PIP CANCELLED - identity forms not returned? - RANT

Dr_Arkham

Sorry everyone, just need to vent my anger and as it’s the weekend I can’t speak to DWP until Monday.
long story short - applied for PIP - all ticketyboo apart from supporting documents( you know passport, marriage certificate etc. all things we don’t need or can replace with money as heck what’s an original 25 year marriage certificate sentimental value really?)sent these back on the day I got the letter and they took ages to find them - returned them after over a month and now the DWP sent a letter saying that  PIP claim stopped as I didn’t send documents ( oh what? you mean the ones you just sent BACK to me?)
I'm truly fed up with everything  and I’m sure a call on Monday will resolve this - just need to vent!!

Hey guess what? The DWP say their busiest times on the phone are Monday mornings? (no **** Sherlock - perhaps because they are closed at weekends?) - apologies if I have offended anyone with the language used 

Dr_Arkham

Thank you for your reply - I’ve promised my long suffering wife not to get into a discussion. Sorry about my post being confusing [removed by moderator]

Dr_Arkham

Oh and BTW ( By The Way) - just checked - they did ask for originals 

Ray212

I wonder if that's a new thing? As the letter normally says do NOT send in originals. Though even the Government page says not to send in originals :

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6426d932fbe620000f17da60/easy-read-supporting-information-for-personal-independence-payment.pdf

Dr_Arkham

If I’ve learned anything from the process it’s to do the paper copy ~ you can then send off all the required documents together - registered post etc.
thanks for the replies.

Dr_Arkham

Apparently it was an identity check thing. Official DWP letter asking for originals. like a good boy I sent them straight away - in a non registered post envelope as requested. Got another letter two weeks after saying they hadn’t received it - two weeks of panicking that my passport, marriage certificate, council tax letter was now lost - I got them sent back and had another letter saying PIP closed as I didnt send the documents 

Ray212

Originals AND asked to send in a non registered post envelope

poppy123456

My first thoughts here is was the letter saying your PIP has been cancelled  dated around the same time you sent them what they asked for? Letters like this are automatically generated if they haven't received something by the date they asked for it. It can take anything up to a couple of weeks to receive post from DWP and about the same time for them to receive what you've sent them.

I'm also very shocked that they asked for originals because DWP do not usually return anything you send them. The "non registered post envelope" yes, usually the envelope they send you to return something is pre paid 2nd class. If you want to send something another way you can pay the difference.

Proof of posting is really all you need to prove something has been sent, which is free from any post office. Sending anything by "next day delivery or recorded delivery" doesn't mean it's arrived with DWP the following day. It will be signed for by someone from Royal Mail, not someone from DWP itself. Post isn't treated as arriving until it's been added to the computer.

The automated message on the phone line will tell you that Monday is the busiest time but if you ring any day as soon as they open then this is usually the best time to ring. I rang them recently at that time and took just 5 minutes for someone to answer.  

Dr_Arkham

Thanks for all the good advice, hindsight is a wonderful thing and on reflection I should have sent the documents registered or asked for proof of postage (something new I learnt today- thank you!)
I know it will probably all be sorted tomorrow - as I said at the start I just wanted to vent my anger/frustration as it gave me a sleepless night and after crying after my telephone assessment when I was forced to reflect on all the things I can't do now, it was just another hurdle that I didn't ask for or need. As DG says, 'After all....tomorrow is another day.'

bookrabbit

I hope you get this sorted out alright.

It has me worried about my son's claim now as we haven't received a request for documents for him. I had received a request before this stage and sent in and received my passport back. (They did ask for the original, not a copy). I am nervous that we missed a letter because they sent it to our old address before we gave them a correspondence address to use while we are stuck in hotel rooms. He got a phone call on Saturday asking for details to be confirmed and was told he has been awarded 'full PIP' whatever they mean by that and will get a letter within a week. Now I worry they could cancel it...

poppy123456

bookrabbit said:

I hope you get this sorted out alright.

It has me worried about my son's claim now as we haven't received a request for documents for him. I had received a request before this stage and sent in and received my passport back. (They did ask for the original, not a copy). I am nervous that we missed a letter because they sent it to our old address before we gave them a correspondence address to use while we are stuck in hotel rooms. He got a phone call on Saturday asking for details to be confirmed and was told he has been awarded 'full PIP' whatever they mean by that and will get a letter within a week. Now I worry they could cancel it...

