Incapacity Benefit Question.....

[David L]

Hi, new to the forum and would like to give my opinion on the new Employment and Support Allowance benefits which are being phased in to replace Incapacity Benefits. I recently recieved a letter from the DWP asking me if i could telephone them to "confirm my identity" which would enable them to then send me a questionare to complete with details about my illness or disability.

Now my problem is this,

Why do they need me to confirm my identity in order for them to send me a form ?

Is this questionare only sent out because i have unknowingly requested it?

Is this new benefit changed over from my old benefit only by consent, i.e. by me phoning the dwp ?

If i do not contact them to confirm my identity what will happen ?

By me confirming my I.D. am i consenting to the changes?

If i do contact them and they send me the questionare, and i do not return it what will happen ?

Any thoughts on this would be appretiated........Thanks David.

[wobble1]

Like every one on IB you are being transfered to ESA.
DWP phone you to make sure you are who you are and what address you are at, this is normal.

You don't request form it's part of the transfer process.

You don't have a choice about changing over benefit, it's the new law.

To answer your other questions, any attempt to not cooperate will mean the loss of your benefit.

It seems you are worrying uneccesarily, all information DWP want is what they already have on file is current and the ESA50 is to find out whether your entitlement to benefit due to health problems is still eligible. It is for most a painless process but I think it would be wise to get someone with experience i.e. CAB to help you fill in the ESA50.

[davewhit]

Hi, new to the forum and would like to give my opinion on the new Employment and Support Allowance benefits which are being phased in to replace Incapacity Benefits. I recently recieved a letter from the DWP asking me if i could telephone them to "confirm my identity" which would enable them to then send me a questionare to complete with details about my illness or disability.

Now my problem is this,

Why do they need me to confirm my identity in order for them to send me a form ?

Is this questionare only sent out because i have unknowingly requested it?

Is this new benefit changed over from my old benefit only by consent, i.e. by me phoning the dwp ?

If i do not contact them to confirm my identity what will happen ?

By me confirming my I.D. am i consenting to the changes?

If i do contact them and they send me the questionare, and i do not return it what will happen ?

Any thoughts on this would be appretiated........Thanks David.

you have no choice but to fill in the form, if you dont telephone they will still send you the form and if they dont have it back in 4 weeks they will stop your benefit as advised get expert help with the form if you can

[David L]

Thank you for your reply Wobble 1, yes i think it would be wise to get help filling in the new form, but one thing which still puzzles me is the fact they need to verify details which they already hold on file........by mearly speaking over the phone cannot confirm who i am, as you know all DWP letters use your national insurance number as your reference.

[David L]

Thank you Davewhit, i think it best to get help with the filling in of the new form......

[davewhit]

Thank you for your reply Wobble 1, yes i think it would be wise to get help filling in the new form, but one thing which still puzzles me is the fact they need to verify details which they already hold on file........by mearly speaking over the phone cannot confirm who i am, as you know all DWP letters use your national insurance number as your reference.

the telephone call came in after the "Harrington report" as people expressed a wish for some type of contact some even get a call back with the results