PIP Reassessment

dolmenman

I am looking some advice. My PIP award was due to end in September and they wrote to me and asked me to complete a PIP2 form, which I did promptly. I was unable to get further medical notes as the Covid crises was at it's worst and even contacting my Dr was difficult. I sent the form in anyways before the deadline at the st

dolmenman

I am looking some advice. My PIP award was due to end in September and they wrote to me and asked me to complete a PIP2 form, which I did promptly. I was unable to get further medical notes as the Covid crises was at it's worst and even contacting my Dr was difficult. I sent the form in anyways before the deadline at the start of April. My PIP was subsequently extended to March 21. I received a letter on Sat 21st Nov, from Capita (I'm in N Ireland) that they were planning a telephone reassessment on Fri 27th Nov. The letter has a wrong mobile number for me (one digit out) even though it is correct on the PIP 2 form (I photo copied it). I have emailed them with the correct number but they haven't answered. Should I try to phone PIP Centre or Capita? I don't trust Capita and I am sick with nerves. Should I ask for a postponement? Thanks in Advance

poppy12345

You should ring both but most important that you ring capita first because they are the ones that deal with assessments, not DWP. The reason for ringing DWP is to make sure they also have your correct number. You most likely put the wrong number on the form when you filled it out, which can easily happen.

dolmenman

Thanks for your reply...I will phone both, but I put the correct number on the form...I have a photocopy (scan) of it...As I said, I am very suspicious of Capita....Btw, is it not the law that I should have had 7 days written notice before the phone call? The letter arrived on Sat for an interview on Friday...

Spoonie_Turtle

dolmenman said:

Thanks for your reply...I will phone both, but I put the correct number on the form...I have a photocopy (scan) of it...As I said, I am very suspicious of Capita....Btw, is it not the law that I should have had 7 days written notice before the phone call? The letter arrived on Sat for an interview on Friday...

Nope, no law about it whatsoever. It is possible there may (may) be some guidance but if there is it would be just that - guidance. Not legally enforceable.

Edit to add: my assessment was with IAS so the procedure might be different, but I had a text message about a week before the appointment, yet the letter arrived the day before the appointment. If your mobile number is wrong it is possible they may have given ample notice and you just didn't get the text message.

dolmenman

That's true...however, I'm suspicious of Capita having the wrong number as the PIP Centre in Northern Ireland has the correct number...they check if they have the correct number when you phone them..

Spoonie_Turtle

dolmenman said:

That's true...however, I'm suspicious of Capita having the wrong number as the PIP Centre in Northern Ireland has the correct number...they check if they have the correct number when you phone them..

Mistakes happen, it could genuinely be that someone mistyped a digit when they dealt with your form. Not quite the standard of diligence you'd expect from a company playing with people's lives though, I agree!

poppy12345

Yes, mistakes happen and it could simply be one of those things that the number was typed incorrectly. Regardless of your thoughts about them, they are still only human and we all make mistakes.

I'm not away of any guidelines about 7 days notice for a telephone assessment. It could have been that the letter took a few days to get to you, due to current extreme conditions.

If you can't make the appointment time then simple thing to do is ring to cancel, providing you haven't already canceled a previous appointment.

Savvy_Sue

poppy12345 said:

I'm not away of any guidelines about 7 days notice for a telephone assessment. It could have been that the letter took a few days to get to you, due to current extreme conditions. 

It's likely that if the guidance is 7 days notice then they start the clock ticking either from the date on the letter, or possibly a day or two after the date of the letter. Either would be reasonable. 

dolmenman

I will update on what is going on...On Wed 25th, at 4pm, someone from Capita phoned me to tell me they had received my email with the correct phone number but the assessment would be postponed for a couple of weeks due to the stress the mistake had caused...Today, Friday 27th, the assessor phoned and I told her about the phonecall on Wednesday, which she was unaware of, but was aware the contact number had been corrected via email....I told her I wasn't ready as I would have needed a family member present. She contacted her manager, who noted it, and they put a note in that I had attended interview but it couldn't go ahead as I had been given conflicting information...Now they have to contact me by phone to arrange another date...I told her I don't answer with-held numbers, unless I'm expecting them....What a mess

poppy12345

I would ring DWP and tell them what's happened because Capita could return your file to DWP stating you refused to complete the assessment, which could end your current PIP award.