Good morning everyone, I have just received a letter from Capita explaining their assessment criteria, I’m just enquiring as to whether anyone has actually passed an assessment with Capita? I’ve read some awful reviews about them & I’m frankly worried sick. They haven’t give me a date yet & the lady from CAB had requested a home visit, although from what the letter says it’s highly unlikely. I provided a lot of evidence with application form so I’m hoping they will have all the info they need to come to a decision without a face to face. Apparently some of their assessment centres are 90 min drive away!!! I am just asking if anyone on here have been successful & what was your experience of them, many thanks in advance Tracey x
Request a home assessment as a reasonable adjustment under teh Equality Act 2010 and make clear why requiring you to attend a face to face assessment would put u at a substantial disadvantage. If they refuse then ask them to specify in what way providing a home assessment would not be a reasonable adjustment.
My PIP assessment was done by CAPITA. I was bricking it before it happened but it was actually an OK experience. The assessor was not a doctor or nurse but an occupational therapist. That may seem a bit wrong - and might well be for different conditions (mental health issues? etc) - but on reflection she clearly had the right skills set for someone with typical MS problems.
My assesment was at home. I understood that CAPITA does more home based ones than ATOS do but, of course, they still do some at assesment centres. Some people on here, I think, have got home assessments after getting a letter from their GP in support.
Thank you both! I will do that bob, pretty sure Dr will back me up on that 1. Just had some nightmare stories about them, got nothing to hide, it is what it is, but there is no way I can manage a 90 min journey! It’s all horrible this, not like we haven’t got other issues to deal with. I will get on that advice now, CAB lady did enter on form that she had to do a home visit to see me, hopeful that will help as well.
ATOS is coming out to ascess me today between 12 and 2pm
lots not something lm looking forward to ,
Will post later to update
Margaret ( Charlie B )
Good luck to you Margaret, will be thinking of you, please let us know!!! Tracey xx
Im off for a Visual Evoked Potentials test in a few mins. not seven sure what it is for.
Good luck bob, must admit though, I have no idea either what that is!!! Tracey xx
This is what the MS Trust say about a VEP: What is it like to have an evoked potentials test? | MS Trust
I had one 20 years ago. Didn’t know then what it was for (I didn’t know at the time I was being tested for MS) and never had any feedback. I just think it’s one of the tests they do for an MS diagnosis along with MRI and LP.
Sue
been wondering how charlie b is going on?
pollsx
Hope it went well Margaret.
Thanks Tracy. I’ll get teh results in 10 days. I didnt get off to a good start though, as when she said cover your left eye, I covered my right!.
Just finished the assessment,
plots of questions
how do you manage to dress in a morning , how long does it take?
How do you manage medication ?
Do you need help in the kitchen i.e. Cooking.?
when we’re you diagnosed ?
since Diagnosis how has your life changed?
How far can you walk ( and unaided )?
Do you go out alone ?
What adaptations have you got?
She asked the questions while typing then after twenty minutes asked to plug in her computer as the battery was flat only to then tell me she had lost all the information.
started again , by this time l was completely shattered so hubby filled in the blanks.
then asked me to lift arms up, legs , toes , turn hands over.
it took about an hour and a half but l think that’s because she lost information.
she said l should hear from DVLA in four weeks , if l don’t agree l can Appeal
Have to admit l had a cry when she left l don’t know if it was relief or stress or a combination.
l don’t want to go through that again it just brings everything back.
Good luck to everyone else.
Charlie B
Thanks Sue.
Bless you Margaret, I hope it all goes well in the end, it makes me so angry they put us all through this, their incompetence at not using a charged laptop is incredible. I’m really hoping you wont need to appeal, but that issue needs reporting, it’s heightened your distress & is really, really not on. Try not to get yourself upset, you take care Tracey xx
Don’t be too disheartened if at first they send back a ‘No’: how I understand it, from speaking to others and everything I have read/watched on tv it is almost standard practice to turn down most claims in the first instance. There have been a lot of reports and interview with pip assessors (mostly incognito, unsurprisingly!) that have admitted the prime aim of their job is to score applicants low so that they don’t qualify! BUT, they also encourage people to appeal because the appeals are held by an indepedant tribunal and more interested in the real facts, not trying to sideswipe them!
I know personally 5 people that were turned down but appealed and then got the full award for both parts.
So try not to worry too much.
Big love ~ Soo. x
Margaret,
Didn’t realise your post was about PIP thanks for the tips.
I typed up typical day - put all my clothes at the bottom of the bed so I don’t have to walk around to get dressed. Even started putting my coffee in the cup and museli in a bowl the night before - again to save walking when my legs are at their worst.
We all help each other and thanks people for the appeal tips too.
Jen x
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Claiming PIP tips, some people might not think about stuff like how you manage getting dressed? Think about putting on your socks, do you use a sock mate? How about do you use a long handed shoe horn, or button helpers?
What about getting a shower or bath? Do you use anything to help you then?
How about cooking? Do you use any disability gadgets in the kitchen? (Perching stool for instance)
Are you reliant on taxis or a private vehicle because of fatigue, pain, or breathlessness if you walk anywhere?
Remember the following always applies: (please think how these could apply to you personally)
Can you perform everyday tasks reliably (so can you be sure your food is cooked properly, can you wash yourself properly, do you have problems putting your clothes on)
Can you perform everyday tasks repeatedly (so do you require recovery time after making breakfast or getting dressed or having a shower)
Can you perform everyday tasks safely (so are you at risks of falls, do you cut or burn yourself when preparing food)
Can you perform everyday tasks in a reasonable time frame? (Not more than twice as long as someone without a disability)
Have you had you furniture or your home adapted because of your difficulties? Do you use anything to help you even if you are not using the item for its primary function?
I’m not telling you what to write this information came off the internet, you can find the PDF on PIP assessors training easily but if you do be prepared for and awful lot of reading even if you skip the first part of it. If you haven’t claimed PIP yet you can take your time reading and digesting it, if you’ve already got the forms just do your best to fill it in.
best of luck.
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Excellent advice.
Sue