DWP Can’t Understand Concept Of Disabled Woman Being Married
April 13, 2014
An email I received yesterday. Can I just make clear, for readers new to disability, that the headline comes from old ‘typically mainstream’ attitudes towards disability and marriage.
2012, 1st forms completed to move from IB to ESA.
Had to appeal initial decision as they totally ignored my mental health issues. I had been placed in WRAG but as someone who is housebound and suffers severe panic attacks when going out, I was never going to manage to get to the JC on a regular basis. I did actually get offered a home visit from my allocated JC advisor, (whilst I awaited the appeal outcome), but the appointment date fell just days after I got the appeal decision to go into support.
I was, at that time, very fortunate to be assessed based on submitted paperwork and did not have to have any face to face assessments.
It turned out that the GP at my practice, who filled in the report, had never met me as a patient (my usual GP was on holiday the week the forms came in) and he made an assumption about my use of Duloxetine being for the Fibro, However, I had been taking that medication for my major depressive disorder for at least 3 years prior to the Fibro DX.
On appeal, I was placed in the support group. I have Nick @Mylegalforum from Twitter to thank for this as he helped me with the appeal process and letters.
On 1st of December 2013 I received the renewal pack from ATOS stating I had to return it by Dec 31st, (not easy taking xmas into account) but I managed it.
NOTE: At this point, despite being notified of my marriage during the appeal, including a copy of my marriage certificate, they were still addressing letters to me in my maiden name. (I got married during the whole form filling / appeal process)
I returned the forms along with another clarification of my married name. I heard nothing.
Today, 12/04/2014, I received another standard letter and form asking me to complete and return before May 13th. This time addressed to me using my married surname but still as MISS not Mrs.
Not only do they seem incapable of getting something so simple as a name right, but I have to assume that the last lot of forms I returned have been lost, mislaid, destroyed or other. As I cannot fill the forms in by hand, this means further expense to me as I now have to print off my answers again. Thankfully I have it all saved.
I am also slightly confused as I thought ATOS had now ceased having anything to do with ESA and yet the return address on the envelope still shows as ATOS Healthcare, Bootle office. (Letter is dated April 10th)
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Same Difference 
yes you see with slick dave the jesus freak and killer rtu ids its a right fact that all their mates who need monies ie atos crapita a4e serco can and do dip into this pot whilst holy comes with killier rtu ids going on their own sweet way of targeting the sick disabled so that they can thin the rank out but whether your name change doesn’t matter to them you just another paycheck
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They did similar to me,, cancelled my appeal a week before I was due to go to tribunal, put a four thousand pound debt on my head until i provided proof that I didn’t owe them anything, stopped ALL my entitlements so i wasn’t even entitled to school dinners, my council tax reduction was suspended putting me in arrears, my house was nearly repossessed due to the stoppage of entitlements. My MP helped me but even he found them impossible, I will never give up the fight as they didn’t and don’t know me so how dare they so all this to me without a thought, well, they wont forget my name in a hurry, I appealed against everything they sent to me, I replied to every letter requesting further information, from July to Dec they sent to me over one hundred letters each letter contradicting the last one. I had the face to face assessment in Nov 2012 and they made their final decision – after changing it three times – Feb 2014. I took my case to the Independent Case Examiner, where I await their findings.
Keep going, it is very frustrating and takes forever, if you disagree with something, write and tell them, try not to speak to them over the phone, get everything in writing and keep copies, keep everything, if you go to tribunal send everything to the tribunal and not theDWP, the tribunal will pass it on to them but then you’ve covered yourself because every word that comes out of their mouth is a lie and a fob off. Get your MP involved.
I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you get it all sorted soon
x
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This is my story, and I thought I would add in an update. I hope this can be seen.
I wrote an e-mail to the DWP, and cc’d in a District Manager, informing them of my complaint about the duplicate form and my name.
A woman from the DMs office replied to me advising it was not them I needed to write to but ATOS, as it was an issue with them. She had forwarded on my e-mail to them and I should contact them if I had any further queries.
Now Im not stupid and I wasnt born yesterday. I KNOW that the DWP are ultimately responsible but I decided to let it run for a couple of days and see what, if anything, ATOS would come back with.
Of course they didnt disappoint me…………… they in turn blamed the DWP !!!
The DWP asked them for more advice on my case and when this happens it generates another form………… the DWP notify them of name changes so they got it wrong……………….
I should contact the DWP for advice on this matter…………………
*BANGS HEAD ON WALL*
And so I will now, once again write to the DWP, but this time I am CC’ing in my MP.
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leigh james its happening to too many peoples daily but then fighting back to get whots your is another thing but to deal with dwp ask for all they used in assessing you through a sar if one needs more help jump across to http://www.dwpexamination.org were there are loads still fighting back jeff3
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Jeffrey, Ive just spoken to my MPs office and they want to take it on. SO Im sending them everything by e-mail. Wanted to meet me in person but as housebound (except when hubby is home at weekends) it wouldnt have been possible to get to the office.
Secretary seemed positive that the senior case worker would look into it immediately and if necessary take it to a judge. I dont think it will need to go that far but Im just feeling a bit better now knowing there is someone willing to help me. (even if he is a tory) 😉
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