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Can DWP just terminate payments leaving a person with no income whatsoever?

I have been in receipt of ESA WRA since September 2013 and recently I had to go for a reassessment medical. The appointment was at Lincoln centre for 09:00 in the morning, as I do not drive because of various medical conditions I contacted the assessment centre and requested either a new appointment of help getting to the stated appointment. When discussing the journey I found out some useful information, if the journey each way is more than 90 minutes by public transport the provider must provide transport to the assessment.
I attended the assessment and gave full details including the fact that I had four episodes in the previous 2 weeks since the arrival of the letter giving the appointment
On 18th February I received a letter stating that my ESA had been stopped completely as of 14th February because of insufficient points, looking through the letter I noticed that the examiner had scored 0 on several points where the evidence given would have indicated far higher scores. I therefore contacted DWP on the number provided in the letter and eventually got through to an advisor, who stated that they would send through for mandatory reconsideration, they tried 3 times and stated that I could not be put through and I would be contacted in 1 to 3 working days. I contacted them again this morning and was told that the particular department dealing with mandatory reassessments were having telephone problems and that I would be contacted between 09:00 and 18:00 today and tomorrow (Wednesday) and 09:00 and 14:00 on Thursday.
Can DWP just terminate payments leaving a person with no income whatsoever and are there any people who can help, I contacted Citizen's Advice Bureau and was basically told that there is nothing they can do any more.
I have various long term ailments which resulted in my employers terminating my employment for reasons of ill health in July 2012 and I took nearly 15 months for my original claim to be processed
Regards Panzer
I attended the assessment and gave full details including the fact that I had four episodes in the previous 2 weeks since the arrival of the letter giving the appointment
On 18th February I received a letter stating that my ESA had been stopped completely as of 14th February because of insufficient points, looking through the letter I noticed that the examiner had scored 0 on several points where the evidence given would have indicated far higher scores. I therefore contacted DWP on the number provided in the letter and eventually got through to an advisor, who stated that they would send through for mandatory reconsideration, they tried 3 times and stated that I could not be put through and I would be contacted in 1 to 3 working days. I contacted them again this morning and was told that the particular department dealing with mandatory reassessments were having telephone problems and that I would be contacted between 09:00 and 18:00 today and tomorrow (Wednesday) and 09:00 and 14:00 on Thursday.
Can DWP just terminate payments leaving a person with no income whatsoever and are there any people who can help, I contacted Citizen's Advice Bureau and was basically told that there is nothing they can do any more.
I have various long term ailments which resulted in my employers terminating my employment for reasons of ill health in July 2012 and I took nearly 15 months for my original claim to be processed
Regards Panzer
Replies
Thank you for joining and sharing. Sorry what has happened.
I know there are many members who can identify what you are going through. They will be in touch as will be a member of our team.
Who will be able to give some answers to your questions.
I am one of the team of community champions. Who advise and help new members who join.
All I can say is have a look at our information on ESA on our website. If that gives you some reassurance.
Please take care.
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
I went to an ESA tribunal at the Wolverhampton courts and they didn't even list
I was placed in the WRAG . Eventually i found work but my health has deteriated quite significantly.
Last week I received a letter from work terminating my employment on the grounds of ill health.
I di hope someone on here can give you some more helpful advice xx
I am happy to see you have found some useful information in another section, please keep us updated.
My medical history actually goes back more than 30 years and the assessing officer had access to those details as she was able to give me information that I was unaware of as I thought the treatment that I was having in the early 1980's was for something entirely different
4 (c) Cannot transfer a light but bulky object such as an empty cardboard box. 6
6 (c) Has some difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers. 6
7 (c) Has some difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment. 6
9 (b) At risk of loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder, sufficient to require cleaning and a change in clothing, if not able to reach a toilet quickly. 6
10 (a) At least once a week, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration. 15
13 (c) Frequently cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 personal actions. 6
14 (c) Cannot cope with minor unplanned change (such as the timing of an appointment on the day it is due to occur), to the extent that overall, day to day life is made significantly more difficult. 6
15 (c) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is unfamiliar without being accompanied by another person. 6
16 (c) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar to the claimant is not possible for the majority of the time due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual. 6
17 (c) Occasionally has uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace. 9
Lots of incorrect assumptions or lies if you prefer, made up about my health, apparently I had done various physical tests, I was actually asked to do 1 physical test. The HCP, a physiotherapist gave 0 points. Left with no money to live on.
