benefit issues

[dx100uk]

whats the number they are calling from?

 

dx

[Surfer01]

They have been phoning my wife's mobile phone and

we are not even sure if we gave them the number?

 

Checking the number it shows up as "Private number" on her mobile.

 

On another occasion it shows up as "No number".

However on the first occasion they were told that we would not be back home

until about end of July and were ask to note it.

 

We are wondering if it is Capita up to their tricks already

as we are sure it is an assessment for her DLA payment for Lower Care

which she has been getting for the past 3 years.

 

If it is then we would like to bring this to the attention of our MP

and any other relevant body due to harassment and Sunday visits.

 

I made a mistake regarding asking the security questions however

the wife has no idea if it was genuinely from the DWP.

 

Still the Sunday visit request is very unusual as I don't think that even bailiffs are allowed

to call around on a Sunday. We have no debt arrears so not debt collectors etc.

[SabreSheep]

Contact the DWP directly

Get someone to watch your property until DWP confirm it was them or you return home

[Lilly_Monroe]

I would never discuss/tell anyone over the phone that I was away - never mind who they said they were.

[Surfer01]

My spouse had a text message from Capita stating that they had appointments available in our area this week

and asking to phone them to book an appointment.

 

Not sure why they did not phone?

 

The number is a "0808" number.

 

Is this genuine and is the number a free phone number?

 

If it is genuine, it reads as if they want to do a home visit.

 

Can they insist on a home visit as don't really like strangers in the home at any time?

 

The visit will be in connection with the Lower Care DLA being received and renewing it.

 

My spouse is retired and has been for a couple of months.

[Mr.P]

0808 numbers are free on most landlines and some mobile phones. Depending on which network you are on, there may be a charge. http://www.area-codes.org.uk/0800-numbers.php gives some information about charges imposed by the major providers.

 

The number for Capita appears to start 0808 1788 11 and ends with 4,5, or 6 depending on area.

[**Margaret**]

:Surfer01:

 

Capita's contact numbers for their Enquiry Centre, including appointments, are; 08081 788114 and 08081 788115 (Wales). The calls are free to claimants from a landline.

 

Unlike Atos, Capita offer a choice of assessment venue. Claimant's home. Or one of their consultation centres within ninety minutes travelling time with a refund of expenses.

 

Best wishes, Margaret.

[Surfer01]

Thanks both. Home visits can be inconvenient as we have 4 Yorkshire Terriers who will yap most of the time and we cannot keep getting up to tell them to be quiet. We can put them in another room, but as the place is small it will not help much. Can't put them in the garden for various reasons. The other reason is trying to make the place look tidy and clean before they come. Will phone them today to make an appointment.

[Surfer01]

We contacted them and were told that their nearest assessment office is in Birmingham which is way to far for us to travel even if they are paying expenses. It would be a 60 - 70 mile round trip and over an hour each way. Surely they should have an assessment centre in each county or is it cheaper for them to do home visits?

[reallymadwoman]

It's probably cheaper to do home visits than set up assessment centres/pay to use GP surgeries etc especially once you take into account having to make them fully accessible and pay insurance etc.

 

Re your Yorkies and tidying up etc, why bother? Let them see you as you are. In fact, I would go so far as to say you should make no special effort at all. I have 'pyjama days' where I am just not bendy enough to get dressed and if they happened to be calling on one of those days they would find me in my pyjamas.

[Surfer01]

It's probably cheaper to do home visits than set up assessment centres/pay to use GP surgeries etc especially once you take into account having to make them fully accessible and pay insurance etc.

 

Re your Yorkies and tidying up etc, why bother? Let them see you as you are. In fact, I would go so far as to say you should make no special effort at all. I have 'pyjama days' where I am just not bendy enough to get dressed and if they happened to be calling on one of those days they would find me in my pyjamas.

 

 

My spouse likes things to be neat and tidy at all times even when she is sick.

[honeybee13]

It's probably cheaper to do home visits than set up assessment centres/pay to use GP surgeries etc especially once you take into account having to make them fully accessible and pay insurance etc.

 

Re your Yorkies and tidying up etc, why bother? Let them see you as you are. In fact, I would go so far as to say you should make no special effort at all. I have 'pyjama days' where I am just not bendy enough to get dressed and if they happened to be calling on one of those days they would find me in my pyjamas.

 

I agree with that, RMW. My employer's insurers came to see me when I was off sick and I made too much of an effort, with hindsight. This occupational nurse reported back that there was nothing wrong with me that going back to work wouldn't fix. . I should have answered the door in my dressing gown.

 

She was overruled in the end, but it made a stressful situation even more stressful.

 

HB

[cabvol]

I am a carer and the person I look after has just received a text (at 19:30 today) offering him a PIP assessment in 10 days time at 16:35. The text request he replies whether he accepts the appointment by texting "YES" or "NO" ay standard network rate. Just one snag - no venue given!!!! Presumably this is an automated system so replying anything else such as "WHERE?" will not register!!!

