I am pleased to say I must be one of the few people who have had success in not one but two PIP Mandatory Reconsiderations.
In 2015 I had my initial claim for PIP rejected out of hand given 0 points in both categories when Capita refused to look at my evidence and belittled me in the assessment and lied time and again in the resulting health report. On reconsideration I was awarded 11 points for daily living and 14 for mobility and given a 3 year award of standard and enhanced respectively.
I was called in again for a f2f with Capita in December 2017 after stating on my AR1 no change in my conditions and sent in updated supporting evidence. Again appalling f2f assessment by Capita. I had my daily living reduced to 6 points..no award and therefore lost my ESA linked SDA ( I'm in the Support Group )and my mobility reduced to 10 points ie standard from 14 ie enhanced.
Asked for a MR and nearly fainted when I received my Capita health assessment report. I honestly thought they had sent me the wrong persons details....it was full of lies, omissions and said I had completed an "exercise" that I hadn't even been asked to do. So...got further evidence and my support team completed written testimonials. Sent off recorded delivery and a week later received an unchanged decision....shock, horror.
I immediately contacted DWP and was put through to a Case Manager. She was very understanding and agreed that because my further and original evidence was stil valid and even though presented at my f2f with CapitaI it wasn't represented fully in the assessors report ... ie it was ignored.
I said well your award must be wrong then, because of all those evidential omissions you CAN NOT of come to a fair decision can you? She wouldn't comment on that but I got the feeling she agreed. She then stated she would send the evidence back to Capita for a reconsideration of a reconsideration, she added that she would highlight what they MUST look at again.... I think my initial reconsideration ( are you keeping up!) In 2016 was such a vast change in result that they couldn't justify reducing my award due to evidence of NO CHANGE in my conditions. However, she said I should be prepared to go to an appeal.
This was done on Feb 21st last week. Today, 4 working days later I was informed that my reconsideration of a reconsideration of a reconsideration had been reversed to my original award....U N B E L I E V A B L E......till December 2021.
I was informed today ( unofficially officially) that the DWP are getting hundreds of complaints about Capita and basically their assessments are now considered not fit for purpose and VERY soon ALL assessments WILL be recorded in some way. They seem to be listening AT LAST.
So please don't think if your reconsideration is turned down there now HAS be a traumatic appeal process...DONT GIVE UP...basically it is the claimants word against Capita which HAD been a nightmare...not anymore it seems.
The DWP now seem to understand it is purely about the bottom line.. as in Capita get paid per assessment, are (maybe???) targeted to refuse or decrease awards and are aware that Capita can't cope with the contract as it stands, and are trying to make as much money as possible before it is removed from them or, more likely , they give it back..
The resounding evidence so far is that MR s are just another barrier for claimants to be humiliated and who will then give up totally. I have hopefully gone some little way to prove that wrong. PLEASE DONT GIVE UP.....the DWP seem to be finally understanding the shocking treatment we are all being put through at the hands of these so called 'health professionals.'
They must take all the health assessments back in house and record them all. Those in genuine need will get what they are legally entitled to and the process will be far less traumatic.
I would hope it will result in f2f health assessments only being done either for a new claim or at the end date of an award ( only to be done during the award period if there is a notified change of circumstance by the claimant).
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.
6 ·
