Monumental Mistake

Estadio

Had my most recent review Dec 11th 2025 in which the member of staff started the conversation with the statement "We Have You Documented As Being Self Employed" I almost fell off my chair as I have been receiving UC and was also placed onto the LWCRA on March 4th 2020 after seeing their specialist as I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis. No mention of this in over 5 years and a number of previous reviews, I found out through another member of staff that I had inadvertently ticked the box that I may? be becoming Self Employed on 18th of Nov 2019, because I was thinking about taking a job with Shared Lives. However within days and after losing a stone in weight in less than a week my GP told me that I should not take that job and that my condition will certainly get worse.

I documented it in my Journal as well as having to take the long term sick (fit) note in for an appointment in the December and informed them of the situation and was then put onto the waiting list to be seen, which as mentioned above took place a couple of Months Later, and subsequently my working days were brought to an abrupt end.

Because I then informed the staff member that I have only ever been Self Employed for about 6 months in 2012 to the Jan of 2013 after being made redundant from Age Concern and that I did have a business account, but it was obviously closed down long before I even first went onto the UC Benefit in 2015 because I used to work for agencies and temp positions I was forced to provide evidence of the account being closed down.

Because I am taking it to my local MP and have demanded an apology and compensation because this has caused my health to worsen, and although I have been told twice that my 'To Do List' was completed I received yet another call asking me to send the same documents that I sent on Dec11th even though I had gone into my local Job Centre and got them to send my previous Bank Account that ended in July/August internally, they want them sent again and have told me to expect another call that should last no longer than 60 Minutes? This is now in my opinion Harassment because I opted to keep the complaint open when they suggested everything was ok? I have contacted Sir Stephen Timms MP Pat McFadden MP and the Director General of UC Mr Neil Coulings all by post and await their responses.

My MP is meeting me in a few weeks to gather info, as a former employee of the Job Centre and the DSS I have just about coped with trying to deal with this, but many others will not be able to deal with such mistakes. Is this the new approach to this Fraud Error and Accountability policy from the Labour Government? Any similar incidents will be of interest.

Emilee

From what you’ve described, this sounds like an old administrative flag being picked up during a routine UC review, rather than anything you’ve done wrong. Reviews often surface historic details (like self-employment markers) even if they’re no longer relevant, and staff then have to ask for clarification or evidence to tidy the record. The reviews you've mentioned sound pretty standard and are faced by many claimants.

It shouldn’t affect your existing LCWRA award, and it would not have affected your payments from UC, but I understand it may have been upsetting and stressful people find these reviews and errors.

With regards to compensation it's important you manage your expectations here. The DWP rarely awards financial compensation unless there’s been a clear maladministration that’s led to actual financial loss.

If they uphold your complaint that they have acted unreasonably, the most likely outcome is that they may offer an apology and reassurance that your records have been corrected.

Once they’re satisfied the self-employment was closed before your claim, it should be resolved and not keep coming up.

Estadio

Hi Emilee,

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to my ongoing complaint, yes, I know that compensation is stretching things but you never know. My complaints are more to highlight that if they are making such obvious errors with someone who is resilient and has worked in the DWP therefore able to challenge such matters, what on earth is going to happen when they get things wrong for individuals who cannot deal efficiently with the administrative part of getting things straightened out.

I have had a half hearted apology and an admittance that they did not have the full details in front of them, not only that but after requesting their own notepad entries as well as the original audio from my Review it is quite clear there are many mistakes being made and a reluctance to engage with me because I will not let them close the complaint down.

Not only that but after going through hundreds of pages of documents they sent to me I have discovered quite clearly a document which highlights the long term sick (fit ) note was in fact documented by themselves, and they were aware that I was awaiting the specialist appointment and had not been able to start the so called self employed position that someone thinks I have been doing for almost 6 years?

It is far too easy to say it has been a simple administrative error and let things drop, they are continuing to ask for documents which have already been sent and checked, and in my opinion they are unhappy that I have highlighted just far too many errors.

Let us not forget Emilee that this is not the first REVIEW I have taken part in, and the only reason it was brought up (wrongly) is that some member of staff have been delving back over 5 years to a claimant that has participated in any requests of bank statements etc to make sure things are all correct.

They could not find a document that was sent in both internally through the Job Centre and myself, and could not even respond to my journal entries of asking if they would send me a link I will resend what they asked for, 3 times I asked, not once did they engage but then suddenly just told me on a journal entry that they are now assessing things and will be arranging another interview?

My MP is meeting me in a few weeks and I have also made Sir Stephen Timms MP, Pat McFadden MP and the director general Neil Coulings aware by letters that this type of scrutiny……if wrong…….could have serious consequences on people's health, it has had a massive effect on my condition in the last few weeks, they need to made aware that these kind of errors will cause harm!