WAITING FOR A PIP ASSESSMENT FROM CAPITA – BEWARE

/ jaynel62

On Wednesday at around 1.pm,  I received a phone call from a woman informing me she was coming to assess me at home that day at 2.30.pm – It turned out she was from Capita.

I refused, explaining I’d had no notice of the appointment and I wasn’t prepared, after her attempts to persuade me to go along with the visit failed, I immediately phoned Capita. The woman I spoke with there stated a letter about this appointment had been sent on September 6 – I’m still waiting.

The assessment has been rearranged for October and a letter is on its way, but…as the only mail I’ve received from Capita took 2 weeks+ to arrive – I’m not holding my breathe.

I immediately posted this up in Facebook and have received several comments saying others had had similar experiences, below is one example

“i had nurse just turn up at my door wanting to do mine,no letter or phone call,was sent away with a flea in her ear,by my carer,was rearranged and on the day,they tried to move appointment forward two hours with out asking,wouldn’t see them til arranged time,its all a game to them,but they cannot treat sick people this way, hope your assessment goes ok,when you do have itx”

The messages I have are beginning to form a pattern, it appears it is not uncommon for Capita to turn up on your doorstep without warning, to carry out a PIP assessment.

If this happens to you or someone you know, I suggest you do as we have, refuse to let them in and insist they follow their procedure which states:

“You will receive a letter with an appointment for a face to face consultation or  member of our booking team may contact you by phone to arrange this with you.  (their emphasis)

I was hoping Capita weren’t going to be another ATOS but…it seems the games are under way!

Please let me know if you experience a similar incident – I’m keeping an eye on this!

 

49 thoughts on “WAITING FOR A PIP ASSESSMENT FROM CAPITA – BEWARE”

  4. Thirteen hours ago, I posted this comment to: Delays to welfare payments for disabled people ‘unacceptable’, admits minister http://gu.com/p/4xkd4/tw via @guardian

    There is no mention of the PIP backdating scandal; I wish to alert your readers to this alarming story: Benefit claimants ‘missing out on thousands’ in transfer from DLA to PIP (Disability News Service http://disabilitynewsservice.com/2014/09/benefit-claimants-missing-out-on-thousands-in-transfer-from-dla-to-pip/). Copy and paste the link into your browser.

    The Work and Pensions Committee (the body which provides oversight of the DWP) has called on the government to pay sick and disabled people benefits while they appeal against incorrect ‘fit for work’ decisions. So it is not unreasonable to demand that victims of the benefits backlog receive backdated payments. In this particular case, the DWP is refusing to backdate enhanced PIP payments.

    The benefits backlog is an exceptional circumstance, but why must vulnerable people be punished financially for a horrendous situation that is not their fault? The DWP needs to demonstrate a modicum of fairness and less inflexibility with respect to regulations. Some people have endured year-long waits for their benefits—to the detriment of their mental and physical health. Some people have committed suicide; others have died waiting at a time when they needed cash help the most.

    This is grossly unfair and tantamount to thievery on the part of the DWP and its ministers.

    Full disclosure: Since January 2012, I have been reporting voluntarily to the UN’s human rights office, in Geneva, on the welfare crisis for Britain’s sick and disabled. (I am @Hephaestus7 on Twitter)

    (Montreal, Canada)

    P.S. How fair is it for MPs to propose to pay compensation to UK travellers hit by the passports backlog, but not to UK sick & disabled hit by the benefits backlog?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. Christ Almighty they’re acting like TV licensing enforcement officers (which Lo and behold are also part of the Crapita family)
    You did the right thing Jayne… how bloody dare they not inform you in good time that they are contemplating a home visit.
    There is NO obligation upon you to admit ANYONE to your home without your consent (even the police need a search warrant signed by a magistrate before they can enter your home)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  6. Given that I was made redundant from a Capita Group company purely because my disability made me work from home, (which was an option open to all staff anyway), I’m not surprised.

