DLA cut off - why no notice given?

Scarlett4Rhett

The DWP say they sent me a claim form last July inviting me to reclaim DLA in January 2010 (it was previously awarded until feb 2011 but they moved the date to Jan 2010 and I did not notice). I did not receive the form they said was sent. They cut off my DLA in January.

They say "further invitations are not issued as this is no longer our procedure. The DWP is naturally concerned that all people who may be entitled to claim are made aware of the full range of social security benefits available. Whilst every effort is made to acquiant people with benefits to which they may be entitled, the final responsibility to claim and pursue title to any benefit rests with the customer or their representative."

My understanding was that before DLA was withdrawn the DWP would advise the claimant. It would appear that this is not the case. How much notice do they give in your experience? is there any legislation about this Has anyone had a similar experience? Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give.

SuziQ

It sounds like they did advise you, but only the once as per their policy. I have had a similar argument with CTC over a letter they said they sent to me,which I didn't recieve. As they send out the DLA forms according to their own timeframe, how are we supposed to know when one is overdue? I thought they only gave 3 months notice of DLA ending so I am surprised they carried on paying you until January. I don't know what else to say-we have so much post go missing where we live (I also had a court date letter go missing where I was supposed to be a witness, which was very frustrating for me as they didn't send a second letter and I missed the court hearing) . Maybe one of the benefit experts here can comment on this or advise you. Other than that all you can really do is reapply.

calleyw

DLA forms normally arrive 5-6 months before the renewal date.

Also you have awards letters this has the date it is to expire. You do need to keep these and file them away. My husband when he was late had his DLA stopped as they had not made a decision but he knew it was his fault as it had run out a few weeks before.

I understand life gets in the way. But for renewal dates why put it in your diary e.g expires 31st May 2013 and then transfer each year and then put it in your diary 5 months before expiry.

The DWP don't have resources to keep reminding people. The person claiming has to take some responsibility.

The DWP will say that you know the dates as it is on your award letter. So they have informed you.

Yours

Calley

TOBRUK

On your award letter they state how long your claim is for and the end date of your claim and as calleyw says you need to keep any correspondence safe. I recently had a renewal as my last claim was ending in January. Previously they used to send out re-application forms around 6 months before end of claim but last time, they sent the form out with only 3 months before end of my claim.

I'm afraid it is up to the individual to keep track of when the claim ends. They paid you up until January because that is when your claim ended. Have you requested another form to make a new claim? I think this is the only thing you can do, rather than look in to why you didn't receive your re-application, because if you are still eligible for DLA you are losing money the more you delay.

daska

Have to admit my DLA expiry date is branded on my memory - to the extent that I am more likely to remember this than my family's birthdays LOL

Ring them now and request an application form. It will be dated giving you several weeks to complete it and send it back - this allows them to backdate the claim to the date you requested the application form.

Personally I use the downloadable version as it's easier to amend things (and I find a keyboard far easier than writing) and to save a copy for future reference. Print out the filled in form and send it with the dated form by recorded delivery.

TOBRUK

daska, just want to ask you about the online form - do you fill it in online but then print it out to send by post, and can you do a bit, save it and then go back to it? Just asking as I've never done it that way, to be honest I haven't looked at the online one. Hopefully I won't have to look at it for a while as I've just had an indefinite award but it's good to know these things for future reference.

daska

There are 3 formats (if you don't count the cut down trial one)

Paper - the standard one which you ring and request from DLA helpline
Download - a .pdf which you can fill in electronically then print off to sign and send
On-line - filled in on-line and submitted online

It's the Download version which I use. Simply because I can't handle the whole form in one go and have struggled to access an existing on-line application (I'm !!!! with passwords etc), and taking copies of and keeping a paper version safe is expensive. The .pdf version also can be sent yourself by e-mail which gives you a back up.

TOBRUK

daska wrote: »

There are 3 formats (if you don't count the cut down trial one)

Paper - the standard one which you ring and request from DLA helpline
Download - a .pdf which you can fill in electronically then print off to sign and send
On-line - filled in on-line and submitted online

It's the Download version which I use. Simply because I can't handle the whole form in one go and have struggled to access an existing on-line application (I'm !!!! with passwords etc), and taking copies of and keeping a paper version safe is expensive. The .pdf version also can be sent yourself by e-mail which gives you a back up.

Thanks for that daska, it's helpful to know. Whenever I have had renewal form I have bits of paper all over the place as I can't do it all in one go either and I need to do it in rough (one question at a time) before writing it on the form - which takes me days! Then I scan the whole form to keep a copy before sending it - this takes so much time and effort to do. To be able to download a pdf and do it this way a little at a time, and also being able to keep that as a copy is a great format.
Thank you again for the information.:)

SuziQ

Not all DLA letters have a date for renewall on them-my god-daughters doesn't even though it doesn't say it is a life time award either. When my son was first on DLA, it had no date on but the renewal came through after a year. His new award runs out May 2011, but I was also told they can ask you to reapply sooner than that.

TOBRUK

Every DECISION on award letter I have received has had a date when the award ended, however my recent one the award for both components are Indefinite awards and so I don't know when they will request a renewal.

daska

All my decision letters (3 awards since March 2007) have clearly stated the end date.