Please can any one help. I have been on DLA for over ten years indefinitely and just sent my forms of including all medical information for the change over to PiPs. I have angina, heart disease, Schizophrenia, sever depression and Osteoarthritis. Including copies of medical information and a doctors letter thats states I am not fit for work and because I do not go out where there are crowds because of anxiety attacks which some times results in paranoia episodes. My doctor as asked for a home visit because I cannot do a face to face. I have received a letter this morning saying I have a face to face on the 22nd. When I phoned them I was told they will not do a home visit for safety reasons but may look at a paper assessment but cannot promise. I have made it clear I cannot do a face to face because I cannot go into unfamiliar places where there are crowds. This is a night mare. I am on over nine different forms of medication.

Hi Aiden

I'm sorry you find yourself in this position. You are the second member of the forum being refused a home visit this week. The assessment providers' first responsibility is to the safety of their assessors and if they think in any way they are at risk they will refuse a home visit. You are the second forum member this week to be refused a home visit because of Schizophrenia and I suspect it is something you have written about that which has raised the red flag for them (probably the paranoia).

I don't know whether your doctor would be willing to write to them or contact them and say if a home visit cannot be done, for your own safety it needs to be a paper-based assessment. If he cannot do this or you don't want to contact them, I suggest you ring the DWP (not the assessment provider) and check whether you are marked down as a vulnerable person. You should be and if you are, you ask to be put through to the special team - who deal with claimants. (The telephone number will be on your original letter). If you're told you are not - tell them you should be and emphasis the Schizophrenia and severe depression. Whoever you get to speak to you explain about your poor mental health and that the assessment provider has refused a home visit and will not say that they will do a paper-based one. See what they say. They have the ability to recall your papers, or speak to the assessment provider. I know this is a lot to ask - and I don't know whether you have someone who can speak on your behalf. When I helped someone in a similar condition as you, I simply told them that the claimant could not come, but I would come in their place. Thankfully they changed to a paper-based assessment. (I'm not suggesting that will work for everyone).

Just keep pushing for the paper-based assessment. They don't do very many, but there are some.

BIS

My doctor wrote a letter stating that I cannot do a face to face and need a Home visit. He also listed all my conditions plus a full break down of my medication. I also put a copy of the Housing Benefit letter that states I have been given extra money towards my rent for sever mental health. On top of this a from the hospital concerning my Osteoarthritis which also stats my medical conditions and all my medication. Letter of support from family and friends concerning the help they provide but still they seem not to be concerned. Already my mental health as deteriorated with the voices getting stronger which s directly effecting my heart conditions. I have been trying to get help but the CAB and Mind have a six to eight week waiting list.

Hi Aiden

It's awful when you're trying to battle like this. Have you tried contacting your MP? You may not want to, but you could cancel this appointment and tell them you are trying to get extra evidence. It might give you a bit of breathing space. The only thing is that you would have to accept the next one they offered you. Just a thought. You say you have letters of support from family or friends. You need someone to phone them on your behalf. (You need to be there to give permission for them to speak on your behalf) and then they have to be insistent about talking to someone who can make a decision.

And this might be a weird thing to say, but you need to check that they have read your evidence. I only know from experience when I checked for the person I was helping, they actually hadn't read the evidence. They can see on the screen how many pages have been sent in and how many of those pages have been read. The paper-based was granted in the case I am talking about when they actually read everything.


You could also quote from the attached document.

winvisibleblog.files.wordpress.com/2019/...september-2019-1.pdf

BIS

My friend as contacted PiPs by letter now stating that if I have to attend a Face to Face I will need to take two extra 5mls of Promazine which was the advise of the hospital when ever I have to put myself into a situation that causes stress and anxiety. The problem with this is it leaves me drowsy and incoherent which will also limit my ability to communicate and answer questions to the best of my ability. It seems like a now win situation.