    Actually makes me glad that Atos still do them in my area!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Pingback: WAITING FOR A PIP ASSESSMENT FROM CAPITA – BEWARE | lawrencerowntree

  10. I had this happen to me last year, but I was caught unprepared and actually let them in to do the assessment (it never occurred to me at the time to send them away). As it turned out, they probably did me a favour – they saw me in the house I’d not been able to clean for weeks, with hair I’d not been able to wash for weeks, still in my PJs in the afternoon, and struggling to mobilise or think and respond cohesively. If I’d known they were coming, or had had to go to them, I would probably have spent the weeks beforehand rationing my spoons so that I/my house was clean and tidy(ish) etc for them. As it was, they gave me the highest award, and even got my ESA changed from WRAG to Support, when I’d fully expected an appeal etc after hearing others experiences.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  11. Pingback: WAITING FOR A PIP ASSESSMENT FROM CAPITA – BEWARE – Jayne Linney | Vox Political

  17. Pingback: WAITING FOR A PIP ASSESSMENT FROM CAPITA – BEWARE | WorldWright's …

  18. I had a similar experience with Capita. I had received a letter and info pack from Capita about the assessment process and 4 days later had a call for them to assess me at home 2 days later. On the day 2hrs before the appointment we had a call from the assessor to say she would be with us in ½hr. This immediately put us under stress because we had arranged the day for the timing of the original appointment time (washing, dressing, taking meds etc). On her arrival she initially refused to do the assessment because I was too ill and asked us to rearrange the appointment. We explained that it could be months before I had a good day and after much pleading she did eventually stop and do the assessment.

    Like

    Reply

  19. I had to wait almost a year for my assessment by Capita and when the lady finally came she was here almost 2 hrs. She kept trying to put words in my mouth and a lot of questions were geared towards getting me to say things that would make me ineligible for any of the payments. I kept stating that I could only walk up to 30m in one go yet later in the assessment when she was providing an overview of what had been discussed so far she kept upping the figure and I had to keep correcting her and stating the 30m limit, at the time I just thought she was a bit dizzy but now that my claim has been refused I understand that she was trying to lead me to agree to information which she had suggested / tried to put in my mouth, which would have resulted in my claim being refused.

    These people must be on a bonus scheme which rewards the amount of claims that get refused. I am trying to appeal but even this process appears designed to make it as difficult as possible. The DWP customer support would not even tell me where I could find a copy of the appeal process and said I first have to have another meeting with the assessor to discuss my issues.

    I understand that the government needs to make cuts to the social security bill but screwing over disabled people is not the way to go.

    Like

    Reply

  20. My wife is an DA for Capita, trust me there is NO bonus for a low score, there is however complete job satisfaction whereby when people that genuinely need help it is reflected in the report, where people intentionally defraud and deprive the people who really need of the payments get what they deserve.

    In fact there ought to be a tick box on the report that flags it up for further investigation if fraud is suspected.

    Like

    Reply

    • What a load of bullshit!!!!! Capita after waiting 7 months came to our home and refused to assess my wife DUE TO HER NOT SITTING UP PROPERLY for their convenience and hence waited another 5 months for an appointee interview to later be told that their assessment didnt even exist!!! Now unless I was being interviewed by a ghost for over an hour I cannot believe the trouble they caused let alone car and finances being revoked…I have phoned emailed minister of disability and whoever else will listen, I sure as hell wont let it go the damage they caused!! Any person who works for these government bodies are heartless corrupt and twisted!! To be treated so inhumane is not acceptable

      Like

      Reply

  21. Just had a call from a young man from Capita regarding my PIP claim (from DLA). He pitched into his spiel without ascertaing I was the person he wanted to talk to and he used my christian name. I am a pensioner and I think I deserve a little respect like the use of my surname! I stopped him in his tracks informing him I had asked the DWP for everything to be conducted in writing. Given all the anecdotal evidence stacking up against everyone involved in ‘welfare reform’ I would advise everyone to insist on everything to be conducted in writing. I know this is obvious advice much repeated but do not let them get away with anything.