Great news for your son. Full PIP means Enhanced for both parts. It's highly unlikely that they sent any letters out asking for proof of identity because he's already been awarded. It's very rare for them to ask someone for this. 

Dr_Arkham

bookrabbit said:

I hope you get this sorted out alright.

It has me worried about my son's claim now as we haven't received a request for documents for him. I had received a request before this stage and sent in and received my passport back. (They did ask for the original, not a copy). I am nervous that we missed a letter because they sent it to our old address before we gave them a correspondence address to use while we are stuck in hotel rooms. He got a phone call on Saturday asking for details to be confirmed and was told he has been awarded 'full PIP' whatever they mean by that and will get a letter within a week. Now I worry they could cancel it...

Thank you, I'm sure everything is fine as poppy123456 says. What's really annoying is all the letters I get from DWP have dates on them about two week previous to when I received them. I'm fine with a few days from dated to posting but TWO WEEKS?  - 13 minutes (and counting ) to when I get an answer - or at least ring DWP and wait patiently for an opportunity to state my case. My condition is exasperated by stress.  

Dr_Arkham

Ok, I've calmed down enough to post my experience.

Rang DWP at 9am (letter says they open at 8am? - which is untrue)

yes they had received my documents but as they were late ( letter requesting them received on 19/2/2024, I sent them on 21/2/24, DWP didn't put them on the system until 14/3/2024) my PIP claim closed.
MR would be allowed as they can see I rang them on 4/3/2024 when identity request letter sent to me again!! "(cue panic on my part that they had lost my documents)
waiting on the phone......

NO a MR would NOT be allowed and I would have to do a NEW claim?

at that point I had a meltdown - 

I'm happy (sic) if my assessment deemed me  unsuitable for PIP - obviously I would appeal etc.
BUT - don't tell me it was closed because I didn't send the documents in time!!

IT'S NOT MY FAULT! I cried down the phone. Don't tell me I didn't send them in time!

I did.

Now have a case worker looking into it.
Just had a text from DWP  - they are sending me a 'How your disability affects you' form
Well they need to send me a 'How can we stress you out more?' form.

not looking for sympathy - just updating you all

poppy123456

Not allowed to request the MR? That’s not correct, you are within your rights to request the MR and if you received a letter saying your PIP claim has closed it should tell you on there how to request the MR. 

Hannah_Alumni

I hope the caseworker looking into it is able to help! Have you got support around you? I would encourage you to reach out to Citizen's Advice if you need further help  

Dr_Arkham

poppy123456 said:

Not allowed to request the MR? That’s not correct, you are within your rights to request the MR and if you received a letter saying your PIP claim has closed it should tell you on there how to request the MR.

As the case was closed because they didn't acknowledge the documents until past the date they set (as explained they had the documents for weeks) it couldn't be a MR and the case closed letter didn't offer me a MR as such (should it actually say MR on the letter?)

Dr_Arkham

Hannah_Scope said:

I hope the caseworker looking into it is able to help! Have you got support around you? I would encourage you to reach out to Citizen's Advice if you need further help  

That is very sweet of you - will use CA if this continues.

bookrabbit

It is rotten that they did that to you. I hope they sort something out to continue that claim instead of using a later date for a new one.

When I sent my passport in I was very nervous about how long it would take as I didn't want to be without it but it was only gone for a week. They didn't return the other identity documents I sent though but they were just letters for proof of address so it didn't matter.

My son has now had an award text too so hopefully they didn't want documents from him as Poppy said. I just presumed it was normal as I was asked. I am surprised if he got enhanced on either. I was expecting standard on both for him but not enhanced. 

Dr_Arkham

Wednesday update :- Rang DWP and my case worker has 'allowed' the documents so my claim is now valid and, like in the Apprentice, it continues..........

Once again apologies if I have offended anyone and judging by the moderators removal or censorship.

Dr_Arkham

Friday update : -  Got my requested report in the post today - looks like nil points across the board!
Not got confirmation letter - yet

Obviously I will go for a MR as the report constantly contradicts itself.
Can I ask? - is it better to call or use the paper version?
thanks in advance.

poppy123456

It's always better to put the MR request in writing, either by letter or the form, available online. You should state where and why you think you should have scored those points. 

With the report, it's fine to mention a couple of obvious errors or contradictions but then put it to one side and forget about it because that isn't going to get you a PIP award.

If you didn't include a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each descriptor that applies to you when you filled out the form then you should do that for MR. 

You will of course need to wait for the decision. Although the report recommends no award, it has been known for them to go against it.