Access to work. Help.

frustrated1_2

Bit off topic but I need your expertise urgently if you have it as I have noticed this forum seems to be the most active...anyone had any experiences with Access to Work?

I'm fed up of constantly being fobbed off. I'm worried I will have legal action taken against me if they don't pay soon. (Bill is from august FYI, now November).

One of my claim forms has been "lost in the post" and they won't even tell me if the second one has been received yet! (sent over a week ago).

I have asked for it to be escalated and they deny such a system exists. Then they said they would contact the payments team and send them a query. The next time I phoned the person confirmed no query had been sent. They also say it takes up to two days for them to call you back, which doesn't happen. Most of the people I have talked to have been unhelpful, rude and can't wait to hang up on me

At long last I have got through to someone that said they can escalate and should if you have rang more than twice in a week to call you back within the hour. That was at 3.15. So waiting hopefully that someone knows what they are doing.

Any key phrases to use to get this sorted? I'm fed up to the back teeth now...

duchy

Get your MP involved

frustrated1_2

Still no phonecall back. ARRGH. Utterly ridiculous.

frustrated1_2

No phone call.

Maitane

http://limpingchicken.com/2014/02/20/noon-access-to-work-hostile/

Have you seen this blog? They have a link to DeafATW who go through how to complain. It's deaf specific but it might help with the way to get through the system.

Good luck!

frustrated1_2

Thanks for that link, will give it a go. Even the more helpful ones sound helpless- they have just been given 3 email addresses : change of circs, complaints, escalation (payments team) and the person I talked to openly said even if I put in urgent to be escalated a 100 times they will drag it out for as long as possible and she was upset on my behalf.

Horace

Dear Forum Mods, please can you move this thread to the Disability one as I think the question is more likely to be answered over there by the members who have to use the services of Access to Work on a regular basis.

OP. I have used the services of Access to Work in the past (and will do again when I become employed). I would contact them and ask them to carry a risk assessment of my workplace and advise as to what reasonable adjustments needed to be made by the employer to accommodate my disability.

I have never received payments from Access to Work so I am wondering if you are getting mixed up with PIP (Personal Independence Payment) which replaced Disability Living Allowance?

zippychick

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Zip

saraih

I just spoke to them and they said they were at least six weeks behind and were still processing claims from July due to restructuring. A lot of staff left and the ones remaining were told they had to deal with phone calls as well as process claims.

They said they were hoping to catch up by the end of November. I feel you on the frustration

ladybelle

I echo Duchy's post. I too have had horrendous problems with Access to Work since June of this year. Been ignored, not sent correct forms, when I then pay even more to send things to them by recorded delivery so I have proof it's arrived they still dont make my payments !
It took me 4 months to get my first payment from June then I was assured future payments would be done quicker.
I had then sent 2 further claims in and heard nothing. Calling them or emailing them was fruitless so I emailed my MP.
Within 3 days I got a personal call back from the DWP and my second payment due from September went into my bank yesterday. I am still waiting for my 3rd payment in - but the Advisor said it takes 10 working days from when they receive it for it to go in so I will wait and see if this one goes in on time next week !

The whole system is a shambles, they have relocated and nobody seems to know what is going on.

Good Luck.

dori2o

ladybelle wrote: »

I echo Duchy's post. I too have had horrendous problems with Access to Work since June of this year. Been ignored, not sent correct forms, when I then pay even more to send things to them by recorded delivery so I have proof it's arrived they still dont make my payments !
It took me 4 months to get my first payment from June then I was assured future payments would be done quicker.
I had then sent 2 further claims in and heard nothing. Calling them or emailing them was fruitless so I emailed my MP.
Within 3 days I got a personal call back from the DWP and my second payment due from September went into my bank yesterday. I am still waiting for my 3rd payment in - but the Advisor said it takes 10 working days from when they receive it for it to go in so I will wait and see if this one goes in on time next week !

The whole system is a shambles, they have relocated and nobody seems to know what is going on.

Good Luck.

I'm in the same boat unfortunately.

I've just lost my contact with the taxi provider who has lost patience with not being paid since June. My fear now is that they will pass the 'debt' onto a DCA who will inevitably add charges and interest.

I'm sick of phoning them now, and now I have the inconvenience of phoning round taxi companies looking for a new company who will offer me an account at the same price I had with the previous company. If I can't and the price increases then I will have to apply again for Access to Work funding, all the time costing myself more money on transport to work, and causing myself significant pain which the access to work is supposed to alleviate.

If I had the money to pay in advance then that is what I would do, then it's only me inconvenienced

Its funny that in PMQ's a couple of weeks ago the issue of late paying from Gov Departments was raised. I know this is slightly different as they were specifically talking about paying suppliers/contractors/private sector businesses supplying services to HMG, but this is very similar, in the fact that in many cases it is one person waiting for payment to pay a private sector business to pay for services supplied.

Something needs to be done quick to resolve these issues.