    Like

    Reply

  22. I had my assessment at home by Capita. Cutting a very long story short, I was out raged by the copy of the report when I saw it. The assessor, who I later found out was a occupational therapist, said she had done an examination of my hands and found my grip to be satisfatory, This examination did not take place at all, there were other descrepancies, such as my depression treatment was effective, It isn’t and I had a change of meds shortly after this. there was more. The reason I mention the above is that, I have decided thatI shall request any further interveiws to be recorded for back up as well as to decrease the amount of stress this process as caused me along with a detrioration in my mental health.

    Like

    Reply

  23. Just been waiting for a Capita home visit and 20 mins after the appointment time, they rang up and cancelled it. I dont think it would work the way round.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. My PiP report was full of lies and totally make believe it was more like a Walt Disney story? how the DWP can justify this treatment towards the vulnerable and sick is beyond me, it would serve the DWP to be more honest themselves with using ( genuine care practitioners ) and not just computer analysis operators which i might add that have NO clue about terrible health issue? many people will have specialist and Dr evidence about their health issues but my assessor did not bother to not any of these down in his report???

    Like

    Reply

  25. I’m sorry that you had a bad assessment it seems reading all these horror stories here i’m not taking any chances with my assessment in two weeks time. What i have done is sent my MP this blog entry with all the pip experiences and hope something can be done to being more awareness to what is happening with many claimants being denied their pip support?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  26. Hi, my mum has a home assessment on 18th Sep 2015 with Capita and I am extremely worried about how it will go. I’ve been doing research on the internet and have heard an awful lot of horror stories about the experience most people go through trying to claim for PIP.
    My mum has cancer and has recently had an operation which has limited her taking care of herself along with other serious health issues. She will also be having her first round of chemo 3 days before the assessment, so I have no idea what her health will be like on the day. Also she may be expected to carry out a physical assessment? Is it mandatory and will it affect the report?

    Like

    Reply

    • Sorry to read this Zain, firstly it would help if someone is there with her to really explain the ways the op and chemo affect her, Second, no the physical element is not mandatory and ought not to affect the report as her conditions are well documented and I suggest copies of all written evidence from Drs etc are there to be taken away by the assessor.

      Wishing you and your mum every good luck with the assessment and the claim x

      Like

      Reply

    • Hi Zain, The chances are that your mum’s PIP assessor will be a trained and experienced nurse who will be more than familiar with the side effects of cancer treatment. However, this is not necessarily an advantage. They have heard all the moans before and likely to be immune from them. Despite all the friendly chit chat and the sympathetic comments like “Oh, I feel for you, that must be so hard” don’t be fooled that this person/assessor is on your side, they are NOT, they are on the governments side and it is their job to cut through all the moans and pessimism and to try and get the applicant to admit to being able to do more physically and mentally than they think they can. For example, If your mum says she can only walk 20mtrs, then the assessor will keep asking alternative questions throughout the 1-2hr assessment which are designed to increase that figure.

      Your mums biggest issue is likely to be that her first round of Chemo is only 3 days before the assessment and therefore any side effects that she is feeling on the day are likely to be seen as only temporary that will improve over the coming days and weeks.

      The only way that your mum is going to win her claim ( in my point of view ) is if your mum is able to obtain letters from her health professionals ( particularly her consultants ) that detail her illness, treatment, medication and any side effects / restrictions on her mobility and an indication as to whether those side effects/restrictions are temporary, long term or permanent. Without this written documentary evidence then your mums application will likely fail. Don’t worry about getting any or all the documentary evidence by the date of the assessment as it can be posted ( by recorded mail ) afterwards and will therefore have to be considered by those making the recommendations and decisions.

      Best of luck with your mums assessment and PIP application. It is not nice having such stress and red tape imposed on her during such a difficult time.

