PIP

I received my letter advising that I had to app,y for PIP after 8 years on DLA in May last year. Your site was invaluable in focusing my mind on what I do actually need help with. It is a demoralising and depressing process as day to day you tend to concentrate on the positives and the reality is always painful. I sent off my application, requesting that my DLA submissions be considered and added 52 pages of medical reports, social care plan, Occupational Therapy Plan. I had my f2f on 17 th July. I was to,d that as I have 40 separate conditions and the assessor, a physiotherapist had only been allocated 45 minutes I would need to return. No indication as to when or with whom. My second f2f was at my home with a mental health nurse and lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes as there was no information available that I had been assessed previously? I was advised by my assessor to complain. I did twice by email, no response and then by phone. Capita refused to provide me with my assessors reports. I contacted the DWP who rang Capita as they had no information of the first assessment either? Capita refused to provide the DWP with the incomplete assessment so I was advised to contact my MP. My MP wrote and complained and at last I received an apology and £75 compensation. The quest for my first assessment is ongoing. I find it shocking that they are ho,ding very personal information about me on their computer and yet will not let myself or the DWP who commission them access to it. It was extremely stressful but the good news is that I was awarded enhanced for both care and mobility. I am so grateful for the information which helped me apply and would urge others to complain if they get treated shoddily too.