Odd phone call & happenings re DLA

louloututu

Well something strange is going on or am I overly suspicious?

I get DLA for my son who attends a residential school. He comes home every other weekend and every holiday. He has attended a residential school for 8 years so I thought I was clued up about the 'special' rule re claiming when away from home.

I have to complete a form approx every 6 weeks detailing his days spent at school and his days spent at home - this means that he is paid a daily rate for the days spent at home.

The last but one payment that came through showed that he was being paid for days at school so I rang the DLA dept and pointed this out, they said that they would get back to me and never did. I telephoned them 5 more times until an operator told me that it was a mistake and I had been paid too much but because of the trouble I had had in getting an answer that I could keep the money, I asked for this in writing and was told that this was not possible!!!!

Shortly after I received the latest payment which again was incorrect by almost £200 (according to my calculations). i telephoned again and the person I spoke to agreed that the amount didn't make sense and he would ensure that someone wrote to me to explain how it was calculated. My husband received a telephone call today (Sunday) whilst I was out and it was the DLA who explained that the payment was correct due to the 28 day rule and we are due another payment due to the 28 day rule. He asked for this to be confirmed in writing and was told that this was not possible.

So my questions are: if the 28 day rule is correct (I've checked it up) why haven't I received it before? Do the DLA work on a Sunday - not according to their website? Why won't they put anything in writing? Also should they have spoken to my husband who is not my son's father and I am the one who claims on behalf of my son?

Sorry for the long post but I think it's all a bit odd!

Loulou

[Deleted User]

You maybe looking for bad news where non exist,they may have written off the overpayment if it was their mistake and not yours,i`m sure ive read elsewhere that they do sometimes work sunday,as for the issue of speaking to your husband maybe they just assumed being your husband he was the lads father?did they ask for any details to confim i.d?

louloututu

You're right Woodbine - I think that I am looking for something to be wrong, I just don't believe that they would give money away!

It's still in my account as I dare not spend it incase they ask for it back. As for them speaking to my hubby - I don't have a problem with that really but in terms of confidentiality they shouldn't have.

I should just accept the money and put the 'unexpected' amount into my sons university fund and stop being paranoid!!

MrsManda

One thing I do suggest is writing down somewhere the time/date of the phone calls (and if possible the name of the person you spoke to). That way if something happens you'll be able to tell them to listen to the recording/transcript of the calls.

tomitma

My relative works for the tribunal service, and she has been working Saturdays and Sundays for the past 9 months.

GlasweJen

They do work Sundays now so don't panic about that.

It sounds like they've made an "official error" which means that you wont be required to pay it back. I'd recommend writing to them, put in dates and times of any phone calls you've made or dates you've sent in paperwork. Just reiterate that although you expected DLA at x rate for y days which usually gives you an award of £z, you receive an award of £a which was more than you expected and you understand that this was due to an error by the DWP, your partner took a call on [date] which has led you to understand that the overpayment totalling [insert figure] is being waived, can they please send you confirmation that this is the case.

send recorded delivery, download the signature and you'd have done everything you possibly could to keep yourself right, retain a copy of that letter, proof of postage, signature etc and any reply you get in case you need it in the future.

Mupette

What GlasweJen has said.

Also put the money to one side until you have it in writing that it is yours son's to keep.

Thus if you spend it and they say no it is not yours you can say well tough I have letter from you saying it was.