Is it possible to request from the DWP a copy of your previous benefit claim form?

LaPiePourri

i.e. a copy of the form you filled in so you can see what you wrote? And would doing so be a bad idea (would the DWP suspect anything)?

My circumstances haven't changed and as I forgot to photocopy my last claim form before sending it it might be helpful to know what I wrote verbatim for the renewal.

TELLIT01

If what you put on the original form was accurate there should be no need to get that form back.  In answer to the question, I don't think they would return it.

Placitasgirl

I doubt they even keep your paper form. I'm pretty sure documents are scanned into their electronic systems and stored there, with the original copy being destroyed. 

Rules about storing and sharing electronic documents so you'd need to check their policy on this. I very much doubt you'll get a copy as once scanned in it's their property and they're unlikely to share it with you. 

Robbie64

The DWP may have a copy of the claim form stored on their systems, depending on when you sent it. There's no harm in asking for a copy to be printed out and sent.

Whenever I've requested a copy of everything the DWP hold about me, the documents sent to me have always included a copy of the claim forms I completed. The only problem with requesting a copy of everything that is held by, e.g. PIP or ESA is that you'll be sent hundreds of pages of printouts. Better to phone and ask for a copy of a specific form if that is all you require.

Newcad

You have a right to see any information that they have about you, with certain exemptions for safeguarding of vulnerable claimants.

It's a Right of Access, AKA a Subject Access Request (SAR).

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/

Be careful only to ask for what you want/neeed, if you ask for everything they have about you then you will be swamped in documents.

However they have a month to reply to a SAR - so in this case that's probably going to be too late because the new form will need to be sent back before you get a copy of the old one.

TELLIT01

Just to clarify my previous reply.  Even if DWP will provide a copy of the previous form, using precisely the same wording may not be a great idea.  Although unlikely that a comparison would be made between the two forms, identical wording may lead to closer scrutiny.  Better to simply answer the questions focussing on your situation now, even if it us unchanged.

HillStreetBlues

I forgot to keep a copy of a PIP form once,  on renewal I phoned to get a copy of the old one.
No problems in getting it.

I've also copied PIP forms verbatim when nothing has changed. 

tifo

You can do a Right of Access request to the DWP https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions (the online link is in the page). You'll need to specify a date range so that it's only the information you want for that period.

poppy12345

tifo said:

You can do a Right of Access request to the DWP https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions (the online link is in the page). You'll need to specify a date range so that it's only the information you want for that period.

which was advised here.

Newcad said:

You have a right to see any information that they have about you, with certain exemptions for safeguarding of vulnerable claimants.

It's a Right of Access, AKA a Subject Access Request (SAR).

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/

Be careful only to ask for what you want/neeed, if you ask for everything they have about you then you will be swamped in documents.

However they have a month to reply to a SAR - so in this case that's probably going to be too late because the new form will need to be sent back before you get a copy of the old one.

tifo

poppy12345 said:

tifo said:

You can do a Right of Access request to the DWP https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-personal-information-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions (the online link is in the page). You'll need to specify a date range so that it's only the information you want for that period.

which was advised here.

Newcad said:

You have a right to see any information that they have about you, with certain exemptions for safeguarding of vulnerable claimants.

It's a Right of Access, AKA a Subject Access Request (SAR).

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/

Be careful only to ask for what you want/neeed, if you ask for everything they have about you then you will be swamped in documents.

However they have a month to reply to a SAR - so in this case that's probably going to be too late because the new form will need to be sent back before you get a copy of the old one.

I gave the link to where the request can be made for the DWP. The ico link is information etc. I'd say they're separate links so there's no harm done.