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Challenges to sanctions
I’m about to make a complaint, and consider further legal steps, but first I would like to know if I’m alone or if it’s a more widespread problem.
I have made four written challenges (2 appeals pre-October, and two mandatory recons this year) and none of them has been properly responded to. I have been told that one of the first two was partially succesful, but nothing has been put in writing. The other three have been ignored entirely and no-one at the DWP knows what is happening.
What’s your experience of the response to sanctions challenges?
I get this all the time unfortunately.
I now, as a matter of routine, ask my clients to contact me as soon as they hear anything about MR/Appeals. I advise them that the DWP are supposed to contact me about the issue, but more often then not they dont, so I need clients to keep me informed.
I did a typo on a letter recently, and i never noticed that the date i put on an MR was feb 2013, not 2014.
The DWP spent more time trying to convince my client that I was therefore incompetent than actually addressing the Mandatory recon. Of course all DWP letters make perfect sense and never have mistakes in them…..................... Ever!
I get this all the time unfortunately.
I now, as a matter of routine, ask my clients to contact me as soon as they hear anything
Try that with people with severe and enduring mental health illness and you won’t get very far… This is quite a problem!
Just to clarify the problem goes beyond copies of the responses not being sent to me. The DWP do not seem to have recorded any challenge being made in three of the four, and in the one that was partially succesful they consider the matter closed.
I get this all the time unfortunately.
I now, as a matter of routine, ask my clients to contact me as soon as they hear anything
Try that with people with severe and enduring mental health illness and you won’t get very far… This is quite a problem!
I can only do so much! I can only ask!
over recent weeks I’m hearing more and more frequently from call-centre staff that call backs will ONLY go to customers or appointees, which makes it impossible to help anyone with anything.
Tony, this may be helpful to you https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/271554/repsguide.pdf
It doesn’t specifically mention call backs but it is pretty clear that where consent is given, or implicit, the DWP should speak to reps