ESA Stopped due to lost paperwork by DWP

I am curious and would like to know how many members have had paperwork lost by the DWP. In my case, my ESA 50 and other vital information was sent via recorded delivery and I have proof of delivery. However and to my disgust, I have had my ESA stopped yet it is not my fault. Surely the DWP has a Duty of Care with what they do with paperwork they receive and now they have also breached my confidentiality. There must be something that can be done as they have broken the Data Protection Act and now I feel that my identity is out there somewhere with a lot of personal and intimate information. Naturally, I have contacted them and aired my frustrations and waiting to hear back from them.

Has this happened to you? What processes do they have in place especially when it has been sent recorded or special delivery. I am once I get an answer contacting the parliamentary ombudsman as I do not feel I am alone and they need to be held to account. They are quick enough to contact you when they want something but do we turn around and say we have lots it can you send me another one?

This is not right and what it is doing to my stress levels which in turn is exacerbating my symptoms is unbelievable.

Hi Pops yes this happened to me around november time, see my post below, mine was resolved quickly thankfully and the result was no F2F and continue to be in the SG for 3 years, hoewever i totally agree this should never happen, the information we all send is so confidential, i don't know where i would have been without my friend doing the calls for me, it totally stressed me out to. that is terrible you have had your ESA stopped, keep going, i hope you get a call soon with a positive outcome.

Best wishes
Sweetheart


Hi Everyone

I thought i would just update everyone on my re-assesment journey!! my friend is doing this message as i have been in bits.
As previously said my friend completed the re-assesment form for ESA for me, (i am currently in the SG and have been for several years) followed your comprehensive guides answering all of the questions honestly and giving as much information as possible, she photocopied about 20 medical reports plus 2 letters from my own doctor which were very detailed of how my illnesses affect me and my doctor categorically stated in her letters that letter's from the DWP have a profound affect on me and if they felt it necessary for me to have a f2f it woud have to be done in the comfort of my own home because of my clinical depression and severe IBS along with other issues, doctors words , i am under the care of 3 consultants so the information provided with the form was so very personal and very detailed, I also sent a supporting covering letter and my substantial repeat prescription list, well some 4/5 weeks passed and i thought great hopefully no f2f, wrong!!, received an appointment for 19 Dec at their offices!! i cannot handle telephone calls, so my friend rang and explained regarding the doctors letter re f2f at home, reply from the young man, Oh we havn't got that information!!!!!!!!, this point was argued that the form and all of the evidence including the doctors letters had been sent special delivery which my friend had done, she had the signed for information so if you have the form you must have the evidence etc?, he argued this point and said what we had to do was get a doctors letter, detailing f2f had to be in my home!!!!!!!!!!!!! my friend by this point was becoming extremely frustrated and again pointed out that this information had been provided in the doctors letter!!! they had this information, he would NOT budge, by this time i am a quivering wreck so my friend rang the DWP i gave permission for her to speak and she said the lady was lovely, when she asked me the security questions i was so distressed she could hardly understand me but proceeded to take all of the information from my friend and said she would email benefit centre and my friend would get a call back within 3 hours, this did happen and a lady from the Benefit Centre took all of the information and said she would have to pass this to a Decision Maker who again did phone my friend within the hour, the big issue was where was all of this personal information?? someone had it, well the DM did take everything on board and said he would investigate, my friend read out the dr's letters and some other parts and he agreed this needed to be escalated, but in the meantime would it be possible to re-send all of the medical information to him direct, "yes" no problem, my friend spent 2 hours photocopying everything again, posted it again special delivery, then received a call from the DM saying the HCP had found the information!!!! an HCP had looked at the form and significant medical information, doctors letters etc and the appointment for f2f was cancelled and i was to remain in the support group, he didn't know how long for but once he received the report from the HCP he will ring my friend back, hopefully this week, his words, the recommendation he had been told was for a longer prognosis maybe 2 - 3 years, now the first call made re the appointment letter received was at 10am where they had received NO medical evidence/ information and by 4pm the same day they had found the information!!, cancelled f2f and made the decision!!!!. Clinical depression and anxiety have a massive impact on my life and a situation like this my friend explained was totally unacceptable, the call handler re the appointment was not professional at all, however my friend said all of the calls taken/received by the DWP they were professional and helpful, this situation should never happen and i hope this story helps other members, she will update further once the DM has been back in touch, "Hopefully" this will be soon.

Thanks again to Gordon and Mrs HB for their continued help and support.

Best Wishes to Everyone for a smooth review. xx