Phone call from DWP

fibrofog wrote:

Can you remember what sort of questions they asked Dave, it was a bit of a shock them phoning me out of the blue like that. I have scanned my application and been looking over it, nothing was missed out I answered all of the questions so not sure what else they can be looking for. I did say I was going to see my GP in Jan for a review of my medication, which I have and it has been changed. That I would not mind clarifying but if they want to discuss anything else in detail I would need time to answer and writing to me for that information would be the best way for me to answer properly

yes they asked about medication and amount of help needed at night and the number of nights help needed

I had put most on form but for some reason they asked about it, I am not sure why I had not asked for review with night care being asked for I was after middle rate care, i did not think night need was needed often enough from what i could work out it might have been border line and the right answers might have got me higher care .. that said I thought they got it right with middle care

Thanks for that Dave. I have spoken to a friend and her sister-in-law was also phoned at home and questioned further re her needs, she didn't have a follow up medical but was awarded HRC and HRM, so maybe it is borderline and they want to speak to me before deciding or arranging for a doctor to call. Think I might try and answer the questions if they call tomorrow and stop the call if I am getting confused or it is too stressful for me. Just need to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

fibrofog wrote:

I received a telephone call from the DWP this morning re a new claim and am assuming it was re my recent DLA claim, I said it wasn't convenient to talk, can anyone help me prepare for this call-what so they ask? Any questions I should be wary of? I haven't ever been in this position before and don't want to muck things up for myself.

The easiest way to prevent the DWP from telephoning a claimant for any reason, is not to divulge your telephone number from the outset.

I would never recommend dealing with the DWP by telephone unless you have equipment that can record a two-way call, because if not, there is no evidence of what has been discussed which could prove crucial where benefit claims are concerned, and an appeal may be necessary.

Well no call from the DWP as expected so I called DLA office, funnily enough there are no notes on my file to advise who called or what the call was about. The person I spoke to said it may have been they wanted more information and managed to get it before the time they were due to call back
On checking the letter they sent me to advise they had my claim under the 'if we do not have enough information' section it states: we may write to your GP, we may arrange for a doctor to examine you, we may write to you asking for more information, we may arrange for someone from your local Social Security office to come to see you. Nowhere does it say we may call you at home!! That will be my response if I do receive another call, I will refer them to their own letter advising how they collect information and ask for them to request any information in writing.

fibrofog wrote:

Well no call from the DWP as expected so I called DLA office, funnily enough there are no notes on my file to advise who called or what the call was about. The person I spoke to said it may have been they wanted more information and managed to get it before the time they were due to call back
On checking the letter they sent me to advise they had my claim under the 'if we do not have enough information' section it states: we may write to your GP, we may arrange for a doctor to examine you, we may write to you asking for more information, we may arrange for someone from your local Social Security office to come to see you. Nowhere does it say we may call you at home!! That will be my response if I do receive another call, I will refer them to their own letter advising how they collect information and ask for them to request any information in writing.

it asks on the dla form for contact numbers see page 16 item 6 on form below

www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/dla1a_adult_print.pdf