Claimant deaths? DWP vs Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) - have any effect?

[Deleted User]

sanctions should be the LAST resort not the FIRST

rogerblack

Confuseddot wrote: »

There are 2.515 million people claiming ESA automation is the only way to deal with such volumes.

It is very unfortunate if the DWP have not setup their systems in such a manner to comply with the law.
I am not referring to the odd letter going missing.

I am referring to the usual time between the letter arriving to them and it being available to people making decisions is 7-10 days.

Letters going out saying 'you need to send a letter explaining why you were late' and giving a deadline 10 days from when the letter are sent mean that when the decision comes to be made on around the 11th day, they are overwhelmingly likely - even if the claimant has responded not to have the letter.

The letter does _NOT_ say 'we will not get your letter in time to make a decision, so if you miss the phone call, we will immediately terminate your benefit' or 'you must call us as a letter will get to us too late'.

The DWP software is completely and utterly custom for them.

As to 'comply with the law' - they are legally required to take evidence that has reached them into account - even if it is in their internal mail system.

As to 'who is vulnerable' - this is of course a reasonable question.
I question if on the available evidence to them at the time (from the last interaction) I was not.
Fortunately, I had something unexpectedly nice happen on the day after the decision notice arrived which stopped my preparations.
Otherwise I might not be posting.

bloolagoon

I honestly don't see why they don't use technology IN addition to mail. If it's sent by email/text/uploaded to a personal portal it's going to stop a lot of "I didn't get the letter" on both sides

rogerblack

bloolagoon wrote: »

I honestly don't see why they don't use technology IN addition to mail. If it's sent by email/text/uploaded to a personal portal it's going to stop a lot of "I didn't get the letter" on both sides

I've requested a means of doing this, and have been refused. They act like they have never heard of computers.

My council on the other hand can easily be contacted by email.

GrotBags_2

tea-bag wrote: »

They are ignoring the request because people don't die because of the DWP.

There is NO proof the two are linked.

If somebody commits suicide they work and have money problems, do you blame the employer for not paying more?

If you commit suicide you have more problems than being found fit for work.

There is a clear link between vulnerable people taking their own life because the benefit system is not fit for purpose.


We can't support people born in this country, we have massive cutbacks in mental health services, yet we can house migrants who don't contribute to this country.

Generali

tea-bag wrote: »

They are ignoring the request because people don't die because of the DWP.

There is NO proof the two are linked.

If somebody commits suicide they work and have money problems, do you blame the employer for not paying more?

If you commit suicide you have more problems than being found fit for work.

The very sad fact is that about 6,250 people over 15 will commit suicide each year in the UK. The chances of many of these people being on benefits and even being investigated are pretty high given the nature of mental illness and that many mentally ill people (although far from all) struggle to hold down a job.

The real scandal IMHO is that so many people feel it is reasonable to fake depression in order to claim benefits. We all know them after all. Depression or a bad back: unprovable and gets you 'on the sick'.