Hi, I'm Th02msn! Would my friend qualify for SDP?

Th02msn

Update…

Received a text message on 29th Dec 2023 saying they have received our MR and not to call them.

No correspondence since….

Im still baffled at having to submit a MR and explain why we ‘disagree with a decision’ when we never received a decision to begin with?!  It just seems very odd.

Anyone else had a similar experience when asking for SDP to be back dated or similar?

sd100

I can’t say anything more than poppy has already said, but I never had a clue it existed either and I was backdated without an issue so wouldn’t worry about that not being a good excuse, I’m sure it will work out ok, it’s just a waiting game really now.

Th02msn

Yes absolutely.

Did you have to fill out a Mandatory Reconsideration form to get it back dated?

The fact was - it wasnt an excuse, it was the truth.  If it hadnt of been for the scope group and other helpful groups, we would have been none the wiser.

sd100

Th02msn said:

Yes absolutely.

Did you have to fill out a Mandatory Reconsideration form to get it back dated?

The fact was - it wasnt an excuse, it was the truth.  If it hadnt of been for the scope group and other helpful groups, we would have been none the wiser.

Hi, no I didn’t have to do any MR and the backdated they owed me was from over 10 years ago and was a substantial amount of money. You mentioned your friends was from 2022 so I doubt they will try to worm there way out of it as they didn’t try to with mine that was a lot more than that, if your friend meets all the criteria they will backdate the moneys owed, the people you speak to on the phone don’t always know what they are talking about. I believe your friend will expect to see a positive outcome from this, as the excuse of you should have known about it just won’t stand up imo. 

Th02msn

Good to hear you were awarded what you were rightfully due

I couldnt agree more about your comment regarding ‘knowing what they are talking about’!  I guess they are trying their best but the whole system is just messy.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

sd100

Th02msn said:

Good to hear you were awarded what you were rightfully due

I couldnt agree more about your comment regarding ‘knowing what they are talking about’!  I guess they are trying their best but the whole system is just messy.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

No worries, the waiting part is very stressful but like I said if he qualifies for it he will get it backdated.

bernadetta

The only thing I would add that you may find helpful, is that in certain circumstances when you request MR (mandatory reconsideration), there are time limits to do so (one month from the decision and further 12 months if lateness is explained), so in total 13 months.

However, the award of a qualifying benefit (e.g. PIP) is a different kind of a change from the benefits perspective; meaning you do not need to explain any lateness and arrears owed may be paid back without time limits.

The MR form is a standard form that is why there is a question on the reasons for being 'late'. That does not apply to this situation. The call handlers or the DWP staff do not always understand the difference between revision, supersession, etc; and they read from the script (just like the standardised MR form) which is why the MR request will be looked at by the decision maker who, hopefully, knows the law and will award the backdated arrears without any problem.