A Guide on How, Where, When to Complain

Hi to everyone at Benefits and Work

This is just a thought I have had very recently and wondered if it is at all possible for
Steve Donnison and Holiday Whitehead to please consider the following;-

A one step easy to step starter guide on when, where and how to Complain and covering links on where to complain and how to complain and time scales in doing so. Also it would good if a sample letters could be included that could be adapted to the relevant Benefit or Medical assessment provider and also links to how to find local MP and sample letter on how to approach the MP for their support in your complaint..

I know Its very complicated and off putting to make a complaint and especially when we are all so exhausted of forms, trying to understand the forms and gather evidence, reconsideration's, deadlines and also trying to cope day to day with illness/disability.
So My thoughts are if there was a simple starter Guide on the basics of making a complaint and how and when to do that with sample letters, then many may understand that process better and send off there complaint.

I just feel a totally separate guide on that would prove a massive help to understanding how and when to complain and where to. I feel that many would use sample letters to adapt to there situation.

I know you already provide so much with the forum and helpful guidance and step by step guides and for such a very reasonable membership charge that I actually feel awful asking. but wanted to send it in as a light bulb idea as I do believe a step by step guide on that would prove very useful to all and help us to understand that we are entitled to follow that process within certain timescales and follow a escalation process.

Bestest wishes to all

Meg

Hi Steve

Thank you for taking time to reply to me which is appreciated. After being a Benefits and Work member now for several years I have seen how the many members and myself included have become so exhausted with changes in benefits that trying to understand how, when, where to complain a total challenge or give up or give in for a while. I am also guilty like many on here of sometimes airing my complaint half way through claim, or to the wrong person or department and also not following a proper complaint procedure. It all just feels hard work and totally overwhelming when already bogged down with so much.

I feel sure many members would find a the new Guide helpful and useful on making a valid decision on the best way to go about getting there complaint to the right department or person. If you do decide to go ahead with writing a Complaint Guide, I think it would actually be the very first independent Guide of very useful information and facts on how to complain to DWP re ESA, PIP, UNIVERSAL CREDIT, etc., and How to complain to ATOS, CAPITA, MAXIMUS,.. I do think it should have been the job of the Government to produce a easy to follow accessible one Guide and one complaint system , but I fear we are a long way off that so meantime I`m grateful that you are considering a Guide for your members to such a complex complaint system.
.
After reading through some of the subjects on the Forum, I know I have seen a few members where they are asking for advice re their claim and its also clear from what they are saying that they also have separate complaint. I just think its becoming more and more crucial if we can all somehow get our complaint/s out of our claims and into the correct complaint procedure and although I am forever grateful and thankful for all your up to date written Guides and all the support and also the helpful support from your moderators, I feel the How to complain would prove helpful and also help members to separate their complaint from their claim as it can all to often cloud your relevant information with so much upset and emotion it is difficult to work through your other factual information for your points.

I hope other members put forward that it would be helpful and thoughts or suggestions for the Guide. Once again Thank you

Bestest wishes to all

Meg

Hi BIS

Just wanted to say thank you for passing my light bulb moment idea of `How to Complain Guide' onto Steve.

Bestest Wishes

Meg