Stupid question of the day - PIP envelopes

Muttleythefrog

Can't find clarification anywhere.

The freepost postage envelopes for returning PIP forms - is there a weight limit?

Obviously I'm not sending a brick (much as I'd enjoy doing so) but perhaps 200g back. 

sarahlply

I submitted over 100 extra pages with mine but always pay for signed for delivery in case as one envelope vanished since last big submission 

Alice_Holt

sarahlply said:

I submitted over 100 extra pages with mine but always pay for signed for delivery in case as one envelope vanished since last big submission 

      You are better to get proof of posting (free) than pay for recorded delivery. 

   The DWP mail handling sites are outsourced,
   A PIP form, I understand, is only registered as received when scanned onto the DWP system.  Having it signed for may delay that process.

    It's a good idea to keep a copy of the form, and, of course, only send copies of any evidence.

Sorry Muttley, I don't know the weight limit attached to DWP freepost envelopes. Possibly the Post Office might?

sarahlply

Alice_Holt said:

sarahlply said:

I submitted over 100 extra pages with mine but always pay for signed for delivery in case as one envelope vanished since last big submission 

      You are better to get proof of posting (free) than pay for recorded delivery. 

   The DWP mail handling sites are outsourced,
   A PIP form, I understand, is only registered as received when scanned onto the DWP system.  Having it signed for may delay that process.

    It's a good idea to keep a copy of the form, and, of course, only send copies of any evidence.

Sorry Muttley, I don't know the weight limit attached to DWP freepost envelopes. Possibly the Post Office might?

Only going by advice given by our local citizens advice! 😢 obviously they suggested for a reason given my pre printed envelope previously went missing.

 Only ever heard of it delayed if arrives when offices shut on a Saturday (a post on Twitter from a lady who posted next working day on a Friday recently.

Spoonie_Turtle

The weight limit for a large letter is 750g.  Edit: also a thickness limit of 2.5cm.  that's still a lot of sheets of paper!  https://send.royalmail.com/

Re: postage, free vs Signed For, I think people do of course need to be aware that it only confims delivery to the mail centre and NOT onto DWP's system.  And if they do still want that peace of mind with full knowledge of its limitations, they need to know they can just pay the difference between 2nd class Freepost and whichever Signed For service they choose, rather than the whole Signed For price.

[I know it's not overly logical but my own gut feeling is if it gets lost and I have proof it got to where they told me to send it and in time, losing it is their fault and if anything happened (such as them stopping my benefit due to 'not returning the form') I can use that proof in any complaint.  Of course I keep a copy of what was written and have photographic proof of the pages and what evidence I sent, because if it got lost then no complaint or proof would help me get an award anyway.]

Alice_Holt

sarahlply said:

Alice_Holt said:

sarahlply said:

I submitted over 100 extra pages with mine but always pay for signed for delivery in case as one envelope vanished since last big submission 

      You are better to get proof of posting (free) than pay for recorded delivery. 

   The DWP mail handling sites are outsourced,
   A PIP form, I understand, is only registered as received when scanned onto the DWP system.  Having it signed for may delay that process.

    It's a good idea to keep a copy of the form, and, of course, only send copies of any evidence.

Sorry Muttley, I don't know the weight limit attached to DWP freepost envelopes. Possibly the Post Office might?

Only going by advice given by our local citizens advice! 😢 obviously they suggested for a reason given my pre printed envelope previously went missing.

   

 Have a read of Citizens Advice public site which states:
    

"Check how to send the form

If the DWP sent you a link to the online form by email, check the instructions they sent you about how to submit it.

If they sent you a form by post, the address to send it to will be on the back page of the form or the envelope it came with. If you can’t find it, call the phone number on the letter that came with the form.

When you post the form, ask the Post Office for free proof of postage - you might need to show when you sent it."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/send-in-form/


All I can say is at my local Cit A, we follow this advice. Our Benefit Caseworkers do not suggest that clients to use recorded delivery. 

sarahlply

Alice_Holt said:

sarahlply said:

Alice_Holt said:

sarahlply said:

I submitted over 100 extra pages with mine but always pay for signed for delivery in case as one envelope vanished since last big submission 

      You are better to get proof of posting (free) than pay for recorded delivery. 

   The DWP mail handling sites are outsourced,
   A PIP form, I understand, is only registered as received when scanned onto the DWP system.  Having it signed for may delay that process.

    It's a good idea to keep a copy of the form, and, of course, only send copies of any evidence.

Sorry Muttley, I don't know the weight limit attached to DWP freepost envelopes. Possibly the Post Office might?

Only going by advice given by our local citizens advice! 😢 obviously they suggested for a reason given my pre printed envelope previously went missing.

   

 Have a read of Citizens Advice public site which states:
    

"Check how to send the form

If the DWP sent you a link to the online form by email, check the instructions they sent you about how to submit it.

If they sent you a form by post, the address to send it to will be on the back page of the form or the envelope it came with. If you can’t find it, call the phone number on the letter that came with the form.

When you post the form, ask the Post Office for free proof of postage - you might need to show when you sent it."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/send-in-form/


All I can say is at my local Cit A, we follow this advice. Our Benefit Caseworkers do not suggest that clients to use recorded delivery. 

As pointed out I can only go by advice I was given and feeling stressed by your recent negative comments to me, have a lovely evening.

Bigwheels1111

I place 50 odd sheets of paper into an A4 envelope, Stuck the standard free post envelope on top and sent signed for.
Extra £1 ish I think it was. That was a good few years ago.

born_again

As some else pointed out. Signed for is a waste of money. NO large company has someone signing for each item. It is either a bulk signing or done by the post office.
So save you money & just use the freepost, but get proof of posting.

Just remember to keep copies of what you send. If it get's lost no matter how you send it. You will still have to resend. 👍

Muttleythefrog

Sent and proof of posting gotten. I assume postage is calculated on weight and charged to DWP. Likely can go up to 750g.

Muttleythefrog

Alice_Holt said:

sarahlply said:

I submitted over 100 extra pages with mine but always pay for signed for delivery in case as one envelope vanished since last big submission 

   A PIP form, I understand, is only registered as received when scanned onto the DWP system.  Having it signed for may delay that process.

Just for reference.... as they did for my review in 2020 they sent a text which was incorrect saying that the Healthcare Pro had sent them their report and that they should contact me in the next 6 weeks. I have sent the previous assessment report like in 2020 and they seem to pick up on this rather than my much larger review form that is recently dated.

Whoeover is scanning these things onto their system is screwing up and like in 2020 the agent on the phone spoke to a Decision Maker (or the like) to confirm the status needs correcting. 

At least they have received my stuff - confirmed with a couple days to spare!