Postponed 1 day before flying to UK re DLA

The day before travelling to the appeal tribunal for DLA regarding the 26 week rule past presence test, after all the arrangement had been made and flights (I live in Spain) had been bought and paid for I get an email postponing it. Is this normal has it happened to many others? I would not mind but I struggled to pay for the flights and not sure if I can afford to fly to the uk on the next date that they have arranged. Its not just the money but I dont think I can handle all the stress as I had to be motivated to accept the fact that I had to leave the house and attend this meeting, this has taken a year of knowing and accepting then they postpone the day before.

magpie wrote:

The day before travelling to the appeal tribunal for DLA regarding the 26 week rule past presence test, after all the arrangement had been made and flights (I live in Spain) had been bought and paid for I get an email postponing it. Is this normal has it happened to many others? I would not mind but I struggled to pay for the flights and not sure if I can afford to fly to the uk on the next date that they have arranged. Its not just the money but I dont think I can handle all the stress as I had to be motivated to accept the fact that I had to leave the house and attend this meeting, this has taken a year of knowing and accepting then they postpone the day before.

Seen many posts on here and other forums where medicals and tribunals are called off at the last minute. There is no way I think that there is anything differnt they could do for people not in the UK I suspect if they did then some people would not be happy.

magpie wrote:

The day before travelling to the appeal tribunal for DLA regarding the 26 week rule past presence test, after all the arrangement had been made and flights (I live in Spain) had been bought and paid for I get an email postponing it. Is this normal has it happened to many others? I would not mind but I struggled to pay for the flights and not sure if I can afford to fly to the uk on the next date that they have arranged. Its not just the money but I dont think I can handle all the stress as I had to be motivated to accept the fact that I had to leave the house and attend this meeting, this has taken a year of knowing and accepting then they postpone the day before.

Hi M,

Personally I have not seen this scenario posted on the forum before with regards to appellants living in Spain.

However it does seem to happen a lot with UK appellants.

It is absolutely disgusting that this should have happened to you, especially taking into account your personal travelling circumstances.

You can find information on complaining from the link below. :

www.dwp.gov.uk/contact-us/complaints-and-appeals/

If it was me, I would be asking for reimbursment of any incurred expenses due to the short notice of postponement of the hearing.

Best of luck.

bro58

Thanks for replying bro58 and origionaldave you are probably right, I think I have taken this personally, its just it was a long time coming and alot or stress and sleepless nights worrying about the travel let alone the hearing. I feel sorry for the other people this has happened to, as you get your self all prepared then someone comes along and just changes things without any consideration for people who by the nature of it are in ill health. Its not right but I will have to get on with it.

magpie wrote:

Thanks for replying bro58 and origionaldave you are probably right, I think I have taken this personally, its just it was a long time coming and alot or stress and sleepless nights worrying about the travel let alone the hearing. I feel sorry for the other people this has happened to, as you get your self all prepared then someone comes along and just changes things without any consideration for people who by the nature of it are in ill health. Its not right but I will have to get on with it.

Hi M,

I don't feel that you have taken it personally in the least.

Your circumstances are totally different to a appellant in the U.K,

A U.K. appellant would probably not have to book airline tickets in advance.

You have every right to feel agrieved, and as I have said, I would complain, and demand reimbursment of my losses.

cheers

bro58

I inadvertently said in an earlier now deleted post to lodge a complaint against Atos, but what I failed to recognise was that it was not a medical examination that was postponed, but an appeal tribunal. Apologies for any confusion this may have caused.

If you wish to make a complaint to the Tribunals Service about the manner in which your appeal was postponed at short notice, you may be able to do so by using the link entitled HM Courts and Tribunal Service - Making a complaint.