pip sudden knock at the door

TygerSunMaverick1

Hi,
For around 20 years I had a string of psychiatrists, supportive psychotherapists, cpns, and social workers for mental health issues.  
Then around 2019, I was discharged from all services .  Partly this was because I felt abused by the therapist, and this made things very tricky for everyone, and secondly I am sure because of the cuts to services.  Since then I have sought support and help from a number of charitable organisations for group setting support and counselling.   The Commissioners for our area actually funded further psychotherapy for me privately after my discharge from the mental health trust.
I had been in receipt of PIP for many years.  Then without backup from professionals who did the relevant reports for DWP, I felt pretty threatened by all that I heard about DWP's behaviour to claimants and the rhetoric coming from government, and others which was not supportive or pleasant.
Now I think it was on here that I read something about getting a unexpected visit from DWP.  The pattern of visits like this was twice on one day, once on another, followed by a letter demanding attendance at a local DWP office.
Now I never answer the door to people who knock on my door, or buzz from outside our block of flats because of my anxiety levels.  One of the serious aspects of my condition is very high anxiety levels and serious clinical depression. Several attempted suicides.
I have had no notification from DWP or letter so far, but the visits only happened quite recently.
I am in my mid -70s and still have severe mental health challenges.  My official review should be in about three years time.  I have read there is something DWP do, to collect statistics and to ensure accurate awards and they check people out, randomly   This is called a Performance Measurement Review.   In effect, this just seems like any DWP review - which is scary for me.
I know any face to face meeting would cause a great deal of anxiety and agitation in me and would potentially send me overboard emotionally and psychologically.
Is there anyone out there who can give me advice as to how to deal with this should the letter come telling me to go to the DWP office.  I feel neither safe to go there, nor safe to have anyone here in my home.
Given my level of vulnerability, is it possible for my GP to contact the DWP stating this so that if necessary I can do a paper response, or phone response?
Thank you very much for any suggestions or information about my predicament.
Of  course no letter has arrived yet, but my suspicion is that it may!

Muttleythefrog

Classic case of high levels of anxiety... fear... suspicion... I know it well !

You say "the visits only happened quite recently" but don't seem to detail anything regarding them. It is entirely likely they're nothing to do with PIP or the DWP.

It is extremely unlikely there is anything to be concerned about here. There is a very slim chance someone has claimed you are committing fraud and they're investigating but given your long claim history, age and clear medical documentation that'll exist which would also be sitting on their desk.... again I'm thinking highly unlikely. Your age also is pointing away from you being a typical candidate for reported benefit fraud... which often arises out of misinformation and jealousies or interpersonal problems with people... and in your mid 70s I somehow doubt living reclusively you're gaining enemies or associating with new people of such disposition. 

Unless you have strong reason to believe any visitors coming to your building are from DWP or council investigating benefit related claims I would definitely assume they are not in your case. It also sounds like you are well away from any review of PIP and frankly given the state of reviews and the changes government plan it may be anyone's guess as to further delays or even whether you have no further reviews at all.

Please do update if you get any concerning information.... but at the moment I'd try to distract yourself using any coping techniques you have learned or get advice about. You are far from alone in living with significant fears and anxieties over benefits even when legitimately claiming such. I still struggle to open letters from DWP due to fear - I have lesser problems opening letters from my oncologists about late stage cancer.

In terms of not answering door. Obviously living in flat means you might need some property features routinely checked like fire alarms.... do bear this in mind. As someone who also lives in a flat I'd say the vast majority of 'people coming knocking' are for deliveries and then are for routine flat maintenance issues like fire safety checks... oh I get a community nurse every couple of weeks medical related. I would like to think any routine flat related stuff you'd be tipped off about so you can be available... we are here... but you may not get such information as standard helpful though it may be. You could speak to management about that if it may be relevant and help you.

TygerSunMaverick1

For some reason, Mottleythefrog, I cannot seem to reply to you.     Where is the reply button on here - it wont take my response!

Anyway, hoping you get this:   "Thank you very much for responding.   I did feel some reassurance from what you said, but I still have no idea as to who this was. It was the pattern of knocking on my door, (2 visits in one day)  and on one of those two occasions, going back outside to buzz our block's buzzer;  then returning a couple of days later and knocking on my letterbox, once, again.  That pattern seemed odd as no one has ever behaved in that way before.

No card was left.

