CICA Nightmare

Justmeliamhere

I’m honestly at my wits’ end with CICA right now. My claim has been ongoing for about a year, and they just keep asking for more and more doctors' notes and records — it feels never-ending.

I’ve got a deadline to send them more paperwork by 23rd March, but I’m still trying to chase my doctor to get hold of it. Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to call CICA to discuss it, but I can’t get through — not once! Every time I call, I get a message telling me to try again later, and then they just hang up. Their hours are 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday to Friday — but honestly, it’s like no one’s ever there.

I’m doing everything I can to get this sorted, but it feels impossible when I can’t even speak to anyone. Has anyone else had this issue with them? Any advice would be massively appreciated!

marcia_

 I am going through this, am now onto my appeal and it's 2 years so far. 

 They won't answer the phone to individual applicants but you can email them. It takes a week to get a reply info@cica.gov.uk

 i would not worry about the date they have given you to reply. They will simply write to you again reminding you that they have requested information giving another 30 days. Took me 3 months to get my medical records from my gp. 2 to get information from DWP and HMRC regarding my time out of work but a email to them will be acknowledged saying the information has been given to the case officer.

 In case you didn't know this is where you request information from HR. about your work records https://www.gov.uk/get-proof-employment-history they take a while to reply. But it still won't be quick it's been 6 months since I sent everything they asked for and still waiting 

justmememe

I have been going through this process now for over 8 years . They also request the same information more than once from different specialists and then your claim is left on a pile with millions of others to be processed . They are now happy after 8 years that they have received all the information they need from me and my claim has now been sent to a senior decision maker and willl be processed in the next 4-6 weeks. Good luck and be prepared to be messed around  . They did pay me 10 grand last year an interim award why they processed my claim but still messed me around for another year x

marcia_

 Crikey i hope i am not waiting that long. I thought 3 yrs was bad. 

 I made a formal complaint in December and received a reply January its been sent for a decision. Instead they requested more information! 3 months later I requested the complaint to be moved to stage 2 but was advised it is 6 months from when they receive the information until they decide on it. I will give them till July then move it to stage 2. 

mjm3346

When it was the CICB and in the early days of the CICA there were backlogs but CICB/A obtained all medical reports and employer/benefit details as appropriate.

marcia_

mjm3346 said:

When it was the CICB and in the early days of the CICA there were backlogs but CICB/A obtained all medical reports and employer/benefit details as appropriate.

  They don't collect anything now. They ask the claimant to provide everything often the same information from different medical professionals in my case.

 Ive still not heard from them since December. 

marcia_

 I finally got another letter requesting more medical information from a different medical professional. They have already had my GP records, my care records from the mental health trust. Reports from my psychiatrist and clinical psychologist yet they want more.

 I have finally bit the bullet and contacted a solicitor who specialises in complex mental health claims. 

justmememe

I took them to tribunal and won and my claim was supposed to be processed straight away, it was left for a year nothing was  done, then i made a formal complaint which got the ball rolling still 2 years on from tribunal win now and 8 years in total of the cica claim process. Thete 6 weeks is up next week so hoping they stick to there word and its assessed and an offers made , otherwise ill just make another complaint and this time get it escalated . Its bedn a horrible 8 year process  

marcia_

justmememe said:

I took them to tribunal and won and my claim was supposed to be processed straight away, it was left for a year nothing was  done, then i made a formal complaint which got the ball rolling still 2 years on from tribunal win now and 8 years in total of the cica claim process. Thete 6 weeks is up next week so hoping they stick to there word and its assessed and an offers made , otherwise ill just make another complaint and this time get it escalated . Its bedn a horrible 8 year process  

 How was the tribunal? Did you need representation? I am hoping mine is settled without needing to go to tribunal. 

 The new medical assessment they want is from a psychiatrist paid for by them. They want confirmation i have the conditions Ive been diagnosed with. Despite receiving medical records from my mental health team and psychotherapist. Also a determination of if and how long would i be unable to work! 

 No idea when it will be carried out, i sent the consent form back and will assume 12 months given my experience thus far 

justmememe

No I didn’t need representation and i didn’t need to attend either. The cica and tribunal both agreed that i fit  tarif due to my ptsd snd a decision should be mde . But its been 2 years since my tribunal win as they left my claim in a pile . They paid for me to have an assessment with a psychologist also but then still requested more medical information from the mental health hospital and my medical files from the doctors. they have asked me numerous times for the same information. I will be glad once the process is over to be honest as its been a nightmare 8 years and i find the process so traumatic . I hope they progress your claim soon . The 8 weeks is up next week they said my claim would be processed within 4-8 weeks do hopefully this happens or ill be putting in another complaint. 

marcia_

 Oh crikey I'm sorry you have had to go through that. I thought the tribunal would be the end not waiting more. Do put in the complaint it should help. I complained and got a request for more information about 2 weeks later when I hadn't heard from them for gone 6 months. 

 I did a subject access request for my records from the mental health trust and sent them via email. I did this without them asking because after what you posted about them requesting yet more medical evidence. Anything to reduce the time I'm waiting. 

 Dreading the psychiatrist appointment. The form reads like they have to re diagnosis me despite already providing GP and psychotherapist evidence of PTSD & EUPD.