ESA Suspended

Hello,
I wonder if anybody has had the same experience as me. Last ESA payment received 30th April. Jobcentre Plus sent letter asking for details of increase of Occ Pens. Telephoned 27th April and gave details. At no time was I told it had to be in writing. Didn't receive payment on 14th May discovered this on 20th May rang Jobcentre plus and was then told details of pens increase had to be in writing. Sent the original Occ Pens letter on 21st May, recorded del signed for, by them, 22nd May 2012, but they are saying that they are having to put a trace on it becausee they can't find it. Apparently the post is opened at a different location and then sent to them. Haven't received any money since 30th April getting desperate. I'm in the support group by the way. Has anybody had anything similar happen and could tell me how much longer I will have to wait for the payments to be reinstated and will the payments be backdated. Do I have any re-dress because of the financial hardship caused. Many thanks

All documents which may have an impact on a person's benefit claim must always be communicated in writing to the DWP, or any other government department for that matter. Indeed, official instruction forms which accompany ESA award letters will stipulate that all documents which may effect entitlement, should be sent to the relevant office.

Having said that however, now that you have sent the requisite original document by recorded delivery and the DWP office can find no trace of it, it is incumbent on the Department to find the OP letter and reinstate your payments immediately if appropriate? They are not permitted to withhold payment (indefinitely) just because they have lost the letter.

In view of the time that has elapsed since you sent the letter and the fact that you are still without payment of your ESA, it would be advisable to consider making a formal complaint to the DWP. See:-

Complaining to the DWP.

Thank you for your advice. I will definitely make a complaint. They have acknowledged that they signed for it but subsequently lost it.

I was in a very similar situation as my payments stopped on 30th April, but that was because I was in the CB ESA WRA group. I just got a letter last week which informed me that I will receive payments again, because I have since been placed into the support group, so I have sent the relevant OCC Pensions information by letter,so I have a copy too. The new payments started on 24 May 2012, so I lost about 3 weeks money, but I can live with that.
If you were in the support group why did they stop your payments?