minute assessment. I was only required to do a few physical tests, towards the end of the 90 minute assessment, but only those that did not cause an increase in my pain and were safe for me to do. My assessment was conducted in my lounge and the Assessor did not ask to to see any other part of my home.

I contacted the DWP, by phone on 13 December 2019 and requested a copy of the PIP assessment report (PIP Consultation report - PA4 V3) I was advised that they had not received it yet. I received a text message on 17 December 2019, "We've received written report" with the advice "You don't have to contact us etc" so I phoned again on 18 December 2019 and made a second request. I received the written report on 27 or 28 December 2019.

I opted to obtain the report as soon as I was able to as I did not want to wait "Up to 6 weeks" or possibly longer, for the DWP decision to arrive. I am very glad that I did, I think the weeks and months I'd been filling out first my ESA, Capability for Work questionnaire followed by my 'Invitation' to transition from DLA to PIP totally exhausted me, and I was glad to see the back of them. But, having read the PIP report, I realised I was not done just yet. I spent 2 more weeks filling in the omissions and/or misunderstandings by the CAPITA Disability Assessor and myself. I also suggested which descriptor accurately reflected my ability to do the individual activities.

As a final note, as I said the Disability Assessor Nurse seemed nice enough and professional throughout my assessment. However, the one thing that they repeatedly did was make a suggestion/s for an answer. At the time it felt like they were empathising with my situation, and although I didn't feel rushed, there were times when I needed more time to explain myself.

So Violinbunny, I think, if nothing else, you should try and answer each question in the way you want to. I am now waiting to see if my official decision from the DLA Decision Maker remains the same as the CAPITA Assessor's, or if, after reading my comments etc they amend the decision to better reflect my ability to do the activities listed on the PIP form.

Sorry for the length of this post but I hope it helps just a little. Good luck with your forthcoming assessment.

SUE

Further update of my PIP Assessment, written report by a CAPITA Disability Assessor Nurse. I posted the amended copy that I produced to the DWP Decision Maker, on Monday 13 January 2020. Today I've received another text message from the DWP "We've received the written report of your PIP assessment etc" which I'm assuming is referring to the amended written report I sent on Monday. That being said, there was also another "Within 6 weeks" message, so I'll have to now wait and see!

Sue