Capita Appointment

[TonyV]

Didn't no what catorgery to post this in so try here initially. I have been asked to attend a face to face interview with a "health professional" re my PIP claim, changing from DLA, which is no problem.
Only issue I have is that it is a 3 1/2 hour bus journey each way. My registered carer has back issues and 7 plus hours sitting on bus will do them no good at all. Dont really want to request house visit.
Somebody has advised me that max travelling time for CAPITA ( or as another friend call them Cra***tor) .appointment is 90 mins, anyone know whether this is true.
Thanks in advance

[Flonska]

Why not call the Capita Enquiry Centre on 0808 1788 114 and discuss the situation with an adviser?

[Mamyalynne]

I'd certainly ring them as Flonska says.

Have a read through this too.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/distance_time_length_of_journeys

[Rockrose]

Call them, but they may ask further questions about your registered carer being able to care for you if the are unfit to do a bus journey

[AuntLydia]

You can ask for an interview nearer you home or in a more convenient location if there is one. I certainly would not mention your carer has back issues as they will most certainly inquire as to how they manage to 'care' for you if they have problems themselves.

If a home visit is on offer why not take it? It would seem to solve all your problems . Whatever you decide you must let them know how far you actually are away. I know where I live a car journey can take 30 minutes and a bus journey 2 hours, so perhaps they are not aware of the length in time of your journey by bus.

[TonyV]

My carer attends to my mental health needs not my physical ones, and I attend to her Physical needs, so works out quite well all round. Have spoken to Capita, and whilst,sympathetic but not much else.
I think a phone call to DWP on Monday will be be best course of action. Just wait for long hold listening to music lol

[Theland]

Tony - Get a letter off your GP demanding a home visit.

[TonyV]

AuntLydia they should know journey time as they sent me a journey planner, albeit most likely computer generated and automatically added to letter.

[AuntLydia]

Tony I have recently been to my PIP reassessment, a journey of around 20 minutes in the car. The bus journey was assessed at 1 hour 25 minutes as I needed to get two buses , one going into town then one going back out of town. What they did not take into account was the three miles to the nearest bus stop from my house! What I'm trying to say is that these letters are computer generated. You are well within your rights to get a Taxi and claim back the cost and I would call back Capita to confirm this. This info from Citizens advice I found very helpful.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/your-assessment/