Repeat PIP face to face assessment because Capita lost notes?!

Hello comrades,

Has this happened before?

A severely disabled client on HR DLA mobility and middle rate care.  Completed PIP conversion forms 5 months ago, and had a face to face consultation at his home 6 weeks ago.  It took 2.5 hours.

Has received notification that he is to have another face to face consultation at his home because ‘more information is needed.’  He has done some digging around and it appears that the HP company (Capita) have lost his report.

He has physical and mental health issues - the idea of going through another assessment is causing him extreme distress. 

I am trying to escalate the matter and arguing that the regs don’t mean that a face to face medical MUST be undertaken, e.g.:-

The Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013

Claimant may be called for a consultation to determine whether the claimant has limited or severely limited ability to carry out activities

9.—(1) Where it falls to be determined whether C has limited ability or severely limited ability to carry out daily living activities or mobility activities, C MAY be required to do either or both of the following —

(a) attend for and participate in a consultation in person;

(b)participate in a consultation by telephone.

I am asking that they contact the GP and various other medical professionals involved in his care instead.  Theer is always his actual claim form that they could read!  Is that reasonable?

Any other ideas? 

The PIP Assessment Providers Guide at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers outlines the DWP’s policy on when assessors can (or should) conduct a ‘paper based review’ instead of a face-to-face assessment for PIP.

For example, it says that a face-to-face assessment will not normally be required if:

“...  • The claimant questionnaire indicates a high level of disability, the information is consistent, medically reasonable and there is nothing to suggest over-reporting, or
• The health condition(s) is severe and associated with a high level of functional impairment which is consistently claimed…. “

If it is very clear from the paperwork that your client meets the PIP criteria, Capita should be able to assess him without seeing him again. It may be worth considering approaching the claimant’s GP or other medical professionals yourself to obtain medical evidence to strengthen your case, if the client hasn’t already submitted strong medical evidence.

When I complete a PIP2 form, if it is very clear that the claimant should qualify (eg non-verbal due to severe learning disability, or unable to walk/transfer at all without help) I will write a couple of paragraphs on the form suggesting that they assess it using a paper-based review.

Losing the records of the previous assessment is of course unacceptable and a complaint should be made to Capita too.