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DWP Telephone Call

Hi


Does anyone know what number they call from regarding PIP?
And do they text/write to you with a telephone appointment or just randomly telephone you without warning?

Would they try contacting carers who are mentioned and they do have their number?

Thanks in advance
«1

Comments

  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,445 Ambassador
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    My experience with DWP was for jobseekers not PIP so may be different, in fact I hope it is.  They always called me from a withheld number, there were set appointment times that they never managed to make and then blamed me for not picking up when they phoned 3 hours later or the next day.  The fact that I was driving or in the shower wasn't a good excuse.  And my only recourse was to ring the general line and leave a message as there was no direct phone number to ring back on.

    I believe they may contact people named in your application but obviously it would be down to you supplying them with the contact details.
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  • sassy_one
    sassy_one Posts: 2,688 Forumite
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    I'm surprised if they have attempted to telephone given the information they've been given and evidence regarding psychological distress if they phoned unannounced. 
    They've also not attempted to contact official carers and they do have the details as they've done so previously, and a consent declaration was given to them ages ago to contact any person related to the matter to obtain information and/or evidence.

    No voicemail was left and it was my understanding appointment needed or not needed they'd write and not just telephone out of the blue.
    That missed call alone now as caused mass distress which I won't go into which they are fully aware as they've been given endless amounts of evidence by various agencies.


  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 93,986 Ambassador
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    They phone from a withheld number.
    They don't always make an appointment, they just phone.
    They often don't make an appointment if they just need to clarify a couple of points.
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  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,749 Forumite
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    If it’s PIP itself that ring then it will most definitely be from an 0800 number. If it’s the health assessment providers then it maybe withheld. 

    If they want to ask you a few questions then they don’t usually warn you before ringing. If it’s a full assessment that’s needed then you will be informed of the appointment date and time. 

    They very rarely contact anyone so I wouldn’t expect them to do this. 
  • gbhxu
    gbhxu Posts: 412 Forumite
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    I had a number withheld phone call a few years ago. When i answered it the voice on the other end said that they were the DWP.
    I politely declined to take the call and told them that with all the scam phone calls, if they were who they said they were they'd have my details and to send me a phone appointment. 

    Knowing the time and date that they were going to call, I then spoke to them.

    I now have a policy that if I don't know the number I don't answer the phone.
  • sassy_one
    sassy_one Posts: 2,688 Forumite
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    If it’s PIP itself that ring then it will most definitely be from an 0800 number. If it’s the health assessment providers then it maybe withheld. 

    If they want to ask you a few questions then they don’t usually warn you before ringing. If it’s a full assessment that’s needed then you will be informed of the appointment date and time. 

    They very rarely contact anyone so I wouldn’t expect them to do this. 
    Thanks Poppy.


    If it was them when will they likely try again? Next day, a week or if they needed to just check a question quickly, will they use their own medical knowledge to make the report themselves if they can't get in touch?
    It's a review, not a first one either.

    Way things are going the health situation is only going to get much worse and they've been told this.

    They tried phoning after 5pm if that helps to say of it was them or not.

    I do recall them phoning at 8pm one time years back so I guess it could be them at that time.

    Also, do they send texts out the dwp once they have the file back with a decision? As I read somewhere some people get a text.


  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,749 Forumite
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    sassy_one said:
    If it’s PIP itself that ring then it will most definitely be from an 0800 number. If it’s the health assessment providers then it maybe withheld. 

    If they want to ask you a few questions then they don’t usually warn you before ringing. If it’s a full assessment that’s needed then you will be informed of the appointment date and time. 

    They very rarely contact anyone so I wouldn’t expect them to do this. 
    Thanks Poppy.


    If it was them when will they likely try again? Next day, a week or if they needed to just check a question quickly, will they use their own medical knowledge to make the report themselves if they can't get in touch?
    It's a review, not a first one either.



    If it was them I have no idea if they will ring back, sorry.
  • sassy_one
    sassy_one Posts: 2,688 Forumite
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    sassy_one said:
    If it’s PIP itself that ring then it will most definitely be from an 0800 number. If it’s the health assessment providers then it maybe withheld. 

    If they want to ask you a few questions then they don’t usually warn you before ringing. If it’s a full assessment that’s needed then you will be informed of the appointment date and time. 

    They very rarely contact anyone so I wouldn’t expect them to do this. 
    Thanks Poppy.


    If it was them when will they likely try again? Next day, a week or if they needed to just check a question quickly, will they use their own medical knowledge to make the report themselves if they can't get in touch?
    It's a review, not a first one either.



    If it was them I have no idea if they will ring back, sorry.
    Thank you Poppy.

    I've managed to get someone to track the caller down, they have advised it is someone regards PIP and that they will try calling again later in the week.
    Does this sound like a Paper based review to you as from feedback they've now made contact with carers yesterday to discuss claim, it's not the dwp themselves.
  • Newcad
    Newcad Posts: 1,454 Forumite
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    edited 16 August 2023 at 2:46PM
    They do telephone out of the blue for some things, to clarify your answers to a few (re)assessment questions is one of them the assessors may call about like that.
    They are supposed to contact carers/appointees in some cases, but they have a (nasty) habit of not checking or just ignoring what it says on file and still telephoning the claimant directly.
    Complaints have been made about it many times, and reassuring noises are always made about checking more carefully in future, but they continue to do it.
  • sassy_one
    sassy_one Posts: 2,688 Forumite
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    Saga continues. 

    Was advised that someone would telephone back and speak to carers, we have proof this is what was said.

    However they haven't called and no contact whatsoever.


    The helpline has been contacted to ask what to do and they stated they don't have access to the persons details whom is going to phone so can't patch a call through to them.

    So what now? 2 years waiting for a review, 2 phone calls missed from a withheld number because they've never given any written or text message notifications about any appointments or phone calls.
    Then when they do say they'll call, they don't.



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