Backpayment from the DWP.... subject to more questions??? what???

tgTg · November 12

Has anyone else had to answer weird questions from the DWP before it agrees to make backpayment after a tribunal?

I had a tribunal judgement providing me my entitlement; though when I called the DWP, it has insisted on asking 'budget' related questions before it would agree to provide me my entitlement

Thats weird to me - to ask me about a sensitive assessment related activity as a pre-condition to giving me what i am entitled to (as ruled by the social security tribunal). 🤷‍♂️

Its a strange thing to do considering the DWP has no formal duty of care for anything anyway, so i'm asking if anyone else has experienced the same thing, and what they thought about being asked for this re-engagement by the DWP

thanks very much 👍

OverlyAnxious · November 12

Hi,

I haven't heard of this before.

It is standard to ask whether you can handle a lump sum or whether you would prefer a few smaller separate sums but it sounds like your questions were more personal?

tgTg · November 15

yes, thats the question

for context, i have little faith in the dwp : i was given a 'nil' score at initial decision and mandatory reconsideration - something clearly wrong and based on false conclusions. i was validated in my belief by being awarded the Enhanced Rate of Daily Living for an indefinite period by the Social Security Tribunal

the issue is that this same question seeks a re-engagement on the 'budgeting' exercise : that creates a potentially compromising record on the dwp's system regarding a sensitive assessment activity. the DWP has also gone to great lengths to have no duty of care towards disabled people

theres something wrong with asking someone to compromise their own claims / reassessments in order to (in the short term) access the entitlement that they have already been awarded by the courts. theres something wrong with this imo : it is for me, though i don't know how other people on this forum feel about this 🤷‍♂️ maybe people aren't bothered, or dont notice this. i'd like a better understanding about know how people on these forums feel about this

it definitely bothered me

@Rosie_Scope - any thoughts?

@Albus_Scope - any thoughts?

OverlyAnxious · November 16

Many claimants prefer to be paid in smaller sums rather than getting the lump sum. That is due to their difficulties with budgeting and this question has only come about because enough claimants complained about getting large lump sums in the past. This hasn't been instigated by the DWP.

Sadly Albus passed away recently and will not be able to respond. I'm sure Rosie will respond when she next logs in.

Rosie_Scope · November 17

Hi @tgTg, my understanding is that this doesn't impact the result of your assessment in any way even if you've scored points for the budgeting descriptors. But I can understand the total lack of faith in the DWP after your (and many others) experiences.

As far as I'm aware, it's a separate question designed to make sure that claimants can handle any back pay should they have issues budgeting. It's not there to assess you further for your PIP and I'm not aware of any instances of this affecting future assessments. I wouldn't want to confirm that for certain, I've just never come across it before in my time at Scope.

Glad to hear you've received your indefinite award after all. The system is definitely not perfect by any means and it's horrible that so many have to go to tribunal to get their awards.

tgTg · November 24

Hi @Rosie, Hi @OverlyAnxious

Thanks alot for your messages. I understand the purpose of asking : but to block the payment subject to answering the question - thats weird to me. Its weird when the DWP has gone to great lengths to not have any formal duty-of-care to disabled persons, and then claims to have an informal 'moral' duty-of-care when it comes to blocking payments subject to what is a 'loaded' question

Honestly, I am really not convinced here. So I'm going to find out more about this 'thing'

Whilst some people may well be happier asking for this measure to be in place, I don't think it serves the majority of people. In waiting nearly 18months from assessment to tribunal, I would reasonably have expected many people to have incurred debt that needs paying, and therefore needing the funds to arrive soon - notwithstanding any genuine issues with the 'budgeting' activity. The blockage that the DWP is putting here seems wrong to me. I really don't think pressing for an answer to an assessment-related question is appropriate when a person refuses to answer a 'loaded' question in the absence of any duty of care. When this was also explained at length to the DWP on a call, it becomes obstructive. I will have to see some sort of evidence that this is warranted…. its remains weird to me

** I am very sorry to hear about Albus 😔. That is very sad. I'm sorry for anyone here that was close to him **

thanks for your responses, and I'll provide some comments where when I find out more about this

all the best -

Tgtg

rubin16 · November 24

The thing is while it does not suit you, others may find it invaluable to have it in smaller lump sums. DWP has a duty to ask everyone regardless just incase they may need the service. It is hardly blocking your payment, more so just confirming how you'd like to be paid and make sure your okay with having a big lump sum.

Also PIP is not something you should 100% rely on getting when applying, as its not a benefit in which people are instantly awarded or entitled to straight away. Only when assessed are you entitled and theres always chance of no award given.

jw68 · November 24

The DWP have become a rogue organisation IMO.

Twice they have broken their own protocols to stop my benefits.On both occasions i have had to appeal all the way up to Tribunal level.On the day before both Tribunals the DWP relented and re-instated my benefits,without my having to attend said Tribunals.

Their behaviour was both clumsy and brazen.They have gone from not volunteering information about benefits available,to actively breaking their own rules and stopping benefits that a claimant(myself) was entitled to.On both occasions they called their "error" an "oversight."

THEY TOTALLY AND UTTERLY CANNOT BE TRUSTED.

Backpayment from the DWP.... subject to more questions??? what???

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