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Home assessment for DLA to PIP in Northern Ireland

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5 years 8 months ago #215471 by BelfastJack
Had my F2F assessment at home. I had expected to be going to see them but Capita decided they'd rather assess me in my own home, at 8am!!! By 8.10am I got a call from the MP telling me that no-one was answering my door but it turned out they had got the wrong address. Anyway, she arrived around 20 minutes late and explained that she may have to rush a bit to make up for lost time. As it turned out she left at 9.40am!

The assessment itself pretty much followed the form I had sent in. She just went through each question and basically confirmed what I had said. Throughout the assessment I went in to a full panic attack and explained to the MP how her just being in my house had set me off. The sweat was running down my face at times and she offered for me to take a break a few times but I continued on. In total she only spent less than 5 minutes testing my mobility! I had to grip her hands (I have Peripheral Neuropathy in hands and feet) and then squeeze her finger tips. Then she checked my neck movements (I have severe arthritis in my neck) and then she asked me to bend (I have 3 fractured vertebrae in lower back) which i couldn't do. Throughout the assessment I struggled to remember various words and dates (I have ‘Chemo Brain’) but my wife was on hand to help me when I was struggling.

The MP typed constantly during the whole assessment and although she was pleasant and polite, she never once showed any empathy, indded she was quite clinical in her task.

I await my letter and in the meantime the worry makes everything twice as bad!

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die tomorrow.

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5 years 8 months ago #215481 by Gordon
Jack

I think Decisions in NI have been running at about 3-5 weeks, we are starting to see this go out by at least a couple of weeks due to Summer holidays.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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5 years 7 months ago #215739 by BelfastJack
Replied by BelfastJack on topic Home assessment for DLA to PIP in Northern Ireland
So... got a text this morning saying DWP have received the report from my assessment and I should expect to get their decision within 4 weeks. It feels a lot like "squeaky bum time!" I swear all the waiting is making me stress out so much, which obviously has a knock on effect to all my other problems :-(

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die tomorrow.
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5 years 7 months ago #216475 by BelfastJack
Replied by BelfastJack on topic Home assessment for DLA to PIP in Northern Ireland
So... checked the postbox this morning and there it is, the dreaded brown envelope, from DWP! After getting over the panic, I sat down and prepared myself for whatever was inside. I open up the envelope and all that is inside is 1 single page telling me DWP have now received everything they need to make a decision on my PIP application!!!

Has anyone else had such a false alarm as this? It’s not something I was expecting tbh.

And still... the weight goes on!

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die tomorrow.

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5 years 7 months ago #216490 by Gordon
Gerry

I'm afraid that DWP letters often take 10-14 days to reach the claimant, it doesn't help that they are printed in Belfast and send second class.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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5 years 7 months ago #216791 by BelfastJack
Replied by BelfastJack on topic Home assessment for DLA to PIP in Northern Ireland
Been awarded Enhanced Mobility and Standard Daily Living, just as I had on DLA. Happy boy :-)

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die tomorrow.

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