PIP face to face

halogen

So I got a call yesterday offering me an appointment for my PIP claim- despite the fact that i requested no phone call/letter contact only.
The appointment offered was less than a week away , too short notice to arrange but more importantly they were saying it would be at my house-- what's with that? Can they insist on that?
I don't need a home appointment and it makes the whole appointment even more inconvenient and uncomfortable than it already is.
Where do I stand with this?

Prinzessilein

Why would you not want a home visit?

I can understand the discomfort...I ALWAYS have home visits (travel is out of the question for me) and don't really like having strangers in my flat - but it is a necessary evil!....but surely having a home visit would be MORE convenient than travelling who knows where for an appointment? (They don't always find a centre near you)

Remember you are entitled to have someone with you at home - again, something I always do...it helps me feel less stressed.

I don't know the reasons why you would immediately be offered a home visit...many people have to fight for one...but it could be that they have read your forms and looked at this as the best option for you.

You are entitled to ask them to change the appointment...I believe this should be done by phone...BUT remember that you can only change ONCE...if you reject this home visit you will have to take whatever day and whatever venue they choose.

halogen

1) I don't have any one i could have with me but anyway that would make me stressed and emotional rendering my incapable of explaining my issues effectively. Not sure why more people would help. 1 is bad enough

2) Having a home visit is less convenient for me. I had assumed it would be at the job centre which is easier to get to.

3) I think it's inappropriate. I was assuming it would be a formal thing in an office. I could cope with that. Can't do that in my living room.
4) they are being cheapskate by not forking out for a room in the job centre

My question is am I able to insist on a suitable venue?

Prinzessilein

The face to face is not held at the job centre. It is carried out by private companies in their offices, which may be up to 90 minutes travel away.

As explained, you can ask for a change to your appointment but you can only do this once. You cannot specify where you want to go, but can ask to go to their offices rather than a home visit.

Spoonie_Turtle

Re no.2, the Jobcentre is not a PIP consultation centre. They might be nearby or even maybe in the same building, but it is a separate place. You can check here: https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/consultation-centres/
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-assessment-centres/958-east-england-atos

No.4, I'd assume actually home visits are more expensive for them - they presumably have to pay the assessors for mileage, plus the time to travel out and back which is time that would be using to work if they stayed in the office.

However, I do understand - my home circumstances are such that I would rather deal with the travel and the consequences than have someone come into my home, silently judging everything and feeling obliged to explain. (My home circumstances are not my fault but I'd still be mortified.)


If you do request a different appointment, make sure you'll be able to get to wherever they're likely to send you, not just the nearest. If they give you an appointment and you can't get there, that will be the end of your claim.

Alice_Holt

halogen wrote: »

2) Having a home visit is less convenient for me. I had assumed it would be at the job centre which is easier to get to.

It won't be at the job centre.

It will be at an IAS / Capita assessment centre. That could be some distance from your house.

You can ask for the initial PIP assessment appointment to be re-arranged, but only once.
https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/news/arrangement-of-a-pip-consultation/

You then have to attend the second date you are given - even if that appointment is an early morning appointment at a centre 30 miles or so distant.
If you don't attend then your PIP claim ends.
So, you can't insist on a venue and date convenient to you I'm afraid.

I would think very carefully about not accepting a home assessment.

EDIT: Cross posted with posts 4 & 5.

[Deleted User]

Stunned really the number of people we see on forums desperate for home visits and having to battle to get one, OP if I were you I would accept and get it over and done with, but of course its your decision.
Whatever you decide good luck.

halogen

As I understand it they have to offer an appointment with 90 minutes travelling time. They don't have a centre with 90 minutes so they used to use a room in the JCP, like citizens advice do. I guess they have stopped doing that. I'll wait and see what they offer but if they give me a call only 7 days in advance, when I said letters only, or insist that it has to be at home, I'll give up. It's not worth the stress. I've not felt this ill about something for months

poppy12345

halogen wrote: »

As I understand it they have to offer an appointment with 90 minutes travelling time. They don't have a centre with 90 minutes so they used to use a room in the JCP, like citizens advice do. I guess they have stopped doing that. I'll wait and see what they offer but if they give me a call only 7 days in advance, when I said letters only, or insist that it has to be at home, I'll give up. It's not worth the stress. I've not felt this ill about something for months

Not correct. Traveling time is up to 90 minutes and not 90 minutes.



I'm sorry but i'm stunned to think that you are refusing a home assessment when there's so many people out there that desperately need a home assessment and are refused.



Seven days notice is plenty of time in my opinion.



You can cancel the home assessment but as advised be very careful before you do this. They obviously think you need a home assessment otherwise it wouldn't be this easily offered unless evidence suggests it's needed. Canceling this for an assessment in as assessment centre could be a bad thing for you and i'm not saying there's a better chance of an award by having a home assessment either.


If you cancel this and your next appointment is 90 minutes traveling are you going to be able to travel that far? because you can't cancel another...

halogen

They are not offering me a home appt because I need one. I don't. They are offering me one because they don't have a centre within the 90minutes travelling time threshold.

There is no chance of me getting any award if they come to my house, so if they can't offer an appointment at a suitable venue and time then I'll close my claim.
Always felt like a long shot anyway and I'm not going to jepordise my employment by trying get a day off with less than a week's notice especially not for something that even the thought of has made me feel this fragile.

Muttleythefrog

halogen wrote: »

They are not offering me a home appt because I need one. I don't. They are offering me one because they don't have a centre within the 90minutes travelling time threshold.

There is no chance of me getting any award if they come to my house, so if they can't offer an appointment at a suitable venue and time then I'll close my claim.
Always felt like a long shot anyway and I'm not going to jepordise my employment by trying get a day off with less than a week's notice especially not for something that even the thought of has made me feel this fragile.

I think all you can do is try to re-arrange appointment if you absolutely are resistant to this appointment... see if you can force them to look at alternative venue.. try to explain why a home visit is not suitable. Without knowing your circumstances it's hard to advise what case you could make. As others have said.. many fight to get home visit... but I can understand that for some it might be quite unsuitable or less preferred. And actually although I've made a case for home assessments for both PIP and ESA.. reading the thread reminds me why actually it could be a really bad idea. Have a serious think about if you can do this.... alternative appointment elsewhere will probably present different challenges and of course be your last chance if granted.