Warning: this is just a bit of a rant really

Client has had IS stopped with no warning. The reasons for it being stopped are not the nightmare, although trying to convince this particular decision maker that people who qualify for IS can study part-time and still receive IS is another matter.

Client has never received the decision letter - suspect that it has never been sent as person on phone at JC says it was sent clerically and they have no record of it on their system. Client's file has been sent to storage somewhere south of the border. We don't have a decision date, but we want to appeal the decision. So we have to get a copy of the decision letter. In order to do this we need to get the papers back from storage. They say they can't do this unless an appeal is lodged. Do you see where I'm going with this?

Thankfully, I got to speak to a DM in the end - the same one who made the original decision - who agreed to request the papers.

Can you imagine if our clients had to deal with them by themselves?

Ali

You don't need the actual decision date to lodge an appeal. You only have to provide enough information to alow the decision to be identified - see regulation 33(1)(d) of the decisions and appeals regs 1999.

e.g. I wish to appeal against the decision made on or around the 1st September 2006 stating that I am not entitled to IS because of part time studies.

David

Welcome to the world of CMS I could spend endless nights with a log fire and a few drams telling of the never ending nightmares and wrong doings by DMs.