UC50 form

Hello, I’m trying to help an autistic adult with his appeal against the DWP decision not to place him in the work-related support group. The claimant felt unable to cope with completing the UC50 form, and despite knowing he was autistic with obvious difficulties, the health care professional went ahead with his assessment. The decision maker also then made her decision to put the claimant in the work related activity group. This was last June. Since then the claimant has been made to feel suicidal by the demands of the job centre. Is there any authority which says the DWP should have tried to help him complete the UC50, or at least referred him to eg a CAB to get help with it, before proceeding with assessments and decisions?

Hi hh

No the DWP did not have to make him fill in the form ( indeed they don't always send them out) and it is not their role to refer him to the CAB. I would, however, see if you can find out whether he is on the system as a vulnerable person because there are a special team to support vulnerable claimants. You will have to push them, if you phone, and even if he isn't you can inquire why not, or what criteria are needed for him to be so. Always ask for a call back from a supervisor if you're not getting any joy from the first call handler you get.

BIS