      N.B. I am not a medical professional but a failed PIP applicant. I can only walk up to 30 mtrs at a time and despite this and two appeals, I lost and after 18 months of application, waiting for assessment and then two appeals, I gave up trying.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  28. Recieved a letter today for an home appointment last Wednesday. The letter was dated 3 Weeks ago. A fortnight ago I recieved the letter confirming my application has been received . This letter was also dated 14 days prior to receiving it.
    I am now dreading being penalised for a missed fictious appointment

    Like

    Reply

  29. Well it is 11-45am on 30-08-2016 and my home visit by capita was due 30 Mins ago. If they can’t keep to appointments how the heck do they earn a living. Not even a phone call to cancel.

    Like

    Reply

  30. Same experience. ATOS at the door without notice. Said she would rearrange the assessment as I didn’t have prior notice. BUT a week later I have a letter saying ‘you do not qualify [lifetime DLA to PIP] because YOU MISSED YOUR ASSESSMENT’. I’m stunned & sick. Will lose my home. Really desperate & confused.

    Like

    Reply

    • Paula, contact them immediately and insist you did not miss your appointment, it was never made, tell the assessors you need the records of bookings etc – cause a bllody fuss until they back down and submit a mandatory reconsideration stating this as your evidence. Every good luck xx

      Like

      Reply

  31. jay.
    I have waited almost 2 months after posting my DLA transfer to PIP claim form. I have finally received a letter from Capita for face to face assessment. They’ve called me all the way to their Derby centre, I have severe mental health condition and suffer from severe anxieties, I hardly go out because of fear plus I had a stroke in January 2019, my left side is weak and still receiving physiotherapies for further rehab, I also have slipped disc and arthritis so my mobility is limited, I had included all the medical evidence in the form and a letter from my psychiatrist saying that he has been seeing me for years, he struggles going out that’s why a cpn visits him at his house. despite all these evidence and requesting them a home visit in the form, they expect me to go all the way to Derby. for years, I have not used buses or gone into town due to my anxieties. I attended day care services with the support from social services but after the stroke, I am not able to attend the day centre cos of noise so the social worker has given me a PA, who helps me to get out of the house in her car and we normally go to a quite spot. the face to face assessment is on 31st of July 2019 Wed. its already 28th today Sunday, I only have Monday and Tuesday to convince them for a home visit or invite me in Leicester where I live. how will I do this is a question, really disappointed with their lack of understanding the difficulties I will have if I have to go Derby, I would have to go by taxi, it be expensive but no option. Shame that the government has targeted disabled and vulnerable people to save money. where’s disabled or human rights has disappeared? our MPs or some other organisations really have to raise this stressful concerns in the parliament before more lives are lost. just disgust with assessors who would take such jobs for living, they are capable of having a reputable and meaningful jobs rather than a job where they have to assess vulnerable people just to save money for the Gov. I wondered if they could sleep well at night. if anyone has any advice for me on how on this two days I could convince Capita for a home visit or have an assessment in my city, I would be very grateful if anyone could help, I am very depressed and anxious, please help! many thanks.

    Like

    Reply

    • If (and it seems to be) this your first appointment you are entitled to cancel it, tell them you are unable to get to Derby. and that you need a home visit
      (From Capita website: http://www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/faqs/withdrawing-or-cancelling.html
      Please contact Capita’s enquiry centre on 0808 1788 114 to discuss the possibility of re-arranging your appointment.You will only be permitted to cancel an appointment once.)

      You are entitled to a home visits and The Gov site for PIP gives a range of examples of requests for home visits:

      Home consultations
      1.6.70 Consultations may potentially be carried out at a variety of locations and some will need to be carried out at the claimant’s home. Where a claimant indicates that they are unfit to travel to a consultation in a location other than their home, or where travel would require high levels of support or cause significant distress to the claimant, – for example where the claimant is autistic, has severe physical disability or severe agoraphobia – the HP should, at a minimum, consider whether a home consultation is necessary.

