Financial redress from DWP

Huxley71

I've recently had a complaint against DWP (specifically the CMS) investigated by the Independent Case Examiner, she has upheld almost all elements of my case.

Glaring errors in calculation (acknowledged by ICE) have resulted in underpayment of maintenance over the course of the last three years, to the tune of approximately 3K.

The ICE recommendations state that I should receive a consolatory payment of £175, which is frankly insulting given that it's over three years since I initiated the complaints process, not to mention the huge amount of stress and sheer tenacity it's taken to get to this point.

She also recommends that CMS "revise the incorrect maintenance calculation effective from April 2018 to include the variation for contact costs for just DC1" and "issue correct decision notifications in respect of the maintenance calculations effective from March 2020, September 2020, February 2021 and April 2021"

I've called the ICE office to clarify whether these "revisions" will entail financial redress (as the DWP Financial Redress for Maladministration Staff Guide would seem to suggest) in order that I'll receive the 3K underpaid due to the complete ineptitude of CMS but as yet they haven't confirmed this.

If anyone has any experience of financial loss due to DWP error, and how this might be rectified, I'd be hugely grateful - really hoping I don't need to go down the PHSO route!

Brie

Where there's been an appeal against a decision and the individual wins the appeal they normally would correct the amounts to be paid from the original application date, or at least the date when the appeal was lodged.  So that would suggest you'll get the £3k.

Huxley71

@Brie Thanks, although there hasn't been any kind of appeal, just ongoing mis-calculations. Hopefully they are still liable to rectify this...

tifo

You're lucky it's £175.

I lost many thousands (in my opinion) from LCWRA I should have got in 2019 but didn't due to DWP staff error, in my case ICE recommended £75 and nothing for the lost money (it's complicated and they don't have the power to).