DWP Culture of Contempt?

Alice_Holt

An update:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/12/dwp-to-restore-benefits-of-disabled-woman-it-called-lying-!!!!!

"The DWP’s offer to the claimant to drop its previously vigorous defence of the original PIP decision is likely to be seen as a damage-limitation exercise, amid continuing scepticism over the accuracy and reliability of disability benefit assessments.

Just a fortnight ago, the DWP was preparing to go to court to defend its PIP decision in the case – in effect arguing the woman was not disabled enough to claim mobility support. It had already reviewed the case internally in a process called mandatory reconsideration and upheld the initial assessment."

TELLIT01

A benefit claim which has been denied is rarely overturned at MR stage, so that part is hardly news. The paper is probably correct in it's assumption that in this case DWP has decide damage limitation is the best route to take.

Alice_Holt

An update.

"A disabled woman has been awarded £5,000 in an out-of-court settlement after being called a “lying !!!!!” by a welfare official in formal legal papers after challenging a decision to cut her disability benefits."

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/14271/P30

https://www.theguardian.com/society/benefits

" The scheduled tribunal had been the third time in five years she had been forced to appeal to overturn incorrect decisions relating to her entitlement to PIP."

"This is the third time my client has needed to appeal one of their decisions [writes her Welfare Adviser on rightsnet]...It appears that the DWP may see the ESA re-assessment and PIP planned review processes as a means to overturn tribunal decisions without having to apply for leave to appeal to the UT, but by lapsing the appeal this time they will be admitting to getting it wrong from the start"

Robbie64

More about the outcome at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/dec/12/disabled-women-called-lying-!!!!!-by-welfare-official-awarded-5000


The above says that the DWP official who sent the letter has been dismissed as the DWP regard the incident as gross misconduct. It's still not clear why the letter, as worded, was sent. In error, I assume, but who in their right mind would write such a thing even if it was meant as a joke that should never have seen the light of day outside the room in which the person was sitting?

WhenIam64

It appears the system is working and those who wish to be contemptible, are being rooted out by the system.

I'm not sure that there is any merit in the title of this thread as it may give the impression that there are not the checks and balances in the system, that there clearly are.

poppellerant

Robbie64 wrote: »

More about the outcome at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/dec/12/disabled-women-called-lying-!!!!!-by-welfare-official-awarded-5000

Looks like the forums have autocorrected the swearword into a series of exclamation marks. Here is a shortened link that should work without falling foul of the rules: https://!!!!!!/2LVKnZm