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DWP - Infuriating
Altior
Posts: 1,160 Forumite
Background is I started a new style ESA claim 31st July 2025.
I followed every single request, to the letter, before every deadline.
At every juncture, the DWP have been the complete opposite, including missing phone call appointments.
I have been very patient up to now. However, I am autistic, this incompetence is beyond the pale and really testing me.
I've only received one payment, which was 9th Oct 2025, for 8 weeks' & 2 days', including arrears.
I posted in my new fit note before the original had one ran out. That's because I like to be prepared and the information I'd read stated that you always need a live fit note to maintain the claim, but my GP stated that he could not forward date a fit note when I saw him, so the second one actually overlapped with the first. Note that the original fit note went until the end of September, so I had sent in the new fit note before I had received any payments ! I sent it to the FREEPOST address noted on the original new style ESA claim.
Last week I received a letter dated 6th October, asking me to send in another medical certificate by 4th October!! Oh My God. So I sent in another copy of the new fit note, on the day I received the letter (after those dates!).
A fortnight has now passed since my first (and last) payment. I got another letter on Wednesday this week, dated 7th October, stating my fit note ran out on 3rd October. However, if I'd sent it in the meantime, I could ignore the letter.
What is going on here? I don't want to call the number on the letter as I doubt I would be able to control my temper very well. This is absolutely ridiculous. How can the DWP send out a letter with a deadline that predates the letter
This is a bit of a vent, but what are the sanctions that DWP will face for missing their own deadlines, and not maintaining my claim? Since I have now submitted TWO copies of the required fit note, how long do you feel I should wait before taking matters further? Will I now need to wait until 6th November to get my second payment (including more arrears).
Thanks
I followed every single request, to the letter, before every deadline.
At every juncture, the DWP have been the complete opposite, including missing phone call appointments.
I have been very patient up to now. However, I am autistic, this incompetence is beyond the pale and really testing me.
I've only received one payment, which was 9th Oct 2025, for 8 weeks' & 2 days', including arrears.
I posted in my new fit note before the original had one ran out. That's because I like to be prepared and the information I'd read stated that you always need a live fit note to maintain the claim, but my GP stated that he could not forward date a fit note when I saw him, so the second one actually overlapped with the first. Note that the original fit note went until the end of September, so I had sent in the new fit note before I had received any payments ! I sent it to the FREEPOST address noted on the original new style ESA claim.
Last week I received a letter dated 6th October, asking me to send in another medical certificate by 4th October!! Oh My God. So I sent in another copy of the new fit note, on the day I received the letter (after those dates!).
A fortnight has now passed since my first (and last) payment. I got another letter on Wednesday this week, dated 7th October, stating my fit note ran out on 3rd October. However, if I'd sent it in the meantime, I could ignore the letter.
What is going on here? I don't want to call the number on the letter as I doubt I would be able to control my temper very well. This is absolutely ridiculous. How can the DWP send out a letter with a deadline that predates the letter
This is a bit of a vent, but what are the sanctions that DWP will face for missing their own deadlines, and not maintaining my claim? Since I have now submitted TWO copies of the required fit note, how long do you feel I should wait before taking matters further? Will I now need to wait until 6th November to get my second payment (including more arrears).
Thanks
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