Telephone interview details

I have been following the various trails on the forum and it seems from several recent applicants in the same position as myself namely invitations to apply for a transfer from DLA to PIP, that although their applications process started after my own they have already received dates for their medical/f2f.

It is now just over six weeks since Capita acknowledged receipt of my PIP2, should I have any cause for concern that I have heard nothing further as yet ?

Maybe I am just over anxious, but I have visions of my file perhaps being lost and just wondered if this is all normal or if I should call them ?

Can you also clarify if there it a timed cut off for my existing DLA payments (lifetime high rate DLA and motability) or should they continue until the PIP application process completes ?

B x

Hi B,

There can be a huge disparity between the time taken to deal with the first part of the claim process. However, most people have heard within a few weeks. It certainly won't hurt to contact Capita and ask what is happening

www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/contact.html

As long as you do your part in the given timescales, your DLA claim will continue until 1 month after the PIP decision, whatever that decision is.

Many thanks for the guidance and apologies in advance if there are any faux pas in this message but my voice recognition programme sometimes comes up with some curve balls !

As suggested I just called Capita, and wrote down what he initially said, after that it was more difficult to keep up with him., but this is exactly how it started after I explained the purpose of my call:

"Oh, ahhh, oh dear, this seems to have been lost in a black hole, I'll put you on hold and see if I can push this along".

After a short time on hold he returned to me and explained the delay was because I was down for a home assessment and they have a backlog of "many weeks" for home visits. Not that I had asked for a home visit when I completed my PIP2 as I wasn't aware at that point this might be possible, my only specific requests were I can't do stairs and need a loo close by.

He asked if I would consider a clinic appointment close to home, I explained I can only go out with my carer/husband. Rightly or wrongly I didn't go into detail as I figured he was just call centre staff, but my PIP2 is clear in that I am unable to walk more than a few steps, turn handles, load or unload my scooter or wheelchair from the car and due to visual problems unable to drive anymore.

He said that would help no end and he would pass the file "downstairs" and I will hear from them by Tuesday next with a date.

I am not sure if I did the right thing by agreeing to a clinic appointment but to be honest, as with everyone else going through this, I just want to get it over and done with and know what I am dealing with in terms possible appeals and so on. And of course get some sort of idea of what financial problems may lie ahead of us if benefits are reduced/lost.

I am wondering also if I should make them aware that last week I saw a consultant who sent me for a rather rushed CT scan on Monday as they believe I have a tumor in my neck, it's nothing to do with my MS, but another worry on top of the rest.

B x

Just an update, heard from Capita today and have f2f assessment on 10th October.

The lady caller seemed pleasant enough, apologised that I had been kept waiting "longer than we would have liked" but they felt a home assessment was appropriate based on my PIP2 form.

B x

Just to keep you in the loop and details of Capita's time frames, today I received the letter confirming the hope f2f appointment for 10th October, over a week to arrive since they told me it was in the post. Only glad I called them last week and found out the appointment had been made as it gives a little more time to prepare.

On the matter of preparing, is there anything specific I need to avoid discussing should the assessor try to draw more out of me ?

B x