I have checked with my housing association, but they have nothing recorded on their file about any visits to my flat.
This has certainly caused me a lot of anxiety.

I will keep you informed Muttleythefrog - especially if a letter pops through the door in the next few days or weeks!

Your reply is clearly from someone who has some idea of the working of this kind of thing, and is a quality response.  Many thanks!

TygerSunMaverick1

Muttleythefrog said:

Classic case of high levels of anxiety... fear... suspicion... I know it well !

You say "the visits only happened quite recently" but don't seem to detail anything regarding them. It is entirely likely they're nothing to do with PIP or the DWP.

It is extremely unlikely there is anything to be concerned about here. There is a very slim chance someone has claimed you are committing fraud and they're investigating but given your long claim history, age and clear medical documentation that'll exist which would also be sitting on their desk.... again I'm thinking highly unlikely. Your age also is pointing away from you being a typical candidate for reported benefit fraud... which often arises out of misinformation and jealousies or interpersonal problems with people... and in your mid 70s I somehow doubt living reclusively you're gaining enemies or associating with new people of such disposition. 

Unless you have strong reason to believe any visitors coming to your building are from DWP or council investigating benefit related claims I would definitely assume they are not in your case. It also sounds like you are well away from any review of PIP and frankly given the state of reviews and the changes government plan it may be anyone's guess as to further delays or even whether you have no further reviews at all.

Please do update if you get any concerning information.... but at the moment I'd try to distract yourself using any coping techniques you have learned or get advice about. You are far from alone in living with significant fears and anxieties over benefits even when legitimately claiming such. I still struggle to open letters from DWP due to fear - I have lesser problems opening letters from my oncologists about late stage cancer.

In terms of not answering door. Obviously living in flat means you might need some property features routinely checked like fire alarms.... do bear this in mind. As someone who also lives in a flat I'd say the vast majority of 'people coming knocking' are for deliveries and then are for routine flat maintenance issues like fire safety checks... oh I get a community nurse every couple of weeks medical related. I would like to think any routine flat related stuff you'd be tipped off about so you can be available... we are here... but you may not get such information as standard helpful though it may be. You could speak to management about that if it may be relevant and help you.

Is this where I should post my reply?

Muttleythefrog

Is this where I should post my reply?

Ah yes... looks like you've found the quote button which is in effect the reply button. But you can also just post without using the quote button. Thanks for your reply. What I would say is usually any official body or credible company will have more than one way of contacting you and won't waste resources keep knocking at door when a letter can get beyond that problem.. or email or call. If the DWP were having problems contacting you in this rare way of in person they would surely resort to other methods. 

Hopefully yes nothing to be concerned about and I rather suspect that'll be the case.

born_again

TygerSunMaverick1 said:

For some reason, Mottleythefrog, I cannot seem to reply to you.     Where is the reply button on here - it wont take my response!

Click on "Quote" & it will reply to the person 👍Then type in the white below the quote 👍

Brie

Is there a journal that you can log in to for DWP to see if someone has added any notes about a visit?

Spoonie_Turtle

Brie said:

Is there a journal that you can log in to for DWP to see if someone has added any notes about a visit?

Not for PIP.  Only UC (although I'm not 100% sure about New-style ESA/JSA).

8dayweek

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Brie said:

Is there a journal that you can log in to for DWP to see if someone has added any notes about a visit?

Not for PIP.  Only UC (although I'm not 100% sure about New-style ESA/JSA).

UC is the only one currently will a fully “online” system, but OP is mid 70’s so almost certainly won’t be on UC. 

For what it’s worth - Performance Measurement Team wouldn’t do Home Visits, their remit is often more checks of processes or evidence verified via partners (social housing etc). 

PIP Reviews are generally “light touch” and paper based for those over Pension age. 

UC Reviews are only for those in receipt of UC. 

DWP Visits will sometimes go out for things like where someone has been identified as potentially eligible for certain premiums on their benefits (along the lines of SDP etc) but this would be after repeated failed attempts to get the information in the normal way (i.e. after failed calls and attempts of sending the forms to fill in), however DWP Visits would both try to call to schedule a visit first, and would send a letter in advance if not of the date and time frame when they’ll be attending. DWP Visits also tend to leave a Letter there and then if they fail to get an answer - with details of the next attempt they’ll make to see you. 

So in short, I think it’s unlikely to be DWP. 

TygerSunMaverick1

8dayweek said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Brie said:

Is there a journal that you can log in to for DWP to see if someone has added any notes about a visit?

