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Birth certificate
alannancy
Member Posts: 12 Listener
Hi can anyone shed light on the request for a birth certificate after being assessed for pip.
Replies
CR
Thanks.
I must say of all the clients I have dealt with none of them have ever been asked to send in their birth certificate for a PIP claim. They will ask for ID for anyone who declares themselves anything other than British on the claim form, but not specifically a birth certificate.
I can only suggest that the date of birth given when you first phoned up and requested a PIP claim was different to what they had on the system, but I don't know how that could have happened especially if you have claimed other benefits in the recent past.
The only way of finding out for sure is by phoning PIP and asking them the question.
Lee
Yes it could be that, although I wouldn't have thought they'd have gone ahead with the consultation without the necessary ID but they must have done in your husband's case.
Lee
All that the assessment company or DWP need is proof that the claimant is who they say they are. That should be done by any accepted form of ID, which could be a passport, driving licence etc.
If they are insisting on a birth certificate and this is something which is difficult for you to provide or difficult for you to send out (due to the obvious risks of putting an original in the post), then all you can really do is complain. From time to time the DWP will check up on the validity of claims (even people who have been claiming for a long time) as part of their checks and auditing. So I suspect the request for a different form of ID is part of that.
But if it is something you don't have or do not want to send in the postal system then it might be reasonable to ask them to accept something else, or ask that you are allowed to take it to a local office rather than consigning it to the post. And if not, complain! Any complaint should explain why the original birth certificate request put you to extra trouble, expense, stress etc.
The basic advice is to complain if a request for information or evidence is unreasonable, and show how it inconveniences you. We're in a situation where so-called compliance checks are increasing - but that doesn't mean you have to comply with every request, if there are good reasons why you can't do so, or it would cost you money. You shouldn't be refused benefit (or have it stopped) simply because you don't have a particular document, especially if the request is unreasonable.
NannaJJ unfortunately we can't advise on nationality and citizenship issues - you have to be authorised with the OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissoner) to do that. You could try looking for a local OISC adviser on gov.uk.
Will