When do DWP/Capita 'close' for Christmas

Wondering if/when DWP & Capita have a Christmas break? It would help me to know when an assessment wont be done because they are not working. But i imagine with the backlog they might be doing lots of overtime?

Do they have a 1 or 2 wk break like many offices? or are they doing PIP assessments right up to the friday before Christmas & then start again on 28th?

We rang DWP on Wed (waiting for an assessment for review/renewal sent off in July) to ask for progress, & was told that my case was still on the caseworker's pile, not looked at yet. But that suggests to me that a case worker has been assigned, & therefore my file could be looked at on monday, passed to capita & an assessment scheduled before/around Christmas.

I have to be supported at assessment by CPN & carer (who only is with me a few hrs a wk & struggles to rearrange her hrs unless a lot of notice is given), & with the postal strikes delaying all the mail it scares me that i will get a letter on (for example) 24th Dec saying my appointment is on 28th.... with no time to let CPN know or organise support, or indeed contact capita to rearrange.

So i thought if i could know when they "break up" for Christmas & when they come back, it might put my mind at rest for those days at least. The uncertainty is wreaking havoc with my already poor mental health

Thanks BIS

I guess i wonder whether other claimants have had PIP assessments scheduled between Christmas & New year - that you know of.

Also does this bit that i wrote seem right to you or am i being unnecessarily anxious. Perhaps you dont know.

& was told that my case was still on the caseworker's pile, not looked at yet. But that suggests to me that a case worker has been assigned, & therefore my file could be looked at on monday, passed to capita & an assessment scheduled before/around Christmas.

Goodness the delays & lack of information re timeline with these PIP reviews is inhumane. As usual from DWP

Thank you for that reassurance Gary, & for your patience. I'm afraid i do get myself into a state about it all, my CPN is always telling me not to overthink things but i cant seem to help it no matter how hard i try. Struggle with paranoia.

Hi Cemily, in addition to the other replies, I do not see how the assessment providers can use postal delays as any excuse for you not being entitled to the usual seven days' notice of any assessment. If you can, when your carer is in, I would have her call DWP and ask for you to be listed as an especially vulnerable claimant due to your mental health. If she can, she could ask them to note that longer notice must be given, to give her a chance to arrange her hours to be with you.
Best wishes,
Denby