Last checked at 21 Nov 2012 10:03
21 November 2012
Capita signs Northern Ireland PIP contract
The Northern Ireland Social Security Agency has today announced it has signed a contract with Capita plc to deliver assessments for the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Northern Ireland. The contract will be worth approximately £65m over five years.
This follows an announcement in August this year that Capita plc was awarded the contract to deliver PIP assessments across central England and Wales.
PIP, which is part of the Government's welfare reform agenda, will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people of working age (16 to 64) from April 2013, and is designed to better reflect today's understanding of disability. Assessments will be provided for new claimants of PIP as well as existing claimants of DLA.
The assessments will be delivered through home visits and a network of accessible consultation centres across Northern Ireland. All assessments will be conducted by a nurse, doctor, physiotherapist or other trained healthcare professional.
Capita plc chief executive, Paul Pindar, said: "Capita consulted extensively with representative groups to design a fair and claimant-centred assessment service and is committed to ongoing dialogue to ensure continual development during implementation and throughout delivery.
"Through strategic acquisitions to its health and wellbeing business, Capita has established a wealth of assessments capability and access to multi-disciplinary teams of health professionals. These factors will ensure claimants receive a fair and independent assessment of their ability to live independently."
-ends- For further information:Capita plcTel: 020 7799 1525Paul Pindar, Chief Executive OfficerShona Nichols, Corporate Communications Director
Media enquiries only:
Capita press officeLydia RufflesTel: 020 7654 2192 or 020 7654 2399 (out of hours)Email: lydia.ruffles@capita.co.uk
Notes to editors
Capita plc is the UK's leading provider of BPO and integrated professional support service solutions. With 46,500 people at more than 350 sites, including 68 business centres across the UK, Europe and India, the Group uses its expertise, infrastructure and scale benefits to transform its clients' services, driving down costs and adding value. Capita is quoted on the London Stock Exchange (CPI.L), and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 with 2011 turnover of £2.9 billion and profit before tax of £385 million. Further information on Capita plc can be found at: www.capita.co.uk.
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