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Are they treating me badly for ID on 'managed' ESA migration to UC?

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1 day 21 hours ago #309865 by JusticeYogi
Hi, first post, hope it's in the right place, and ok, etc. Been extremely distressed. Historical and ongoing poor treatment by DWP incl. being driven to attempt su!cide. The ID online seemed to have a fault and skipped past where you could upload photo ID and said 'we can identify you another way'... told on the phone not to worry as it had confirmed me already. Then they insisted on a phone call for biographical? I eventually agreed against my better judgement due to past harm. Then, late on a Friday they changed this without notice/consultation to an in-person appointment at the job centre. This sent me into crisis. Now, a complaint response to my MP say this was a "mistake" for which they apologised and offered me another call which I declined. NONE OF THAT IS TRUE as evidenced by the journal records. Due to DWP's 'safeguarding', they referred me to social care saying I was about to have my claim cancelled they can't identify me. I applied mid-July and DWP have recorded back then I am now "financially vulnerable".. Social care told DWP that I cannot attend the job centre nor have home visit due to my disabilities and the huge distress I am in. I am autistic with PTSD from severe violence, struggle greatly outside, have blue badge, etc. DWP are very aware of the suicidality they have and are causing, and hold medical evidence that they were a factor in an attempt. No explanation has been provided why I cannot identify online to either my MP or me. The MP says they can't do anything more because this is 'DWP process'. DWP now say that if I don't complete the ID imminently, my claim will be cancelled and I will lose all transitional protection if I claim again and there is no rectification or appeal for that. They have sent final letter offering only a standard job centre appointment, attending job centre in a quiet room (doesn't help with the PTSD or my inability to make the journey), a home visit or calling me for details to try and identify with a previous employer. Only the last option doesn't clash with social care's request? (who DWP referred me to). I have asked again why I can't identify online. I have asked for the phone appt again. They have refused and say the ONLY options are the ones in the letter shared above. I am extremely isolated and rarely go outside the garden gate. I am terrified of people coming here as I was left unconscious after an attack. They are cancelling my claim next week. I have been on income-related ESA Support Group for over a decade. Please can anyone advise why they won't let me identify online, and now have even removed the option of a phone call? They message again today and state "we cannot verify you identification by phone" even though they previously agreed to do so that they then messed up by booking as an in-person job centre appointment by "mistake". I don't understand. They cause me so much distress and anxiety. I physically shake and have a panic attack when I have to sign in to the journal due to the serious harm they have caused me. What should I do? Sorry for such long post. I have no-one to ask or get support from. Thank you so much. I am grateful.

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1 day 4 hours ago #309901 by David
Hi JusticeYogi

There are 2 things you can do:-
1. Contact the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service and ask if they can arrange a 3 way call with UC .
2. Make a complaint to the DWP local advanced customer support senior leader (ACSSL).
To do this send a Journal message requesting that you be contacted by the ACSSL. Send the Journal message twice firstly using the recipient A Payment and secondly Message Your Work Coach. The A Payment message goes to the UC Case Manager and Work Coaches are notorious for ignoring requests.

Here are the details for Citizens Advice Help to Claim :-
Call our Help to Claim phone number
You can contact an adviser through our free Help to Claim phone service. Advisers are available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday:

England: 0800 144 8 444

Scotland: 0800 023 2581

Wales: 08000 241 220

If you'd like to speak to a Welsh language adviser, call the Wales number.

If you need an interpreter
You can get help in a language that isn’t English or Welsh. You should:

call the Help to Claim number for the country you live in

tell the adviser you need an interpreter

An interpreter will join the call and they will interpret for you and the adviser.

If you can't hear or speak on the phone
You can use our text relay or British Sign Language (BSL) video call service to speak with us about your Universal Credit application.

Use our text relay service
You can type what you want to say:

Relay UK (England): 18001 then 0800 144 8 444

Relay UK (Scotland): 18001 then 0800 023 2581

Relay UK (Wales): 18001 then 08000 241 220



Let me know how you get on.
David

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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1 day 3 hours ago #309904 by JusticeYogi
Thank you so, so much. A light shining for me in the darkness. Thank you for your kindness to reply. Unfortunately, the letter on the journal said this, so 'advanced support' already know. Copy and pasted from the job centre message/letter: "I would like to reassure you; I have escalated the matter to our policy team and our advance customer support team. They have confirmed that no additional alternatives are available beyond those already offered." Three of the options are what social care told them I could not do. This copy and pasted from social care's email to the same job centre after length call with me: "she is experiencing significant difficulties attending the Job Centre in person or accommodating a home visit to complete this process. Could the accessibility arrangements be reviewed to explore alternative options that would enable [me] to complete the identity check and avoid any disruption to her benefits?" I think this must be a data breach if they have made a referral without 'knowing who I am' ?? If they do know who I am for a safeguarding referral, then they do know who I am for this. They've closed off avenues to 'advanced customer support'. I just don't understand why I am being treated differently to other disabled people.

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1 day 1 hour ago #309909 by David
Hi JusticeYogi

You say "They've closed off avenues to 'advanced customer support".....but I don't think this is the case. The UC staff have not made the special referral to the ACSSL they have off their own backs decided not to. You need to ask them why have you not made a referral to the ACSSL as I have asked using the DWPO ACSSL Referral Tool ? Tell them if you are not given an adequate response you will escalate to your MP.

Completing an advanced customer support senior leader referral
To complete the advanced customer support senior leader (ACSSL) referral take the
following action:
1. Read through the referral form and notes.
2. Include as much relevant information as possible on the referral form.
3. Tell the ACSSL what actions have been taken so far.
4. Use the additional information section to expand on the reason for the referral.
5. Do not use jargon.
6. Complete the ACSSL Referral Webform.
7. Use the following email address to refer to the ACSSL, Move to
Universal Credit Complex Case Coach.
Responses from the ACSSL will come from the following address:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You will need the below information to complete the webform:
Referral Directorate: Working Age
Product line: ESA (or whichever is the primary benefit which will be
completed by the referrer)
Job role: M2UC CCC
If the ACSSL provides additional advice use this to attempt to contact the claimant
again. If the ACSSL could not provide any further support, see 'The review' bel

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