Been told you have an appointee when you don't?

Jimm_Alumni
Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing
in Benefits and income
I am currently going through Access To Work and had the strangest interaction. My Access To Work case was assigned to someone at the DWP (after 4 months) and they asked to contact my 'appointee'.

 I assumed they meant the person internally in Scope who helped me sign up to Access To Work, but after a few emails of much confusion from me and my colleague it turns out they meant a benefits appointee. They seemed to think a family member of mine had been given appointeeship over me with regards to benefits.

Which I've never had one. I don't even understand how they could think I have one.

Has anyone else had this at all?

Comments

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,990 Championing
    Maybe others with your conditions have had appointees and they (wrongly) assumed that because of your conditions you have an appointee?

    Can you be your own appointee by default and you needed to just confirm that?

    Just a random suggestion!!
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,990 Championing
    Jimm is it OK if I PM you about the Access to Work thing as I have some questions about it???

    You don't have to say yes or reply straight away but I don't really want to post it on the forum
  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing
    edited May 2024
    We aren't an advice service unfortunately @66Mustang, as in we don't usually take advice requests/questions through private messages or email. Though there is the Scope Helpline (which also take emails) and can answer questions in a 1 to 1 manner.

    I understand sometimes it feels uncomfortable to post things on here, that's okay.


    Also, discovered the issue. I had to call them to find out.

    The DWP mixed up my record and application with another person with the same name as me. They've somehow merged half our records together. I have absolutely no idea how that could happen but here we are.
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,990 Championing
    @Jimm_Scope

    I'm not asking for professional advice or a referral, I just thought Access to Work might be able to help me and I wanted to know how you found the service to see if I should sign up for it

    I have PMed admins on here before with informal questions (and also answered questions to help them on occasion, as well!) and it was just like chatting to a regular member. I can understand if the rules have changed since then and you need to stay professionally distanced from us or something but that seems a shame :( 

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