      1.6.71 When considering a request for a home consultation, HPs should consider:

      whether the claimant has a medical condition that either precludes them from travelling, or makes it extremely difficult for them to travel

      the nature and severity of the condition

      the safety implications for a home consultation for the HP – for example, where the claimant has previously displayed unacceptable behaviour towards the DWP and this has been noted in their case file.

      any accessibility issues related to the planned location of consultations

      1.6.72 The request for a home consultation may come from a GP or other health professional involved in the claimant’s care. When considering such requests, the HP should consider the points outlined above before making a decision on whether a home consultation would be appropriate.

      1.6.73 HPs may also consider whether other options may be acceptable – for example, if travelling on public transport is the issue, could a taxi be considered?

      1.6.74 Claimants are not required to provide evidence that would incur a fee to request a home consultation (unless they already have that evidence available). Where deemed necessary, they may be asked to provide other free of charge relevant evidence to support their request, for example evidence from a social worker, community nurse or carer that shows why a home consultation would be appropriate.

      This should help you tell them Why a HV is necessary; and if Capita state they need a letter from GP point out this costs and refer them to the above 1.6.74

      I hope this helps

      Like

      Reply

  32. Thanks Jaynel,
    well i received a letter on Friday 27th July saying that i have to attend a face to face assessment on the 8th of August at 4.55. the taxi’s fair at this time of the day would be too much so I asked my friend to call them and change the day and time, and they changed it to 31st of July at 11.50am. my friend explained them that I have a lot of anxieties issue with severe back pain, can you please do a home visit? the person who answered the call said, even if the doctor writes a letter, we will not do home visit. all this happened so quick that i didn’t even realise that 31st July is just after 4 days, including weekends so I really have 2 days, which is Monday and Tuesday. I am seeing someone Monday morning and he is going to try speak to them for home visit. I contacted my surgery if the doctors would write a letter but the receptionist said, most of the doctors are on holidays due to summer break. it would take at least 7 weeks to have a letter done. I cant handle this stress, if nothing happens on Monday and Tuesday, I will just call and cancel the assessment, I will just have to forget about getting Pip. cos the first appointment was on the 8th of August, which my friend changed it to 31. does that mean I can’t changed it again? it is my first face to face assessment, after transferring from DLA to Pip. I don’t know, I leave it in God’s hand now. This is just a loads of rubbish from Dwp.

    Like

    Reply

    • OK well because you’ve already rearranged once it is unlikely you can do it again; however the fact they ignored Gov ruling regarding a home visit, should be pointed out to them as a failure on Capitas part to follow the Regs. (or get your friend to do it quoting the regs as above.)

      If Capita refuse to follow the Regs I would suggest you contact (or again get your friend to do this on Mon) DWP and ask either for another appt or to go straight to tribunal as Capita disallowed you an assessment . If DWP say no inform them you will be reapplying with stating you were forced to not go through with the first due to Capita ignoring Gov regs.

      I understand this possibly reads as little comfort but I urge you not to give in.

      Every best for tomorrow and please let me know how it goes.

      Btw interesting we’re both in Leicester ! x

      Like

      Reply

    • Good morning jaynel,
      Many thanks for your advice and apology for the delayed reply. Home visit did not happen as I cancelled it once, they will not allow another change. I went for the face face to assessment yesterday, all the way to Derby. it was bloody stressful but I am relaxed now, thank god, it is finally done. the assessment was for one hour, I went with my wife and a support worker, they could not speak on my behalf, only were allowed if I struggle in answering but they cant say much. My advice to anyone who is waiting for the assessment, if you receive a letter calling you for the assessment, please don’t start panic, like I did. you’re only allowed the change of date or demand of home visit once only. Ask someone to call them but someone who knows what they’re doing and be firm with demanding a home visit. I am done for now, I don’t know what the report will say as I have heard a lot of horror stories. I hope, they leave me alone for sometime, do you know the time limit for the next assessment? hope it is not every year. Many thanks for the advice and support.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment