Notification of Local Service Compliance Telephone

H All.

I am in receipt of the higher rate of PIP care and mobility, after a serious brain injury and several strokes since 2010.

I also receive a small amount of ESA (Support Group) I don't get much as I am in receipt of a local government pension.

I went back to work for two years after the accident, but I was made redundant on ill health from my local authority job, and 44 years full employment.

I was reassessed for PIP 12 months ago and awarded 6 years on the higher rate of care and mobility.

I don't know why but this is worrying me, I don't do anything that would make me ineligible for PIP.

My health continues to deteriorate and I have a 'reduced life expediency' because of the nature of my conditions.

I'm 64 and my ESA (SG) expires and turns in to OAP next July.

I know my neighbours are very inquisitive and somewhat mischievous, but the worse they will have seen is me struggling past their house on sticks, and drive occasionally.

I attend a group for 'Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke Survivors' once a month, our last two holidays ended up with me in hospital on both occasions, so I am at a loss to what they want to discuss.

In the closing paragraph they have asked that I have my Bank Statements available.

They have never asked to see our bank statements before, being that a have a pension, and am excluded from all the means tested benefits.

This delves in to my wife's business more than mine, and I would be reluctant to allow them access to something which I consider none of their business anyway.

I will try and ring them tomorrow as this will play on my mind, and my wife has only last week resigned from her job so that she can care for me.

I keep telling myself that I have nothing to worry about but I have been left with some mental health issues after the brain injury and strokes, I know the DWP don't give a damn about that, but I was hoping some of you guys could reassure me, or give me more information.

Regards

Lew

Gordon wrote: Lew

The DWP appear to be going through an exercise at the moment of contacting ESA claimants that they would otherwise have no reason to do so under the guide of a benefit check or as in this case a compliance interview.

From what we can see the majority of these are selected at random and this tends to be confirmed by the "interview" being held over the phone, if they had any serious concerns then they would have required a face to face.

The vast majority of these go no further and no issues are found, whilst I doubt this goes anyway to easing your concerns I would try not dwell on it too much if you can.

Gordon

Thanks Gordon,

I will try and ring them tomorrow to see if they will do it sooner rather than later.

They are well aware of my serious memory problems so it will be an interesting conversation, and if the decline to carry it out when I call, there is a danger I will forget, its in my diary but that is no guarantee.

My last assessment 11 months ago resulted in my awarded points going up quite considerably, so I am unable to see any circumstance where they could cause any serious difficulties, unless I have a night time job that I have forgotten about.

They have never asked for a bank statement since I applied in 2010, so as it is not a means tested benefit I will not be producing any on this occasion.

My wife now handles all the financial matters so they would have to ask her.

I will report back if there is anything worth reporting, but my circumstances remain the same (in decline) but the DWP are capable of categorising death as an inconclusive prognosis.

Regards

Lew

Hi,

Took the initiative and rang the author of the letter today.

He was very personable and told me that HMRC had me recorded as working part time.

I explained to him that I had been made redundant on ill health grounds, but that I volunteered for a charity 'now and again' no more than an hour once or twice a month.

However they paid me 45 pence a mile for getting there once or twice a month, and that was what was showing up on the HMRC file.

We are talking about pennies.

I also referred him to a letter I had sent on the 11th March 2016, advising them of this, which DWP had signed for.

He said not to worry and that he would up date their records.

Am I missing something here, my doctor and therapist advise me to try and do something to get me out of the house, I tell DWP I will be volunteering, yet they still can not get it right.

Am I doing something wrong, I worked for over 46 years before being involved in an accident that leaves me disabled, and now I'm treated like a bum?

Thanks for listening folks.

Thanks

I worked for the government all my working life, and the last time I checked you needed more than one brain cell and a modicum of honesty to apply!

All you seem to get over the phone with these is monosyllabic grunts, and the denial of receipt of any letters or phone calls.

Have I/We become so worthless that we are to be denied even basic human rights (that's rhetorical)

Got that off my chest, feel better now.

Regards