 

Looks like I will have to telephone them tomorrow. I suppose the next thing will be a denial of the claim because he did not respond to the text! Bloody incompetents!

[antone]

I am a carer and the person I look after has just received a text (at 19:30 today) offering him a PIP assessment in 10 days time at 16:35. The text request he replies whether he accepts the appointment by texting "YES" or "NO" ay standard network rate. Just one snag - no venue given!!!! Presumably this is an automated system so replying anything else such as "WHERE?" will not register!!!

 

Looks like I will have to telephone them tomorrow. I suppose the next thing will be a denial of the claim because he did not respond to the text! Bloody incompetents!

 

They can't deny a claim on the grounds of Failure to Attend unless they sent an actual letter through proper mail.

[Surfer01]

The lady came to our home and the assessment was mainly verbal. At no time did she touch my wife to "feel" her joints. We had to put up with one of the dogs barking constantly however travelling to Birmingham was not an option.

As I only turned 65 recently, more than likely I will have an assessment next year although I have "life" DLA granted, so not looking forward to the palaver again as no way am I travelling through to Birmingham as too far for me and I get stressed driving through big cities even though we have a satnav.

[id6052]

The visit will be in connection with the Lower Care DLA being received and renewing it.

 

 

Are you aware that lower rate DLA Care has no equivalent in PIP?

 

DLA care had 3 rates, High, Middle & Low

PIP (living component) has only 2 rates, standard and enhanced

 

Enhanced PIP rate is equal to Higher rate DLAc

Standard PIP rate is equal to Middle rate DLAc

[Surfer01]

We were not aware that it had disappeared. Thanks to George Iain Duncan Smith we are definitely not voting Tory in the next election!

[Surfer01]

Today went into my account to transfer money and only my state pension and no pension credit payment. Short or missing about £44 which creates a little problem.

I contacted the pension people who said that they would send an email to the relevant department which would take 24 hours for them to action. It would then take another 4 - 5 days for the payment to be re-instated!

They seem to do this on a regular basis and without any warning and it does create problems for us as we are both on pension. Not sure if there is anything we could do to make sure we are paid on the correct day as confirmed in a letter received 10 days ago! Very annoying!

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Today went into my account to transfer money and only my state pension and no pension credit payment. Short or missing about £44 which creates a little problem.

I contacted the pension people who said that they would send an email to the relevant department which would take 24 hours for them to action. It would then take another 4 - 5 days for the payment to be re-instated!

They seem to do this on a regular basis and without any warning and it does create problems for us as we are both on pension. Not sure if there is anything we could do to make sure we are paid on the correct day as confirmed in a letter received 10 days ago! Very annoying!

 

 

Raise a Formal Complaint with the Pension Service, clearly state what has been happening and request an explanation as to why this happens regularly and state that this causes you difficulties.

[Conniff]

When you contact them remind them that you are entitled to 8% statutory interest on late payments.

[Surfer01]

Good idea however after writing the post a letter dropped through the door from them requesting proof of occupational pensions. Strangely enough we completed this same request 6 months ago and nothing has changed in the meantime?

[neword]

I would send them the information they request asap so that they can "update" their system

and it should then resume paying the credit without problems. This may well be something they do on a

regular basis so that is something you should keep in mind.

 

Oh, Could I ask how you got hold of pension credit. I ask because my mother enquired about

it and they said she did not qualify. She's 80+ and only has her pension to live on each week.

Edited September 24, 2014 by neword
adding a question

[Surfer01]

Not nice not being given any notice especially as we live 14 miles from the nearest supermarket and only do a shop once a week. We get pension credit to top up our State pension. My weekly state pension is under £100 a week.

[Surfer01]

My father passed away on 21st December 2014 and his benefits stopped.

 

 

Fair enough as the Housing Association flat was paid up until the end of the month.

 

 

We managed to clear out the flat well before the end of the month and handed back the keys.

 

We were then told that two weeks notice has to be given and that they want £212.52 less £100 as the flat was clean when handed over.

We received the invoice this morning almost 2 months after the estate had been settled.

 

I am not sure how my father is supposed to notify the Housing Association that he is going to die and to give them appropriate notice?

They have a clause written into the tenancy agreement stating that in the event of death, two weeks notice should be given.

 

I would have though this was an unfair clause in the contract?

do they have the right and can they legally pursue us for the money although we did not sign the contract?

[mikeymack2002]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

 

 

The terms and conditions of the tenancy will clearly state that the tenancy holder/executor must give notice to end the tenancy. As in this situation the person dealing with the estate must give this notice to the Housing Association (HA).

 

 

The HA are still entitled to receive rent for the period that relates from the giving of the notice to terminate the tenancy and until the tenancy is formally ended. The rent that is/would be due could be recovered from the estate of the deceased person. The executor would be responsible for the final payment/s due to the creditors.

 

 

If there are no funds left from the estate then the executor should inform the HA of this. I hope you do not mind my asking was there a will in place?

 

 

To give you a basic idea have a read here http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/109/council_tenants_-_advice_and_support/1255/death_of_a_council_tenant