Almost Half DLA To PIP Motability Cars Lost Plus Your Experience Of Capita’s PIP Assessment Centres
PIP Tribunal result
“Just wanted to thank B&W for their guided material. I have been rejected twice by DWP but with encouragement and help from this site I took it all the way to tribunal. I was awarded enhanced on care and standard in mobility. I couldn't believe it, without you guys I would have given up at first stage but you gave me the courage to carry this on and never give up. Thank you so much. To all those who have been through hurdles subscribe to this site you will never regret it. Thank you again.”
Dear Reader,
In this edition we reveal that Motability cars are being taken away from a shocking 45% of users who transfer from disability living allowance (DLA) to personal independence payment (PIP).
In addition, following the hundreds of comments we’ve received about Atos PIP assessment centres, we’ve now obtained a list of Capita PIP assessment centres and we’re asking for your help in making sure claimants know what problems they may encounter when sent to them.
In other news, there has been outrage at the leaked disclosure that the DWP is to appoint a senior outgoing boss from tax avoiding multinational Amazon to the post of non-executive director at the DWP.
Plus there’s the news that the DWP have lost a House of Lords vote on ESA and a court of appeal hearing on the bedroom tax. But how much difference will any of it make?
Savage Motability cuts
45% of claimants who have a Motability car paid for via DLA lose it when they are transferred to PIP, because they fail to qualify for the enhanced rate of the PIP mobility component.
At the moment claimants who lose their car in these circumstances get up to £2,000 from the charity to help with the purchase of a second hand vehicle. But such a small sum will not in any way make up for the loss of a specially adapted vehicle.
As one Benefits and Work reader, MyelopathicMe, explained:
“This has happened to me. In my case I've been given transitional support but have still had to borrow enough to buy my motability car, which has put untold pressure on my finances. Yes I am appealing but in the meantime you still have to either buy the car or hand it back and obviously you have to find the money for tax, MOT, insurance, breakdown & repairs if you buy your car - no mean feat when unable to work so to me it is like State-sanctioned knee capping.”
Success rates for PIP appeals are running very high, at around 60%. So there is no doubt it is worth considering appealing if you have lost your Motability car and you believe the decision was wrong.
Capita PIP assessment centres
You’ve already provided us with a wealth of information about individual PIP assessment centres used by Atos, though we would still welcome more. But we said at the outset that if there was sufficient interest we would ask for information about Capita PIP centres too.
So, we’ve now obtained a list of Capita assessment centres via the Freedom of Information Act. You’ll find links to them below this article. So, if you’ve visited one of them and can provide information about the facilities, then please do post a comment.
Amazon at the DWP
The DWP has sparked outrage by appointing an Amazon boss to a non-executive director’s role at the DWP. The appointment of Doug Gurr, the head of the tax avoiding multinational’s Chinese operation, to the DWP is likely to be officially announced next week.
Amazon paid just £11.9m in tax in 2014, despite UK sales of £5.3bn.
DWP double loss
The DWP has announced that it will to continue to hound the carers of a severely disabled teenager who won their case against being forced to pay the bedroom tax in the Court of Appeal last month. The DWP have said they will not accept the court’s decision and instead will take the case to the Supreme Court.
The cost of the legal proceedings is likely to be greater than the cost of exempting all those in a similar situation from the bedroom tax.
The government was also heavily defeated in the House of Lords last month over plans to cut £30 per week from the benefit of new claimants in work-related activity group (WRAG) of employment and support allowance (ESA).
The House of Lords voted by 238 votes to 198 against reducing the level of payments for claimants, many of whom have degenerative diseases or serious mental health conditions, to the same level as jobseeker’s allowance. However, the bill will now return to the Commons where there is a strong likelihood of it once again winning majority support.
The cut is due to be introduced in April 2017 and, in most circumstances, will not affect current claimants.
Good luck,
Steve Donnison
PIP Mobility Appeal success
“Just to say thank you for the invaluable guidance and information on this site. Having been rejected for the enhanced mobility rate (awarded standard rate again), I appealed via paper (not oral) and was awarded the enhanced mobility rate. If you know in your heart what you should be awarded then do not be afraid to appeal the decision, it really is not that difficult using the information from this site...”
BOOST YOUR PIP AND ESA CHANCES - 20% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP – OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT FRIDAY.
PIP success
“I received decision today after face to face for pip from full dla to enhanced rate pip thank you”
Give yourself the best possible chance of getting the right ESA, PIP or DLA decision, whether you’re making a claim, renewing an existing award or asking for a reconsideration or appeal.
Subscribe now and get instant access to all our guides.
If you’re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community before midnight on Friday and you can get 20% off the cost of your annual subscription.
Just type the following code into the coupon box when you pay: 73276
Claimants and carers get an annual subscription for £15.96, down from £19.95. Professionals get an annual subscription for £77.60, down from £97.00.
Offer ends midnight Friday
CAPITA PIP ASSESSMENT CENTRES
We’ve been provided with a list of what is allegedly all the Capita PIP assessment centres. If you’ve been to one of them we’d be really grateful if you could use the comments feature to share whatever information you have about travel, parking and facilities for claimants who are being forced to attend the same centre.