Not for PIP.  Only UC (although I'm not 100% sure about New-style ESA/JSA).

UC is the only one currently will a fully “online” system, but OP is mid 70’s so almost certainly won’t be on UC. 

For what it’s worth - Performance Measurement Team wouldn’t do Home Visits, their remit is often more checks of processes or evidence verified via partners (social housing etc). 

PIP Reviews are generally “light touch” and paper based for those over Pension age. 

UC Reviews are only for those in receipt of UC. 

DWP Visits will sometimes go out for things like where someone has been identified as potentially eligible for certain premiums on their benefits (along the lines of SDP etc) but this would be after repeated failed attempts to get the information in the normal way (i.e. after failed calls and attempts of sending the forms to fill in), however DWP Visits would both try to call to schedule a visit first, and would send a letter in advance if not of the date and time frame when they’ll be attending. DWP Visits also tend to leave a Letter there and then if they fail to get an answer - with details of the next attempt they’ll make to see you. 

So in short, I think it’s unlikely to be DWP. 

Thank you very much 8dayweek.  This post was what triggered my anxiety about the pattern of the visits,  two one day and then one on a separate day - which seemed rather odd?        I think you will already have seen it.

"DWP Unexpected Knock On The Door. — MoneySavingExpert Forum

TygerSunMaverick1

From SailorSam:

"I thought some of you maybe interested to have a read of this. It's part of an email that i've received from Benefits & Work Guides. It's about the increased number of unannounced home visits by the DWP to claimants homes.

It's quite long but has some information in it that you may find of use...........

 

An unexpected knock at the door. Someone standing there with an ID card claiming they have come to check if you are getting the correct benefits and could they please come in?

What do you do?

You don’t have to be guilty of anything to find the possibility of such a visit very alarming – especially if you have a mental health condition made worse by stress and anxiety.

Last month there was a lot of concern about just such visits, prompted by a change to a page on the DWP website which stated:

You may get a visit from a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officer to check that your benefits payments are correct.

A Performance Measurement review officer may visit you if you’re claiming:

Employment and Support Allowance

Housing Benefit

Income Support

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Pension Credit

Your name is selected at random to be checked. You won’t always get a letter in advance telling you about the visit.

The concern was the addition of the sentence:

You won’t always get a letter in advance telling you about the visit.

Worries about how to deal with such a visit were posted on various blogs and forums and we received numerous requests from members for guidance on how to deal with these visits.

So Benefits and Work made a Freedom of Information request.

As a result of that request we can now reveal that, in reality, the vast majority of people who get a visit do not get a letter in advance – surprise visits are the rule, not the exception. There’s more on this below.

However, we can also reassure our readers that:

you don’t have to let them in; and

you can insist on being given proper notice;

you can insist on having the interview at a DWP office instead of in your home.

And doing so won’t affect your benefits, though refusing to take part in an interview at all may leave you open to a fraud investigation.

In the members' area we’ve published the letter we got in response to our request and 62 pages of the guidance document issued to officers carrying out these visits - though there are a large number of redactions to the guidance. You’ll find the documents in the DWP Guides section of the ESA download page in the members' area.

Only a tiny percentage of claimants receive one of these visits. But the majority who do get one are not given any warning.

In fact, far from ‘You won’t always get a letter’ , DWP staff are actually told:

‘You must make an un-notified visit to each customer, apart from the exceptions detailed in the subsequent paragraphs. If this is ineffective a second un-notified visit must be made.’

If two un-notified visits are made on the same day then another un-notified visit must be made on another day.

After that a letter has to be sent giving you at least 48 hours’ notice of a visit or 24 hours where the letter is hand delivered.

There are also certain classes of claimant who should never receive an unannounced visit, including:

“customers suffering from depression or a medically defined mental illness

customers with an alcohol or drug-related dependency

disabled customers where there is evidence from the preview information that they may be distressed if an MRO calls unannounced. “

However, where the visiting officer suspects, on the basis of your files, that you may be committing fraud they can still carry out an un-notified visit even if you are in one of the categories above.

And it’s important to be aware that one of the things visiting officers will do is look out for any difference between the details given in your work capability assessment medical report and your behaviour at home. The rather bizarre example given is that of a claimant who is up a ladder washing windows when visited, but their incapacity is listed as vertigo.

So, if your condition is a variable one and you’re having a better day, make that very clear - even if you aren’t asked. "