Dwp & jcp forms

lemontree

As my Son is unable to deal with various forms he receives due to ill health, both DWP and JCP have his written permission for me to deal with all correspondence regarding ESA.
The letter explains he is frequently in Hospital or not well enough to deal himself.
They have my full adress and Telephone number.(they requested this information)
As I live some distance away any important correspondence or phone call could be missed.
Neither DWP nor JCP have ever contacted me!
Why?
Any advice appreciated.

allen35

Is there any reason for them to contact him, they only tend to contact if his claim is due for renewal, inform him of changes to benefit or an interview/assessment is due.

To find out it may be best to contact the JCP yourself and ask the adviser to check they have your details registered.

You will need to pass security such as NI number, address, DOB.

If they don't discuss his claim with you you aren't registered as the appointee.

Ask for them to send out the form to allow you to act on his behalf due to his circumstances.

Hopefully this will work.

lemontree

They have contacted him recently regarding all the reasons you gave.Although it was confirmed by JCP some months ago by phone that they had received the necessary letter, I will try again.

jobbingmusician

lemontree, this is a guess. But I do see that the DWP having your son's PERMISSION for you to act for him may not be the same, legally, as you being his APPOINTEE. In your position I would contact them and ask specifically if you are registered as his appointee. If you are, ask how you can complain about the fact your appointeeship is not being recognised by them. If you are not, ask how you and your son go about getting formal appointeeship registered with them.

lemontree

I rang DWP and they say I would only be as Appointee if both my Son and I had been interviewed at home mainly to confirm that I was a suitable person to represent him.
When I asked why on the ESA50 IT SAYS "Would you like us to tell anyone else about this assessment, their phone number and why you would prefer we contacted them instead of you"
he said "They would probably speak to you about this form"
When I told him the they did not do this last time re the previous ESA50, he said he did not have an answer to that question.

Cpt.Scarlet

The DWP are accepting late appeals for claimants effected by the time limit, although you will still have to explain why it's late. Seems to me you have nothing to lose if you think you meet the Support Group criteria.

jobbingmusician

lemontree wrote: »

I rang DWP and they say I would only be as Appointee if both my Son and I had been interviewed at home mainly to confirm that I was a suitable person to represent him.
When I asked why on the ESA50 IT SAYS "Would you like us to tell anyone else about this assessment, their phone number and why you would prefer we contacted them instead of you"
he said "They would probably speak to you about this form"
When I told him the they did not do this last time re the previous ESA50, he said he did not have an answer to that question.

Maybe ring them back and ask them
a) how to speed up the process of getting this visit, so that you can become the appointee (ask this first)
b) how you can ensure that any ESA forms are in on time, given their failure to follow the requested procedure, and
c) how to complain about the fact that they did not follow the process you had both requested on the ESA50.

I have put c) last so you don't piddle them off too much before the end of the conversation!

missapril75

If someone is unable to act for themselves (as opposed to it being easier for someone else to do it) a suitable alternative person may become their appointee.

the Secretary of State can authorize someone else to act on a customer’s behalf only if the customer is incapable of managing their own affairs. This is called an appointment to act and the person or organization appointed to act is called an appointee.
NB: An appointment must never be made because it is ‘convenient’ either for the Secretary of State or prospective appointee. An appointee is not appropriate if the customer is simply unable to get to the bank, building society or post office. Nor is it appropriate simply because the customer no longer wishes to manage their own affairs. (See the Chapter on Power of Attorney for an alternative approach).

Regarding "When I asked why on the ESA50 IT SAYS "Would you like us to tell anyone else about this assessment" that means just that assessment. Nothing else.

Of course that wouldn't explain why they didn't do it for that assessment.

It's been decades since files were maintained and held in offices - even prior to assessment centres/call centres that was stopped; "paperless offices" and all that. Files were stored remotely at a cost saving.

A note can be made on computer records and that might help should you contact them, but decisions and enquiries will still go to the person responsible for their own affairs.

If your son is incapable of dealing with his affairs you can ask them to consider appointing you to act for him.

lemontree

Cpt.Scarlet wrote: »

The DWP are accepting late appeals for claimants effected by the time limit, although you will still have to explain why it's late. Seems to me you have nothing to lose if you think you meet the Support Group criteria.

The form has been sent Recorded Delivery 3 weeks before deadline as I was visiting mt Son when the letter was delivered.

lemontree

Thanks Job,
I have no problem with taking part in an Interview but my Son cannot cope at the moment and that is the reason I am trying to do all I can
He has 3 Consultant Appointments in the next 10 days as his physical healthis not good.
He also has severe depression which causes panic attacks.
I will use some of your advice but suggesting an interview to my Son is out of the question.
Thank you so much for your help!

jon_rwr

>I will use some of your advice but suggesting an interview to my Son is out of the question<

Then you will not become his appointee. The visiting officer needs to meet with the person for whom appointeeship may be required. It is that officer who decides if an appointee is necessary e.g is your son unable to manage his own affairs? If he/she considers that your son cannot, then the same visiting officer will complete the appropriate documentation and have you sign it. Done.

As helpfully mentioned by missapril75 where an individual does not wish to manage their affairs an appointee would not be considered. It is only if they are unable to.

J.