This link will take you to the Central England PIP assessment centres.
These are at: Birmingham, Boston, Coventry, Derby, Kings Lynn, Leicester, Northampton, Nottingham, Peterborough, Shrewsbury, Stoke on Trent and Walsall.
This link will take you to the Wales PIP assessment centres.
These are at: Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Newtown, Pembroke Dock, Rhyl, Swansea.
This information will be in addition to details of the Atos PIP assessment centres, which are already on the site.
BENEFITS NEWS
Amazon boss appointed as director at DWP
The DWP has sparked outrage by appointing an Amazon boss to a non-executive director’s role at the DWP.
Motability cars lost by 45% of DLA to PIP claimants
The BBC has obtained figures which show that 45% of DLA claimants with a Motability car lost it when they were assessed for PIP.
DWP defeated in Lords over ESA cuts
The government was heavily defeated in the House of Lords over plans to cut £30 per week from the benefit of new claimants in work-related activity group (WRAG) of ESA.
DWP refuses to admit defeat over bedroom tax
The DWP is to continue to hound the carers of a severely disabled teenager who won their case against being forced to pay the bedroom tax in the Court of Appeal.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE FORUM
As always, many thanks to everyone who takes the trouble to post in the forum or email us with news of your success. We know it’s many readers favourite, and most encouraging, bit of the newsletter.
ESA Support Group with no face to face
“Hello All. This is my first post. Thank you for your great website, guides, and all mods. I had been on ESA CB and was eagerly! awaiting my renewal. It arrived on January 8th, I completed it…I phoned the medical assessment centre this afternoon. The gentleman told me my claim had been looked at, and they were not sending me for a face to face assessment. He said they had sent the recommendation to the DWP for me to be put into Support Group. What a great relief. Thanks again to B + W”
PIP appeal result
“My daughter's appeal hearing was held last Friday and she got the result today. After seventeen years of getting DLA at the highest rate for care and lowest for mobility the DWP decided that she now got no points at all! We appealed this and used a lot of the advice on here... My daughter has now been awarded the standard rate for both care and mobility…Thank you for the advice I've received.”
PIP decision overturned at mandatory reconsideration
“Hi, I just wanted to share my good news: Yesterday I got a letter from the DWP saying that they had reconsidered my claim and after reading my GPs letter they are now awarding me PIP at both the enhanced rates till the end of October 2025”
New Child DLA claim success
“I just wanted to write and thank you all for the wonderful guides that we used to complete my son's DLA claim. We received the award decision in under 4 weeks…He has been awarded Low Mobility and Mid Care based on my application package, without any additional information being requested from his Doctors and without a medical… I am so pleased that we have achieved this result so quickly and without any wrangling or delays.”
Appeal win!!
“Thanks to all the excellent advice on this site, I was able to prepare thoroughly and confidently for the tribunal. It was a very fair hearing. I found the examples for the 'Grounds for Appeal' statement really useful…Thanks”
PIP Tribunal Success – From 0 Points to Enhanced Care and Mobility
“I just want to thank everyone on this forum for the advice, guidance and information provided. I had my hearing today and my appeal was allowed. From 0 points DWP decision to enhanced points for both living and mobility. I am in floods of tears of joy, I can't thank everyone enough. I have been quietly reading all comments about persevering with my claim and that was what kept me going.
Thank you all once again, I may now be able to have at least more than an hours sleep tonight…”
PIP success
“After recently requesting an MR for our daughter and being unsuccessful we decided to appeal. A letter arrived today to say she no longer has to go to appeal and that her award has been increased from 17 point daily living to 25 and mobility to full 12 points from 4. Her award was also extended from 218 till 2021. Delighted would be an understatement. Thanks to everyone on here who replied to questions I had.”
PIP award
“I'm more than happy that been awarded basic rate PIP 55.10... This site was very, very helpful filling in forms and advice on medical etc. I've recommended you to several people.”
PIP awarded at Tribunal – thanks B&W
“Attended ATOS assessment got 3 points got to tribunal and was given 11 wow, thanks for your help, oh and awarded for 3 years no mention of reassessment in less than that, but bet they do!”
PIP success
“Thank you very much for your support I have now received enhanced daily living your site has been a great help”
BOOST YOUR PIP AND ESA CHANCES - 20% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP – OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT FRIDAY.
Give yourself the best possible chance of getting the right ESA, PIP or DLA decision, whether you’re making a claim, renewing an existing award or asking for a reconsideration or appeal.
Subscribe now and get instant access to all our guides.
If you’re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community before midnight on Friday and you can get 20% off the cost of your annual subscription.
Just type the following code into the coupon box when you pay: 73276
Claimants and carers get an annual subscription for £15.96, down from £19.95. Professionals get an annual subscription for £77.60, down from £97.00.
Offer ends midnight Friday
Good luck,
The Office Team
Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd
Company registration No. 5962666
