Claim Review and Further Evidence Appointment

Sam19932
Sam19932 Community member Posts: 7 Listener

Hi, I've been on UC (LCWRA) since Oct 21 and was previously on ESA for over 10 years. I've been sent 2 messages on my journal and I've had a phone call today for a claim review. I was told to upload I.D. and bank statements which I intend to do later today. But I've also been asked to attend a further evidence appointment to support my claim. When I spoke to the advisor, I asked him if I still need to attend this appointment at the job centre if I upload the documents and he said "yes, as that must be for something else and not part of the review". But on my to do list both tasks "claim review" and "attend further evidence appointment at job centre" seem to be asking for the same thing. I.D., Bank Statements etc. I've read on this forum before that you can change in person appointments to phone. Does anyone know if this is possible in my case? I really don't want to have to attend in person appointments if I can avoid it due my health issues. Thanks.

Comments

  • Morgan_Scope
    Morgan_Scope Posts: 451 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hello and welcome to the community @Sam19932.

    It does sound strange as usually they'd either ask to see the documents in person or have them uploaded, not both. Is the second appointment potentially a commitments meeting?

  • Sam19932
    Sam19932 Community member Posts: 7 Listener

    Hi, @Morgan_Scope I don't think so, as I had a commitments meeting at the start of my claim and nothing since then. I'm going to leave a message on my journal after I've uploaded the necessary documents, confirming what the appointments for. When I click on the task in to-do-list it says "you have an appointment at the job centre on the 10th Dec, you need to provide evidence to support your claim."

    Then underneath that it says examples of info to bring: I.D. Bank statements etc. I'm worried this is going to turn. Into a full reassessment. I know we all have to go through it but I always worry I'm going to lose my claim.

  • Morgan_Scope
    Morgan_Scope Posts: 451 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    edited November 28

    I don't think you're at risk of losing your claim or that it will be a full reassessment but hopefully once you've uploaded the documents they will be able to give you some clarity on the matter @Sam19932. Please let us know if you get to the bottom of it.

  • IndignantPigeon
    IndignantPigeon Community member Posts: 59 Contributor

    Hi Sam, been going through this review process myself so might be able to give you some insight. I'm not sure the advisor really knows, they told me they aren't supposed to look into anything to do with your review process, he might just be making a guess. What I'd do in your shoes is go into your journal, find out the contact for the review + send them a message. If they haven't sent you a message with a reply link, send a message addressed to them in the journal anyway. They don't always bother providing a link, there was a lot of palaver with mine until the jobcenter cottoned on my messages weren't to do with them.

    During the review, sending your ID is just the first stage. If anyone reading this can't send photo ID, you can provide alternative evidence. And if you cannot attend the jobcenter they'll send someone round to see you. As for yourself Sam, I'd make it clear to the review folk that you would find it difficult to attend the jobcenter, if you've been awarded LCWRA there shouldn't be any issue about this, just explain why it would be hard for you to visit them. The appointment will be to discuss transactions listed in your bank accounts and savings, whether you have any other assets or income elsewhere, like rent someone's paying you, or inheritance you've received and how you've spent it etc, and whether you have a partner you haven't disclosed. The review process doesn't normally include anything else about you, it's just about your money and assets.

    Best of luck, let us know how it goes.

  • IndignantPigeon
    IndignantPigeon Community member Posts: 59 Contributor

    …unless "further evidence appointment to support my claim" is nothing to do with the review, but something to do with your LCWRA? First port of call Sam is the journal, send those messages off and find out exactly who's arranged this and what it's for.

  • Sam19932
    Sam19932 Community member Posts: 7 Listener

    @Morgan_Scope @IndignantPigeon Thanks for the info guys. I'll upload the documents and leave a message on my journal. I'll post any updates here.

  • fatfrank54
    fatfrank54 Community member Posts: 6 Listener

    Hi Sam. I literally had the same message from DWP. They said to upload my bank statements and attend an appt and bring ID to verify.. (I claim UC and LWCRA) When I got there I was told I had to confirm my ID and my UC claim was being reviewed because I originally did my UC claim online 4 years ago during covid and because it has been 4 years they just need to verify nothing has changed and I am still getting the correct money.. (I only started getting LWCRA last July) This review is only for UC I was told today and not LWCRA …

    You really have nothing to worry about.. I had the exact same messages in my "to do" list…

    They make it confusing don't they?

    Good luck..

  • Sam19932
    Sam19932 Community member Posts: 7 Listener

    Hi Frank, It's reassuring to hear that they just wanted to confirm your I.D. and not a full reassessment. Hopefully it will be the same for me. I've uploaded the documents and left a message on my journal. I'll post any updates here and thanks for the info.

  • TheManFromLondon
    TheManFromLondon Community member Posts: 404 Empowering

    @Sam19932

    Some people have had a face to face request appointment when they used VPN and connected to their UC portal. This apparently flagged them being out of the UK and triggered that.

    Not saying this is what happened here, but just in case you used a VPN, it could be. Or maybe logging on the UC portal while away from a trip.

  • Sam19932
    Sam19932 Community member Posts: 7 Listener

    It's interesting you say that, as I use a 4G router with a sim card, rather than sign up to a long term Internet contract. If I check the IP address it usually says london but I'm in blackpool.

  • fatfrank54
    fatfrank54 Community member Posts: 6 Listener

    Hi Sam, I don't think you have anything to worry about. As i mentioned I had the exact same messages (I did not get a call though) and I asked the lady when I had my appt if it was to do with LWCRA and she said no. It is just a UC review and a lot of people have got to do it to make sure nothing has changed.. Can I ask, how long have you been on UC?

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Community member Posts: 1,404 Trailblazing
    edited December 2

    These reviews are happening for several million claimants, some new some old, they are not to do with Covid as I claimed after the pandemic and went into Job Centre in person with my id originally, I was still randomly selected for a review last year.

  • Sam19932
    Sam19932 Community member Posts: 7 Listener
  • Sam19932
    Sam19932 Community member Posts: 7 Listener

    I uploaded my I.D. and bank statements. I now have another phone appointment on the 5th Dec and still have the jobcentre appointment on the 10th. I asked for clarification on what the in person appointment is for and recieveda message "The appointment at the jobcentre will be for something else, the telephone appointment is for UC review." But when I click on the jobcentre appointment task in my to do list it specifically states "This appointment has been requested by the review team, to provide I.D." and then it gives examples of acceptable documents, passport, driving licence etc. It seems like I'm being asked to do the same thing twice. I'm not looking for anymore advice, giving an update in case anyone else is in the same situation.

  • fatfrank54
    fatfrank54 Community member Posts: 6 Listener

    I did not say they are all to do with covid. Just in my case I was told cos I did it online 4 years ago I was due a UC review now cos I've never had one..I thought the review was to do with my LWCRA but it wasn't… Just a UC review..