Mistakes by Caseworkers and my rights

Welshchris · 22-07-2011, 15:15

I have a caseworker who is helping me with all my benefits and so on.

I reciently discovered that he has put the wrong NI number on forms that have been sent back to ESA people and by the looks of it they wont get by August 4th that they have asked for. Also i have recieved a letter from DLA as my current claim is due up in 3 weeks stating they dont have any forms for new claim which were sent back to them over 3 weeks ago so i dont know if he has put the wrong NI on those to.

The Problem is now im looking at having all my benefits stopped thanks to my caseworker getting 1 digit wrong on my NI number.

Anyone have any ideas what the hell i can do?

denphone · 22-07-2011, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welshchris

I have a caseworker who is helping me with all my benefits and so on.

I reciently discovered that he has put the wrong NI number on forms that have been sent back to ESA people and by the looks of it they wont get by August 4th that they have asked for. Also i have recieved a letter from DLA as my current claim is due up in 3 weeks stating they dont have any forms for new claim which were sent back to them over 3 weeks ago so i dont know if he has put the wrong NI on those to.

The Problem is now im looking at having all my benefits stopped thanks to my caseworker getting 1 digit wrong on my NI number.

Anyone have any ideas what the hell i can do?

Contact your local Citizens advice bureau as they are usually very helpful.

Welshchris · 22-07-2011, 15:26

He works for the CAB. He is a caseworker who works at the CAB 2 days a week.

denphone · 22-07-2011, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welshchris

He works for the CAB. He is a caseworker who works at the CAB 2 days a week.

Have you got a local independent benefits advice service or failing just explain to the DWP that you sent the forms in and if they say it has not arrived then say to then you will just have to send me another form to replace the one that was lost.

Welshchris · 22-07-2011, 16:12

i dont think theres an independent one in my area. I have been in contact with them and all they have stated is that they cannot find ANY forms for DLA even tho they were sent back 17th of last month and as for ESA they stated they will have to get it back to me to change the NI number.

Pauls9 · 22-07-2011, 16:15

Do the CAB have copies of these forms that they can correct and re-send, by courier if necessary?

denphone · 22-07-2011, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauls9

Do the CAB have copies of these forms that they can correct and re-send, by courier if necessary?

Yes l always keep copies of any forms l have to send in.

Welshchris · 22-07-2011, 16:40

Yes but the fact of the matter is the DLA will now cease as it will not get done on time
and chances are my Income Support will also stop which will cause my Housing Benefit to stop all because of their mistake and it shouldnt have been one as they have a photocopy of a letter from Income Support for Legal Aid Purposes which has my NI number on it.

joglynne · 22-07-2011, 18:18

It is sometime since I worked in Benefits but unless things have changed drastically the date your claims forms are received are recorded on the forms and that is the date that is accepted as the date your claim is made even though further details may have to be obtained from you. As far as the wrong NI No being shown on the forms, as long as the forms recorded your full name and date of birth, the correct NI No can be established relatively quickly and the forms linked to your claims.

The real worry is the missing DLA forms. A wrong NI No would not have stopped the forms being linked to your existing claim but could have delayed them being processed. I suggest that you phone the writer of the letter and ask if the forms are still missing. Though they do tell you the forms are outstanding they don't, as far as I am aware, tell you if the forms subsequently appear. If they are still missing send a letter immediately to the DLA giving your full details, including your correct NI No, telling them that you wish to have it recorded on your claim that you wish to renew your claim and that following the loss of your claim form by them there will be a delay in your re-submitting a second form. Although this will not speed up the paperwork and ensure that you have no break in payments it should ensure that your claim is treated as timely.

Taf · 22-07-2011, 18:24

Both of our twins' DLA forms "disappeared" at the DLA unit. They were booked in, then immediately sent for "storage" miles away!

It took my MP to get things sorted.....

joglynne · 22-07-2011, 18:47

Off topic in a way but I do have to say that the use of Remote Storage was the bain of my life when I needed the actual claim forms in order to do my work.

The Department that I had dealings with uses outside firms to process, and record on film, all the paperwork coming in from claimants. The number of cases I couldn't investigate because of missing paperwork was disgusting. I had hoped that it was teething problems but considering how many years they have had to sort the processes out, and the reports I have heard from ex-colleagues, it appears that the situation has not improved.

aliferste · 22-07-2011, 22:42

Hi there - Can I suggest you get yourself along to your local Social Work department and ask to speak to a welfare rights worker - all work done by the LA is logged and any errors flagged up. Citizens Advice constantly give wrong advice on benefits and make a lot of mistakes in my experience.

I hate to say it however with DLA and ESA you have usually just got to go back to the beginning again - Housing benefit is usually sorted out easily enough by the LA though. It may be a case of crisis loans until it is sorted out though.