We want to help you feel prepared and ready for your face-to-face consultation
If you need any more help before your consultation, you can call us on 0800 072 0398. The Customer Enquiry line is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm.
Select one of the options below to go to the relevant section:
If you’re applying for UC you will need to create an online account on NI Direct. Once you have created your account you must send your claim within 28 days. If you try after 28 days you will need to create a new account.
You will need to fill in the online form. It’s important that you complete the form as fully as possible, answering all of the questions.
You can use the account you’ve made to find information about your claim and contact Universal Credit.
If you need help filling in the form you can contact UC through your online account or speak to a member of the team in your local Jobs and Benefits office or phone 0800 012 1331 (text phone: 0800 012 1441) Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm (excluding public holidays).
Watch this DfC Video on YouTube: ‘Universal Credit explained - What, who and how’
Watch this DfC Video on YouTube: ‘Universal Credit explained - Getting ready to claim’
What to bring to the consultation
- Proof of identity
- Any medication you may be taking
- Any information from your general practitioner (GP) or specialist which explains how your condition affects you
If you are claiming expenses, please bring details of your bank account if you have one.
Interpreters
Please let us know at least two days before your consultation if you need an interpreter for your consultation. This will help to make sure that we can have an interpreter available for you.
Appointment arrangements
We will send a letter with your consultation date. Your appointment letter will have a contact number and information about the consultation, including directions to your consultation centre. Please read this letter before your consultation.
What happens with your support before your consultation
Whilst you are waiting for your consultation to be completed you will receive the standard rate of Universal Credit and will need to continue attending the Jobs and Benefits office as agreed with your work coach. You can find more information about Universal Credit on NI Direct.
Further evidence
You will need to send any medical evidence or other information you might already have, such as reports, care or treatment plans about you from GPs, hospital doctors, specialist nurses, community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, support workers, learning disability support team, counsellors or carers.
Things Capita would like to see, if you already have them include: | Things Capita doesn’t need to see include general information about your medical conditions that are not about you personally such as: |
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You may be asked for details of the professionals or carers who know the most about your health conditions, illnesses and disabilities – expand the list below to see who these might be:
List of professionals and carers
- consultant or specialist doctor
- psychiatrist
- specialist nurse, such as a community psychiatric nurse
- physiotherapist
- occupational therapist
- social worker
- support worker or personal assistant
- carer
Remember – only send us copies of medical or other information if you already have them. Don’t ask or pay for new information or send us original documents. Please write your National Insurance number on each piece of information you send to DfC.
DfC may not be able to continue to pay you benefits if we don’t receive this form in time.
If you cannot return the form in time, let us know as soon as possible. There is also a box that allows you to explain why your form was late.
If you have any concerns at all about the form, it’s important that you contact Capita as soon as you can or ask a representative to.
The healthcare professional will introduce themselves and explain the consultation to you. They will record information on a computer. Some questions may not relate directly to your medical condition, but to daily activities.
The consultation questions may include:
- When your illness or disability started
- How your condition changes from day-to-day
- How it affects your daily life
- How it affects your mood and the way you behave
- How you cope with things from day-to-day
The healthcare professional will record information about your pain, fatigue, and the medication you take. Depending on your illness or disability the consultation may include:
- a physical examination
- blood pressure, sight, hearing or other tests
- movements such as stretching, standing and bending
The healthcare professional will not ask you to make any movements that cause you discomfort. If you are worried that certain movements may cause you pain, please tell the healthcare professional.
The healthcare professional
Our healthcare professionals are doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists registered with their governing body. These include:
- The General Medical Council
- The Nursing and Midwifery Council
- The Healthcare Professions Council.
Our healthcare professionals go through a specifically designed training course, approved by DfC
Companion or chaperone during your consultation
You can have someone with you at your face-to-face consultation. Although the consultation will focus on you, a companion can offer useful support to you.
This would usually be the person who knows you best and understands you and your needs. For example, this may be a relative, support worker or friend but they must be 16 years old or over.
Taking notes
You or your companion are welcome to take notes for your personal use. Your notes will not form part of the medical report that we send to DfC.
Waiting time and length of consultation
We’ll make sure you are seen as soon as possible. The receptionist will tell you if you have to wait.
Other people who arrive after you may go to their consultation before you. This is because we do several types of consultation, and some take longer than others. There is no set time for consultations, but they are usually between 20 minutes and 1 hour.
We provide DfC with a consultation report which is impartial and gives justified medical advice about how you are currently affected by your medical condition. This is following government legislation, and the processes agreed by DfC.
The consultation report will describe your medical conditions and the activities you undertake in a typical day. It will also have the healthcare professional’s observations, and the results of any physical examination undertaken.
The report is one piece of information DfC uses in deciding your entitlement.
You may request a copy of the full report from the DfC office handling your claim.
Decisions on claims
DfC will let you know of the outcome of your claim.
DfC makes decisions on claims. The healthcare professional who carries out your consultation does not make any decision about your allowance, benefit or credits. The healthcare professional will not know the outcome of your claim.
Direct any questions or concerns about the outcome of your claim to the DfC office handling your claim. They will know what information they have used to decide your entitlement.
Claiming expenses
Capita pays expenses for:
- travel by public transport
- towards fuel costs for private cars
- the cost of parking when it is not available at the consultation centre.
We will also pay for fares of a companion, relative, carer or young children who would otherwise be alone. If you wish to claim for an authorised companion to travel with you, call us on 0800 072 0398 before the consultation and let us know.
To have your expenses paid, you will need to fill out and send an expense form. You may ask the receptionist at the consultation centre for help filling out the form. Please keep all your receipts. You should receive payment for your expenses approximately two weeks after you send the form.
Further information
If you have questions, contact the DfC office handling your claim. The office number will be on letters you have received about your claim or use your Journal to contact DfC.
*[UC]: Universal Credit
*[DFC]: Department for communities
