Home visit assessment

posiepye

Hi all,

Could anyone advise please on how easy it is to request a home visit for an assessment?
I got a letter yesterday asking me to attend an appointment at an assesment centre for this coming Friday (dont give you much time do they to organise). I think it must be for my ESA I filled in one of those renewal forms in august. Last award was 3 years in the support group (the letter doesnt state what for, if it is the the esa renwnal. I get DLA too (Still not heard anything about PIP). So could be for PIP. But like I say it does not state in the letter)
But it is not phyically practical at all for me to travel to one. Without having to rely on a family member driving me and pushing me in my wheelchair , I cant push myself I have severe muscle weakness along with alot of other things. So I would like a home visit. I can not use public transport, due to my disabilty.
On reading the letter it says you can ring them and ask, and they will decide. But more than likely they will ask for proof (letters off dcotors etc) . I sent them all copies of my doctors letters with the renewal form.
So if I give them a ring on monday and request a home visit, are they actually accomdating and understanding? or is it a case of jumping throigh alot of hoops. Which I have a feeling it will be.
Thanks in advance

Prinzessilein

Hi posiepye,

I had a home assessment a few months ago (PiP this time, but I have had Home Assessment for ESA too).

You need to phone the number on your letter, and request a home visit....and stay calm! (and be persistent too)

You may be lucky, and they will simply arrange the home visit!

On the other hand, it is quite likely that they will refuse. I was told for this last assessment that unless I was actually physically bedbound then I HAD to get to the assessment centre. We (actually my Mum/carer) explained that I cannot use public transport.....and was told to ask someone to drive us....We explained this was not possible, and were then told to come by taxi - and part of the cost would be reimbursed...we explained that the stress of this would be too much for me - I CANNOT travel ....and were told that this was essentially OUR problem, get to the Assessment Centre or drop the claim...no other option.........................So We said we would get back to them, and hung up the phone. The next day we phoned the same number and spoke to someone different who promised to look into the matter, and a couple of days later we had the letter granting a home assessment!

We were not asked for any additional medical proof - but we HAD already sent papers with my claim that supported our assertion that travelling is not possible.

Good Luck

poppy12345

The assessment would be for ESA, as you recently filled out a form.
Don't be at all surprised if they refuse you a home assessment without a DRs letter stating the reaosns why, unless you have good medical evidence for the reasons why you can't attend. Remember you can only change the appointment once. Good luck.

My daughter just had a home assesment without a DRs letter, although it was for PIP. The evidence i sent, over 50 A4 pages was enough to grant the home assessment.

Your DLA transfer when it happens, you'll be invited to apply for PIP. Once you ring to start your claim off they'll send you a form to fill in and return. Then they'll send your file to the assessment providers who will then send you an appointment for a face 2 face assessment.

Good luck with your ESA assessment.

posiepye

Thank you both so much for the replies. I had a feeling it would be the case, having jump through hoops. It unbelievable . It's not like any of us are making these things up. I don't leave the house to do anything unless someone can actually take me. I never go out by myself as its physically impossible. I really hate putting my family or friends out asking them to take me to appointments. I've noticed the phone number on the letter is the same number on their website. There is also an email . So I'm wondering whether try that first. That way can make sure I list everything. Thanks again appreciate it

poppy12345

posiepye wrote: »

Thank you both so much for the replies. I had a feeling it would be the case, having jump through hoops. It unbelievable . It's not like any of us are making these things up. I don't leave the house to do anything unless someone can actually take me. I never go out by myself as its physically impossible. I really hate putting my family or friends out asking them to take me to appointments. I've noticed the phone number on the letter is the same number on their website. There is also an email . So I'm wondering whether try that first. That way can make sure I list everything. Thanks again appreciate it

Yes you can email them BUT if i were you i wouldn't. I would never ever trust them. I would ring them because it's quicker, easier and much less fuss. This way you'll know straight away if a home assessment is possible rather than wait for a reply. You're appointment is this Friday and that doesn't give you much time to sort it out. If you fail to attend, your file will be returned to DWP and you'll be found fit for work.

Hope you get it sorted quickly, or at least find someone to take you. Good luck.

