Help please, problems with Jobcentre Plus

Thanks Wonko, I'll certainly give it a go.

sheleo wrote:

Thanks everyone. I am going to do everything you suggest(including contacting my M.P!) and will let you know the outcome. Before I do this, please could someone clarify what the law says the claimant is entitled to receive and what the regulations say about the timeframe? If I quote a regulation they might take more notice.I understood that I had 28 days following the receipt of the letter detailing the outcome of the medical to request documents and both of my requests have been within that timescale.
Thanks!

Hi S,

As Derek states they have 40 days to comply with your SAR, it is covered under the Data Protection Act.

There may be an admin fee.

See here. :

www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_pr...o_personal_data.aspx

And here for general ICO information. :

www.ico.gov.uk/

bro58

Thanks Bro58, sorry I didn't read Derek's post carefully enough.

The DWP guidance for handling SARs can be found at the link below (Subject Access Request Guide).

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claim...eneral-benefits-info

I should point out that although legally organizations can charge a fee for the documents, I understand that it's DWP policy not to charge claimants unless they believe that the claimant is time-wasting or making repetitive requests.

From my experience though, they seem to think that all communications with claimants is a waste of time, which presumably is why we never get a reply to our letters!

Quick Update: I decided to give the phone one last go and got through! After being passed from pillar to post, calls not being returned etc.,I finally spoke to someone who assured me the forms would be sent out by recorded delivery within a couple of weeks. This is what I've learned from this sorry process:
1. You have to go through the main phone number to reach your BDC who initiates requests for forms as a claimant is not given (or allowed) a direct line number.
2. It's easier to get thro' the main number if you phone around 8.00 a.m.
3. All forms are held in a national,central 'hangar'and dispatched to BDCs who make a request. They then copy and send out to you.
4. If you get nowhere, ask for an escalation from the team supervisor.
5. Note down time/date of calls, name of person you spoke to and what they said theywould do
I am holding fire on an official DWP complaint for two weeks to give them a final chance to deliver. The people I spoke to were mostly helpful and apologetic and there is no doubt the system is overwhelmed.
Whatever the outcome I shall write to my MP.
Hope this info helps someone!

Hi sheleo

I would be interested to find out if the forms are sent recorded delivery as promised - I've never known the DWP to do this before.

Good luck with getting hold of them.

Derek