DWP ignoring the facts!

Shelam
many thanks for your advice on this.

We have a meeting with the Welfare Rights on Friday and I have just left a message for my MP to arrange a face to face meeting about this. I hope to be able to report on this soon after.

Thank you

Bookerbabe
Thank you to Bro58, I found them by going through this process and was directed to the Citizens Advice Bureau in my locality.

Specialist started with a stark warning that the Tribunals can make a decision to reduce or remove the award already got!
It was explained they will make a judgement on the day and will certainly be attempting to drive out any holes in my claim; shopping and holidays were defined areas where this can happen most frequently so, if I pursue this, I must be carefully prepared.
Whilst it was confirmed they will help me; I felt very uncertain about all of this. Even though it is clear my detail has been dealt with dismissively and mostly ignored I am left in a very unsure situation and fear losing what I have been awarded.

Tongey wrote: Specialist started with a stark warning that the Tribunals can make a decision to reduce or remove the award already got!
It was explained they will make a judgement on the day and will certainly be attempting to drive out any holes in my claim; shopping and holidays were defined areas where this can happen most frequently so, if I pursue this, I must be carefully prepared.
Whilst it was confirmed they will help me; I felt very uncertain about all of this. Even though it is clear my detail has been dealt with dismissively and mostly ignored I am left in a very unsure situation and fear losing what I have been awarded.

Hi T,

I have merged your topics for continuity !

Although The DWP can take away or reduce an existing award without giving prior warning at the MR stage, a Tribunal will not do this without first giving you a warning that they are considering doing so and giving you the opportunity to withdraw your appeal.

This is covered under 61A WARNING @ page 131 of The Benchbook which you can download and read from the link on This Page.

Although this is the 2006 edition as the Benchbook is no longer available in the public domain, we do know that Tribunals still have to issue this warning as we have heard from members recently where they have been given such a warning !

The Tribunal Hearing was adjourned so that the appellant could go away and make a decision on whether to withdraw their appeal and stick with what they had, or obtain and re-present new evidence that supported the award that the Tribunal were considering reducing or taking away.

bro58

Bro58
Many thanks for your fast response to my post, it is most welcome and your advice is refreshing to help us go through with this.