Savvy_Sue

posiepye wrote: »

Thank you both so much for the replies. I had a feeling it would be the case, having jump through hoops. It unbelievable . It's not like any of us are making these things up. I don't leave the house to do anything unless someone can actually take me. I never go out by myself as its physically impossible. I really hate putting my family or friends out asking them to take me to appointments.

I'm sorry but I feel you're talking yourself into a very negative frame of mind here.

I'm sure very many people would much prefer a home assessment, especially when the assessment centres are inconvenient to get to, and you are not necessarily assigned the nearest one.

So the very first thing you need to do is to phone, because the person sending out appointments is very unlikely to have read your entire file, and even more unlikely to have the authority to offer you a home assessment based on what's in it. Your file is in the pile of 'offer assessments to these people', and that's what they've done.

You may feel that you're being made to jump through hoops, but what you're being asked to do initially is phone and say "I am unable to travel to the assessment centre." I would say at that point that you are in a wheelchair: you may find that your assessment isn't on the ground floor, and that they don't have a lift.

You may feel that they should have read your file and so KNOW that you're in a wheelchair which you can't self-propel, but remember, it's more likely someone's been given a pile of files and told to offer assessments.

If they do then ask you send proof, you can say "that information has already been sent to you. Do you need me to send copies?" If they want it sent again, or if they want something different (because, for example, what you've already sent does NOT explicitly describe the difficulties you have leaving the house) then OK, that's frustrating. But if you NEED a home assessment, that's what you'll have to do.

I was reminded of this story. Other versions are available ...

posiepye

Thanks again. I shall give them a ring tmrw. Will let you know how get on.

TOBRUK

posiepye wrote: »

Hi all,

Could anyone advise please on how easy it is to request a home visit for an assessment?
.....
But it is not phyically practical at all for me to travel to one. ....

So if I give them a ring on monday and request a home visit, are they actually accomdating and understanding? or is it a case of jumping throigh alot of hoops. Which I have a feeling it will be.
Thanks in advance

I agree with what Poppy12345 and Savvy_Sue has advised you.

Out of interest, you do not mention how far the assessment centre is that you need to get to, is it near/in your area? I understand it is difficult for you to go anywhere, but although you don't like to put family and friends out, I'm sure they would be willing to help you.

As Savvy_Sue says, you should phone them and not email them. If you are worried that you will forget to explain certain things to them, write down some points before phoning them.

I had ESA assessment end of March in the nearby hospital. In June (as I was on DLA) I received forms for PIP and a month after I sent them back received a letter to say that I was to have a face to face assessment for PIP at my home. I hadn't requested a home visit, it just happened.

It is quite possible that the person you speak to tomorrow will be helpful and try to get you a home assessment, so it is worth a try.

posiepye

Thanks. The assessment centre is about 45 minutes away from me via car

TOBRUK

posiepye wrote: »

Thanks. The assessment centre is about 45 minutes away from me via car

I hope you have phoned the DWP by now to ask them if they can arrange a home visit. They may not allow one, but you may be lucky. I once had to travel two hours in a car for an appointment. Let us know how you've got on.

posiepye

Hi all

Update. So I rang them, and as savy sue suggested I was all positive thinking 'they will be helpful' 'They will show compassion' etc. Well that lasted 2 minutes, as the other posts suggest it was like getting blood out of a stone.
Explained to them the whole situation, was fobbed of with someone would ring me back by so and so time. They didnt , so back on the phone again to them. No one was giving me answers of a simple yes we can come out to do a home visit, itvwas 'we will let you know later on in the day'. So by wednesday still nothing. Back on the phone again. Explained I had sent off all the medical info. Then someone rings me back, and says because the letters I sent are 4 years old, they need to actually see me. I told them my condition is not going to improve, thats it sadly. So I dont have updated info, as there is nothing to update. Felt like banging my head against a brick wall. I was that frustrated. I came pretty close to canceling it. But then knew id be in trouble if couldnt go the next one etc.
In the end my friend ended up taking me to the centre, and had to take half a days off work to do so. Which made me feel awful. Get there, the letter says be there 10 minutes before your appointment. I was kept an hour and half waiting. Get seen , and you know what the first thing the doctor says was 'You shouldnt have had to come in here today' the appointment lasted 7 minutes. Whole experience nightmare.Thank goodness that one over with. Now only to go over all this again with PIP. Which cant wait for