Benefit reduction - failed to attend work-related interview

[soulsister14]

Over the last few weeks I have been ill and therefore unable to collect mail from the address that I have registered for post.

 

 

Also, at some point in time, the place was closed for 2 weeks for refurbishment, during which time it was not possible to collect post, though I can't remember when.

 

 

On checking my bank account this past Tuesday, I noticed a reduction in my benefit, from £214.70 to a meagre £69.90.

 

 

I have only just recently (literally had to force myself!), collected the post and I find 2 letters from DWP saying that as I failed to attend work-related interview on such and such a date, I will see a reduction in benefit.. how do I explain the situation ?

[Nystagmite]

You need to phone the number on the letter and explain that you have been too ill to attend.

[Mr.P]

Also advise the DWP of the closure for that two week period and that they failed to allow "good time" between sending the letter(s) and you receiving them.

[soulsister14]

Also advise the DWP of the closure for that two week period and that they failed to allow "good time" between sending the letter(s) and you receiving them.

 

Just checked dates on the letters, first one dated 7th Jan, with an appointment for 16th Jan, the thing is they normally date stamp the envelope as it is received, so I have no idea as to when they actually received it, with it being the first week of the new year it is highly likely that it could very well have been delayed

[soulsister14]

I phoned DWP Wed 04/03/15, explained the reason for my not attending the interview and also the issue of the office being closed for 2 weeks.

I was informed a letter would be in the post "in the next few days" with an appointment for a further interview.

I have just received the letter from the DWP yesterday, 13/03/15 and the letter was dated 09/03/15, no doubt sent by second class post!

The said appointment is not until Wed 18/03/15 by which time it will be exactly 2 weeks since I first contacted them.

Add to that the fact that the "sanction" will remain in place for a further week after the interview, that will mean it will be 3 weeks since I contacted them

and possibly longer before they finally get it sorted out.

Also, I asked them about the "back payment", i:e the amount that has been stopped since the 11th February, and the response I got was one of

"That will be decided at the interview"

So, does anyone out there know, if , after you have had a sanction, one can claim that back ??

[tommy456]

I phoned DWP Wed 04/03/15, explained the reason for my not attending the interview and also the issue of the office being closed for 2 weeks.

I was informed a letter would be in the post "in the next few days" with an appointment for a further interview.

I have just received the letter from the DWP yesterday, 13/03/15 and the letter was dated 09/03/15, no doubt sent by second class post!

The said appointment is not until Wed 18/03/15 by which time it will be exactly 2 weeks since I first contacted them.

Add to that the fact that the "sanction" will remain in place for a further week after the interview, that will mean it will be 3 weeks since I contacted them

and possibly longer before they finally get it sorted out.

Also, I asked them about the "back payment", i:e the amount that has been stopped since the 11th February, and the response I got was one of

"That will be decided at the interview"

So, does anyone out there know, if , after you have had a sanction, one can claim that back ??

You may have to go through the process of asking for an MR , followed by appealing to the tribunal service, to get what you are owed, all because they now sanction people at the drop of a hat thanks to this shower that have been in power for the past 5yrs

[soulsister14]

They stopped my benefit once before... only after I went to the Citizen Advice did they own up to having made a mistake.

Initially I was in receipt of contribution-based E.S.A. That stopped on 23/04/14. After that I received nothing. Then, on 15/07/14 I received a letter stating that I was entitled to the Income-based equivalent E.S.A and that a back payment from the 24/04/14 would be credited to my account on 18/07/14. However, on 16/07/14, It was again suspended, and between 18/07/14 - 09/09/14 I received nothing. After contacting Citizen Advice on 03/09/14, it emerged the reason for the second suspension was that I supposedly failed to turn up for an interview on 13/12/13, this was the reason given when Citizen Advice spoke to them. Also, sometime in 2013 prior to my Contribution-Based claim ceasing, I notified DWP of change of Address details, this was around April. And so it transpired that the letter informing me of the interview on 13/12/13 was sent to the wrong address, but the DWP we're reluctant to admit this.Their excuse for the suspension occuring was that because the Contribution-Based claim was registered at a different address to that used for the Income-Based claim