DWP not receiving forms - anyone else having this problem?

Indie_Kid

Phoned up DWP roughly 2 months ago, informed them of change in address and asked for SDP form. Twice they've somehow not received this form. I've phoned them up twice (which due to my hearing and speech difficulties is a right pain for me) and chased it up. They claim both times they've either not received the form or it's been lost in the post. Don't think I've had this problem with other mail not being received by others.

They've now sent me another form. I've now got to phone them and make an appointment with the JCP (again, this is a problem for me; but I knw there's really no option) to get them to scan it over or something.

Has anyone else had this problem? And will I get it backdated to February 16th? That was the date I informed DWP of my new address and the date they sent the original SDP form out.

TELLIT01

As there is evidence that forms have been sent previously and that you have chased up when they haven't received them there shouldn't be a problem getting the claim backdated. If they do muck you about appeal the decision - hopefully you won't need to.
I understand the problem with getting to the JC but can anybody take the form in for you? They will still need to make an appointment but at least you will be certain it has been received.

benniebert

TELLIT01 wrote: »

As there is evidence that forms have been sent previously and that you have chased up when they haven't received them there shouldn't be a problem getting the claim backdated. If they do muck you about appeal the decision - hopefully you won't need to.
I understand the problem with getting to the JC but can anybody take the form in for you? They will still need to make an appointment but at least you will be certain it has been received.

Whatever happened to the old adage that the DWP always throw at you? 'It was posted 1st class to the last known address. Therefore it will have been deemed to have been received within 48 hours of posting it.'

TELLIT01

That must have been a long time ago benniebert - virtually everything goes out 2nd class these days, but no extra time is allowed for people to get the info back!

benniebert

TELLIT01 wrote: »

That must have been a long time ago benniebert - virtually everything goes out 2nd class these days, but no extra time is allowed for people to get the info back!

I'm not talking about the time it takes, but the assumption that the DWP take when sending post out - always treated as being delivered within 48 hours. Why can't the claimant quote the same back to the DWP?

Stamp on the envelope - last known address of the DWP - posted - assume it was delivered unless the DWP can prove otherwise? Why should the claimant have to prove it was sent - the DWP don't have to?

missapril75

benniebert wrote: »

Whatever happened to the old adage that the DWP always throw at you? 'It was posted 1st class to the last known address. Therefore it will have been deemed to have been received within 48 hours of posting it.'

Never heard of it.

And if it was after my 31 years working there it couldn't be an old adage.

eadieb

with a client of mine recently, they lost 4 severe disability premium forms (cant remember the ref no) but we started sending them in from this xmas and took until end march to finally get it put on. they backdate them but it is ridiculous. I sent each form myself and got proof of posting, but every one, allowing 3 weeks after each one sent, was not on the system.

missapril75

eadieb wrote: »

with a client of mine recently, they lost 4 severe disability premium forms (cant remember the ref no) but we started sending them in from this xmas and took until end march to finally get it put on. they backdate them but it is ridiculous. I sent each form myself and got proof of posting, but every one, allowing 3 weeks after each one sent, was not on the system.

Usual thing....cutbacks...savings...offices not opening and owning their own mail.

Bound to happen if you "outsource" it to companies with no interest in efficiency and only interested in making money.

Here's what someone else said

Storage costs money, especially when you, as a government sells off the storage facilities to a private company who then charge the government for storing it and then charges it again when an agency requires sight of its own documents. You could not make it up, except that someone did

Viberduo

I remember it has happened to me in the past, not just DWP but local council, the council one I filled in 12 housing benefit forms over a 12 week period and then I moved and they refused to look at claim as I moved out, had a snotty desk guy everytime I went in who claimed I was lying each time I went in, even put down people on benefits in front of them(things such as "why dont you get a job, that means you wont have to apply for housing benefit"

In the end my father stormed down to the office one day and threatened them with court, he got the snotty guy too who didnt realise my dad has 2 degrees and knows his rights, lets just say a hour later I got a phone call from head of regions HB team giving me a instant pay out and for higher than the HB rate i.e originally I thought I had a £15 a week top up in the end had none

Had a friend hand in his P45 and it got "lost" and again the usual "if we dont have it you never handed it to us" Then we sent a letter recorded as a complaint and they refused to sign for it then claimed he never sent the complaint letter! Even saw someone go in once and refuse to hand his personal documents to person at desk and was given "dont you trust us, I assure you if you hand it to me they will get it" This was same person who lost my friends P45!

I always remember the mad time when they forgot to give me a advisor interview for a new claim, I kept phoning up to ask why I hadnt got one and was told there was a backlog(rang basically every day) eventually got a letter about 2 months later saying I missed 2 sign on appointments so therefore my claim had been closed! Despite me ringing the day before letter was sent asking about appointment, lost my appeal on that too!.

Indie_Kid

Nice to see I'm not alone. Well, it's not. But I'm sure people know what I mean.

Strange thing is, I'm in Plymouth and have to send the form to Wolverhamptom. Yet, my local BDC, (where I had to send sick notes, etc) is Plymouth.

anmarj

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Nice to see I'm not alone. Well, it's not. But I'm sure people know what I mean.

Strange thing is, I'm in Plymouth and have to send the form to Wolverhamptom. Yet, my local BDC, (where I had to send sick notes, etc) is Plymouth.

Because the mail is all sent to a central point and then scanned. Sometimes it can take 10 working days to get scanned and that is as long as it has been correctly allocated to your national insurance number.