Despair - DWP Annual Verification Letter

Darenth87

I have literally only just managed to get my JSA claim sorted after 3 months of going around in circles while I jump through DWP hoops galore, had a few payments then today I get a letter on that typcial DWP faded grey paper saying that this;-

"I am writing to tell you that we cannot pay your jobseekers allowance after 29/2/2019 because you did not complete and rteurn the annual verification form letter we sent you".

spot the first error!

I have never heard of annual verifications and never got any letter from them about it.

I am just tired now of the constant faff with the DWP.

Has anybody else had one or been told they were sent one but it never arrived?

It just feels like they constantly pick away at legit claimants - I have done all the declarations all the form filling all the chasing yet they still want me to jump even higher.

I am angry. I am still on hold to the DWP listening to that incessant muzak as I want to speak to a human being to try and find out whats going on. I could be peacefully job hunting instead now my money has been cut off and I've got to waste time again on the claim. Ridiculous.

What does the form ask or look like?

pmduk

Darenth87 wrote: »

Has anybody else had one or been told they were sent one but it never arrived?

No, but that tried denying I'd returned it, despite my having returning and giving a signed copy to my Work Coach when signing on. It turned out somebody had failed to untick an outstanding action box on my claim (or words to that effect.)

They made my payment by FP within 3 hours.

IIRC, it's a letter summarising the details of your claim inviting you to correct any changes. I assume it's for those claimants who don't bother to update them with changes as they occur.

Why they can't do it when you sign on is beyond me.

Give them a call. Hopefully, they can accept your evidence over the phone.

Darenth87

just got off the phone to them now......

the guy seemed more concerned that they were issuing letters saying my claim would be stopped from 29th Feb 2019 when there was no 29th Feb this year!

but did confirm that my claim had been suspended. he never did tell me when their letter was sent out. I was a bit snide with him by saying that I always get the DwP letters that contain bad news but never seem to get those that require some action on my part which only manifests itself when i get a bad news letter. I am very, no extremely cynical about what actually gets posted out by the DwP these days so as to set people up to fail.

anyway he went through the 20 questions on the phone (all straightforward) and unsuspended the claim with no gap.

one question asked about my income and thats not changed. I recently banked a cheque for over £700 which was an HMRC refund so not income as such - I hope some busy body hasnt spotted that and though oooh he is getting an income here lets stop his claim. Do the DwP have that open instant access to your bank account to to see the incomings and outgoings?

sportsarb

They aren’t picking on you, you’re not that important that they would single you out, so while you might like to think that I would be certain it’s not the case.

All of your posts make you seem like a level headed, polite and happy go lucky chap that people will actually go out of their way to help.

What do you have that they might be looking for more information on? I know you have housing costs but do you have any savings? Pensions? Other income?

sportsarb

Darenth87 wrote: »

one question asked about my income and thats not changed. I recently banked a cheque for over £700 which was an HMRC refund so not income as such - I hope some busy body hasnt spotted that and though oooh he is getting an income here lets stop his claim. Do the DwP have that open instant access to your bank account to to see the incomings and outgoings?

Unless you’re suspected of fraud, the DWP would have no interest in your accounts, and they wouldn’t have instant access to ongoing changes. Merely the snapshot at each point they request information.

If your bank account is one where you had to give your national insurance number, chances are that if you’re earning interest that signifies significant savings, the general matching system will pick up on that. So if the £700 takes your savings above a certain limit, that might cause an issue, otherwise it’s irrelevant.

Darenth87

cheers for the replies.

didnt realise that the phone number to discuss support for mortgage interest is the same so now ive got to ring them back about my application sent in 3 weeks back ! argghhh!

WhenIam64

the guy seemed more concerned that they were issuing letters saying my claim would be stopped from 29th Feb 2019 when there was no 29th Feb this year!

Government IT - don't you just love it.

Send a copy of the letter to Amber Rudd at DWP and ask her to add this to her list of "issues".