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Home visit

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7 years 5 months ago #170818 by Jb
Home visit was created by Jb
Could someone please help. I had an ESA reassessment about 2 months ago and recently found out I'd passed but switched groups. After the humiliating, degrading experience of the medical, (I'd sent in so much information but was still called for assessment and for my previous assessment, i had to wait a year to appeal at tribunal after initially receiving zero points. I thought it would all be over now (for at least another year anyway). I had initially thought about doing a part time course to try and help my situation but never got that far, due to sudden bereavement. Sorry, to get to the point - Now I have just received a letter called Notification of Performance Measurement visit for next week. I am in a terrible state, I'm badly grieving and feeling suicidal and I have this on top of everything else now. Why don't they just leave you alone?! It says it is to review my benefit claim and to check they are paying the correct amount of Housing Benefit. Well my ESA was just reassessed a couple of months back and i phoned my rents officer who contacted Housing Benefit and he said it was all in order. The letter wants to see things as long as your arm including bank statements, insurance, benefit details, passport etc. At the end it also asks for details regarding tenancy, service charges etc 'if we are reviewing your Housing Benefit'. So it contradicts itself. Can someone please tell me the real purpose for this visit? I have had trouble with my neighbours..could it be that they might have made up something malicious about me or is this the DWPs new way of hounding sick people, despite the recent statement about not reassessing some people so often? Im in such a state and i am that close to the edge right now

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7 years 5 months ago - 7 years 5 months ago #170820 by slugsta
Replied by slugsta on topic Home visit
Hi Jb,

I'm sorry this is all affecting you so badly :(

If this letter is about a review of your entitlement to Housing Benefit then I suspect it has come from your local authority and has nothing directly to do with DWP. It is possible that this is the result of a 'tip off' but it is just as likely to be a random check. I'm afraid you have no alternative other than to comply or risk your claim being closed.

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Last edit: 7 years 5 months ago by slugsta.

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7 years 5 months ago #170833 by Jb
Replied by Jb on topic Home visit
Thankyou for your quick reply. The letter does state it comes for the DWP and from what the rents officer said, the Housing Benefit is fine. When the rents officer phoned me back and I told him the name of the visit again, he asked around and said it was a review of 'all' my benefits and that they may be wanting to help me by offer me more like pip. I really find that highly unlikely. The DWP don't seem to voluntarily try and help going by everything ive been through and if so, why would they not just write and say so. I told the man I couldn't go through another assessment anyway,even if it was for more money, to which he told me you don't need to on pip. I'm sure from everything I've read on here that you do an assessment for that but regardless, he says I have to go through with this assessment or they will stop my benefit. I really, really don't want anyone here, because of my problems, I don't let anyone in and I haven't been out again in days. I'm in such a state, as is my flat as I just want to stay in bed and cry. I can't get through to the DWP themselves, who I usually avoid, for any further information and I'm petrified my neighbour has triggered something or I am being investigated. Even if you haven't done anything, the thought of being alone with a stranger, having to provide all documents and being questioned when you're grieving and not wanting to be here is terrifying to me

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7 years 5 months ago #170837 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Home visit
Jb

You can ask for the meeting to be held at your local JC+ office and you can have someone with you, either at their offices or at you home.

We've seen a lot of these letters reported on the forum and the vast majority turn out to be a random selection and there are no issues found.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: slugsta

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7 years 5 months ago #170974 by Jb
Replied by Jb on topic Home visit
Thank you both for your replies. I think for me, it would be so much worse going to the job centre office, surrounded by people and staff so the home visit is sort of the lesser of 2 evils, as it were. I've checked the dates on the letters and its literally been only 35 days since notification of ESA award after the medical to the date this home visit review of benefits letter has been sent!! I just don't know why they would harass people like this when they know they are sick and already have all the information at their disposal. I'd heard of people being called for another medical after 6 months but this is ridiculous and seems deliberately planned. I still cannot get through to the visiting officer on either their landline or mobile number, nor the Business Support number or the DWP to ask for further information and its really stressing me out. I have been frantically trying to find all the paperwork they are asking for but due to bereavement and my worsening mental and physical state lately, am having a lot of trouble. As I do not have enough time to find anyone to be here with me and my Rents Officer said I will have to go through with it or risk all benefits being stopped, (iim assuming that is correct), could you tell me if I would need to sign anything if it's just a straightforward review as I am very wary of doing so without understanding what i might be doing with anyone present with me? Also, if I find I can't cope or I feel very uncomfortable with a stranger here after already admitting him, am I within my rights to ask him to leave prematurely and ask him to reschedule when I can possibly find someone to be here with me? I had thought of asking beforehand to reschedule in order to do so (if I could get hold of him, that is, which I cant) but then I know I will have it hanging over me and will worry so much more, prolonging it. Thank you

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7 years 5 months ago #171013 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Home visit
Jb

I wish I could provide more detailed advice but these meetings are held for a number of reasons and the letters have a variety of headings.

The person you are seeing will not have the power to end your claim but they may be able to suspend payments if the information they have request is not available, so I would try and make sure that you have it ready.

We have had members post a wide range of response to these meetings, the vast majority have been a simple question / answer session with no further action being required. Hopefully yours will be one of these.

Gordon

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

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