DWP and emails

diolch

21Twinkle wrote: »

Part of my reason for trying to get a response out of Jobcentre is the lack of anything from anyone re my esa50 returned (in the envelope supplied) over 2 weeks ago.....
I just hope that it hasn't been "lost".
Since, not only can I not speak, but also cannot write - so had to get help in filling in the form.

You will find out soon enough if it has not been received. They will stop your benefit!

Then you are going to have to prove that the form was submitted, in time and sent to ATOS at the correct address.

This has happened to me on quite a few occasions. I couldn't get anybody to confirm receipt of a document/claim form. So instead of waiting to see what would happen, I sent in a total of another 3 claim forms. One via the web, one on the telephone and another via the post.

I was now certain that they had received one of them! It certainly caused major problems in the DWP with all these claims arriving. But that didn't matter, if they had replied in the first place I would not have needed to do it.

50Twuncle

I have not received any benefits since August - this is a re-claim !!
I was lucky to be offered "supported work" from September to 2 weeks ago - a fixed term that could not be extended !!

dmg24

21Twinkle wrote: »

[EMAIL="contact-us@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk"]contact-us@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk[/EMAIL]
as well as my regional office (that deal with my claims)
My DEA is useless as well - telling me that "Sorry, I don't know - try regional"
I generally end up writing to them (I was supplied with a pack of pre-paid envelopes) - which must cost a fortune and takes at least a week to receive a reply....

The JCP cannot give out 'general' advice, they will only advise on specific claims (and not be email for security reasons). It leaves them open to all sorts of problems.

21Twinkle wrote: »

Part of my reason for trying to get a response out of Jobcentre is the lack of anything from anyone re my esa50 returned (in the envelope supplied) over 2 weeks ago.....
I just hope that it hasn't been "lost".
Since, not only can I not speak, but also cannot write - so had to get help in filling in the form.

Surely you sent it Recorded Delivery?

I note that you do some work, can I ask what you do?

50Twuncle

I did work for 7 months - during which I was not claiming ESA !!
I was working on a supported placement
I am now not working - I am receiving an Ill Health Pension

dmg24

21Twinkle wrote: »

I did work for 7 months - during which I was not claiming ESA !!
I was working on a supported placement
I am now not working - I am receiving an Ill Health Pension

I was just intrigued as to what you did, not questioning your entitlement.

50Twuncle

dmg24 wrote: »

I was just intrigued as to what you did, not questioning your entitlement.

I spent my last 20 years working in I.T.

50Twuncle

dmg24 wrote: »

Surely you sent it Recorded Delivery?

If I sent every letter that I send to government departments, by recorded delivery - I would be broke
No - I sent it by registered post (free !!)
As you may be aware - Recorded delivery is generally only used for valuables (and then only up to a certain limit)

diolch

21Twinkle wrote: »

If I sent every letter that I send to government departments, by recorded delivery - I would be broke
No - I sent it by registered post (free !!)
As you may be aware - Recorded delivery is generally only used for valuables (and then only up to a certain limit)

There are some on this site that say that you must do whatever is necessary and at any cost. I know where you are coming from.

There is one poster on here, that is not content with obtaining a report from their NHS consultant psychiatrist on the grounds that they think it may not be strong enough to support their claim. So off they trotted to another psychiatrist to get a private report, at considerable expense, that would be strong enough to ensure that they get their money from the DWP.

They normally keep quiet about what they do as to them money is no object and money buys the best evidence!
Yet that poster is normally the first to criticise and mock others! I have that particular poster in my IGNORE list, as I can't stand the hypocrisy of it all.

As for the rest of us, well we live in hope.

ceecee1

The DWP have a security policy which is that no personal details can be put in an e-mail. No details relating to anyones claim, just general information and abslolutely nothing else.

They scan each and every e-mail going out of their secure system to see if anything breaches that policy and if someone has sent anything the member of staff faces an investigation whereby the lowest punishment is one of gross misconduct.

Staff are reminded at least every week (and sometimes every day) that they cannot use e-mail outside of their secure site and that if they do so that they could loose their job.

I'm not sure what the options would be for someone who could only communicate by e-mail - you would probably have to request a written letter in response but I'm sure that everyone would agree that an e-mail conversation would be much more productive - but just not possible...

diolch

ceecee1 wrote: »

The DWP have a security policy which is that no personal details can be put in an e-mail. No details relating to anyones claim, just general information and abslolutely nothing else.

They scan each and every e-mail going out of their secure system to see if anything breaches that policy and if someone has sent anything the member of staff faces an investigation whereby the lowest punishment is one of gross misconduct.

Staff are reminded at least every week (and sometimes every day) that they cannot use e-mail outside of their secure site and that if they do so that they could loose their job.

I'm not sure what the options would be for someone who could only communicate by e-mail - you would probably have to request a written letter in response but I'm sure that everyone would agree that an e-mail conversation would be much more productive - but just not possible...

What an absolute load of rubbish!! If that is the case, then the DWP are the only government dept that has this policy. HMRC, Insolvency Service and a myriad of other high profile, ultra security sensitive departments are more than willing to deal with the public via email.

The normal run of the mill is that the email address is viz:

[EMAIL="john.smith@(whatever"]john.smith@(whatever[/EMAIL] department).gsi.gov.uk

There is nothing wrong with using email from a security point of view. I have a multitude of email addresses on my laptop that I use, even some in the ultra sensitive MOD and Foreign Office!!!

The reason they don't like using them, is that the email is directed at a particular officer who then has to take responsibility for it. They hate to think that the public have access to the officers and can hold them personally responsible.