Make sure you send your DLA form by recorded delivery! 24 November 2008 at 4:29PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Disability Money Matters 20 replies 12.6K views

CatherineS

I requested a DLA claim form on 2nd October, so it had to be returned by 13th November. I left it very late to send it in, and I posted it on 11th November - theoretically it should have got there in time.

Just to be sure, I decided to send it in by recorded delivery. It didn't cost me any extra, because the prepaid envelope already had sufficient postage paid on it.

I just got an acknowledgement letter which said that they'd received it on 17th November. I checked online at Royal Mail, and my letter was signed for on 12th November. So I called the DLA helpline and because I had proof of delivery, they were able to update my record to show that my form was received within the timeframe so I will still be eligible, if my claim is accepted, to have it backdated to 2nd October. However, I got the impression that if I didn't have this proof of delivery, they would only run the claim from 17th November.

So the moral of this story is that the date the DWP state they received your form is obviously the date it was first looked at in the office, not the date they actually received it - so MAKE SURE YOU SEND IT BY RECORDED DELIVERY!!!! (and it shouldn't cost you any extra to do this).

custardy

it costs 72p plus postage

allydowd

And make a photocopy of the form too.

purplecatlover

that goes for any forms, letters, anything sent to any benefits agency......they are really bad at loosing things, or not getting them, or any excuse for delaying things.

calleyw

My husband did this on his IB form. And they sent another letter saying they had not had it.

He phoned and was told this is because they go to a central point to be then passed on to the office that deals with your area.

Yours

Calley

Craigoldfield

CatherineS wrote: »

So the moral of this story is that the date the DWP state they received your form is obviously the date it was first looked at in the office, not the date they actually received it - so MAKE SURE YOU SEND IT BY RECORDED DELIVERY!!!! (and it shouldn't cost you any extra to do this).

Surely the moral is send it back in plenty of time?

purplecatlover

Craigoldfield wrote: »

Surely the moral is send it back in plenty of time?

no if you do that they loose it! it needs to go recorded so they cant say they never got it, or it came later than it should have, or any other excuse.

Sarahsaver

once i sent my sons renewal form and the letter box got blown up by a firework. Terrrible sounding reason try telling them that and getting them to believe it!

purplecatlover

Sarahsaver wrote: »

once i sent my sons renewal form and the letter box got blown up by a firework. Terrrible sounding reason try telling them that and getting them to believe it!

that cannot have been fun, telling them or refilling in the form.

celticmoneysaver

Craigoldfield wrote: »

Surely the moral is send it back in plenty of time?

Thats easy to say ...some conditions mean you may not be upto dealing with it straight away..you have a GP to get hold , or other professionals and getting an appointment with a decent Welfare Advisor can take weeks..plus you have to fit enough to travel to them etc ..

but you could send it back in time and their 'sorting' system catch you out so I think the reminder was very useful..plus you do have proof it was sent
I sent forms by recorded yesterday so thanks thread orginator catherineS

PS If you know you are going to have problems meeting the deadline then ring and ask for an extension..i have had no problem with that. I asked for an extension so I could see an Advisor and that person bailed 1/2 way through as alledgedly she couldn't see me again as I didn't meet the criteria for funding for her post:cool:

tobyc_2

im worried now, i gave my dla form to specialist at hospital to complete her part on behalf of my son. The form was meant to be back with dla by 23rd jan , i hadnt received it from hospital by 20th jan, so phoned dla and explained this and asked for an extension, i was told NO... When i phoned the consultants sec. he said that the form was on his desk as their photocopier had broken and they needed a copy of the form for my sons file. It was sent out to me that day, i didn,t receive it till the 22nd jan and sent it straight on the dla on that day. I got a letter from them saying they didnt receive it till 26th jan to which i replied with the reasons and also the fact that they could check with consultants sec., do you think i will have problems getting it backdated as it should be from 12th dec, thats quite a loss of award if so ?