Is it legal? probably not. Can you do anything about it? probably not, because the people who made the rules are also the same people who deal with complaints about this, so it is most likely they will even listen to you.
What can you do about it personally? Since the gov stopped legal aid and and bought off the CAB, they have not left us with any options other than to fight cases for ourselves.
I see you already know about asking for a MR, which you have done. All you can hope for now is the decision will be revised in your favour, a situation that is most unlikely.
You will receive 2 copies of the MR, one for you to keep for your records, the other is to be included with the SSCS1 appeal form. Once the tribunal court receives your appeal, they will acknowledge it in writing.
Once you have the tribunal letter, ring the DWP again and give them the ref No from it. The DWP will pay you ESA at assessment rate until your appeal is heard at tribunal.
If your rent is paid by the council, you will have to explain to the council why you have nil income to keep HB running.
See CAB about food parcels if you need food.
Please can I suggest it might be worth finding some support for the health conditions you have. In that often many organisations who represent the illness or condition you have. Have support on line and can also advise the next steps to take.
Many do have welfare support and benefit advisors.
Something to consider. If you wish for me to help you with anything only too glad to.
Understand with my mental health issues got help and support through mental health charity. I know my own health needs and do continue to look for additional help and support. Information and advice to guide me.
Which accessed me to a floating support worker in turn a lot of useful advice and information came to my attention. Especially the minefield of benefits.
I got a lot of support plus the floating support attending benefit assessments plus jobcentre interviews. Intervened with DWP my own personal circumstances.
I know from reading with your health all of us feel we can cope and get on with dealing with our issues.
Is it not time to think maybe I could do with some guidance here. I can manage but there are always some one who is out there to just be a helping hand.
When I got the help and support plus additional signposting. It was the best thing ever. Always learning and remain committed to find ways to cope.
I hope you keep in touch. Please ask if I can help.
Happy to do so.
Take care.
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
Chronic migraine clusters and thyroid problems aggravated by stress, depression and anxiety plus asthma
Please can I suggest maybe looking on line the charity that helped me.
I am also disabled as well having a addiction history. Got a genetic disorder. So when in my own personal circumstances the doors closed because I was focusing too much on my disability.
Thinking mental health charities will not accept me because I disabled with a mental health issues, addiction history.
Instead not realising the mental health was effecting the disability and the addiction.
I used this one. Because I thought would not accept me then found out a lot of the people who joined have associated problems related to mental health.
https://www.richmondfellowship.org.uk.
Hope that helps you.
Please take care.
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
Firstly so so sorry to hear how hard this has been recently.
Sound alike you need some urgent help and I agree with Spiceman that looking at charities related to your conditions is a great idea. I'd also add looking at charities in your local arra.
I think what you do is prioritise, call in favours and charity, hold your head high knowing you are doing the right things and take all help offered... Then ask for more help.
Food, fuel, housing,medication ..
Get in touch with Citezens Advice? Or local community centre, food banks etc.
I'm so sorry as that seems super scary. We've done it a couple of times and had help. And it's kept us going till things have become more fair.
Have you used the Scope helpline and talked about benefits with a professional advisor?
"I'm trying to live like a random poem I read that ended 'to bloom where we are planted"
That is proof we are dealing with criminals who will do anything to refuse paying benefits.
@Pzkpfwv1d, I'm guessing they can stop whatever they want to but there are some safeguards in place for those with no income at all. You would either need to contact a local help service like the CAB or a related charity that offers assistance and advice (such as MIND) for details but I also believe that when one benefit is removed they have to move you to another (even if it's entirely inappropriate). Most of this is done to cause people to rely on other sources of income or family assistance which then gives them an excuse to not reinstate the benefit.
TK