UC housing cost claim review is damaging my mental health

pinemartine

Hi,

I am going through UC claim housing cost review. DWP requested my ID, 3 months bank statements, latest council tax bill and signed tenancy agreement.

I submitted everything apart from a signed tenancy agreement.

I explained the reasons why I cannot provide it.

1. I have no long term tenancy. I am on rolling periodic tenancy since my husband died. Therefor I have no valid tenancy agreement.
2. I submitted a copy of old tenancy agreement which had no signatures. It was sent by email from the landlord and I remember printing out, made my husband signed and sent it back to the landlord. I requested duplicate signed copy to my landlord but they never gave it to us.
3. My husband was very ill (and he passed) and I was looking after him on my own at home. I was too overwhelmed to take a signed photo copy.
4. I suffered from mental condition since loss of my husband. And I have experienced shouts and threats (he told me”it’s up to me to decide to make you leave or stay”) from our landlord in the past when I asked a simple request. They never fixed our heating (we had no heating for 6 years until council helped us)but we couldn’t ask them, my neighbour had unfair rent increase and they had to move out. I cannot contact my landlord to ask a letter especially with my mental condition.

I explained all of these reasons to DWP and asked if they can use the council tax bill as a proof of address, and bank statements for proof of my rent. I submitted unsigned tenancy agreement too.

As the deadline was close, I explained my situation and the reasons three times by journal but they (or chat bot called Charlotte) repeatedly told me they would contact me.

I finally heard from them today with two identical “to-do” lists which asked me to send council tax bill (again?) and signed tenancy agreement which I don’t have.

Massage in journal says I need to submit a letter from the landlord otherwise my payment will stop. All they did was extension of the deadline only.

DWP guidance says they can be flexible about evidences and could use alternatives (which I already submitted) if especially valuable clients have reasons not to be able to submit documents they requested. I am in LCWRA and I suffer from severe mental issues. So I think I am a valuable client. And I am very cooperative and honest.

I spoke to UC help line and they kept telling me to do what my journal says, that is the only way they will keep my payment.
I spoke to Mind for help and they said “if that is what DWP asking, you have to give the letter to them”.

I understand DWP works by the book but their guidance states flexibility for valuable clients and I think it’s wrong of them to put me in a risk of harm of my health or risk of another harassment from my landlord.

I don’t know what to do. I am so disappointed in advices from their helpline or Mind. I don’t think I can get a right help from anyone as they probably support DWP again not me.

Kimi87

Try a trained benefits advisor, Mind staff are not benefit experts.

https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

Staff at these organisations are independent of the DWP.

pinemartine

Kimi87,

Thank you for your advice. I rang Citizens Advice but no one available. I emailed Law Center as well but they usually slaw to respond… I will try them tomorrow again.

Kimi87

If you use the link provided, there might be somewhere else available locally other than CAB.

Bluebell21

Hi @pinemartine I am sorry you are having such a difficult time. Perhaps Shelter could help you.

https://www.shelter.org.uk

Take care.