Benefits Inyegrity Centre ?

Dear Sirs,

I need to ask your advice over the BIC or Benefits Integrity Centre.

Had never heard of this (or since). They sent me a letter with a form asking a lot
of questions about my benefits, my medical conditions, my situations asking me to
send all the information to the Benefit Integrity Centre, Winsford Way, Chelmsford at
the other end of the country.

This actually was more than six months ago, but I havespent the lat five months being
very worried and nervous about this and terrified of a brown envelope arriving every day.

My question is, what is this ? The very name sounds sinister and investigative.

I can think of no possible reason for them to investigate my relatively simple
long term medical (15 years) or home situation (apart from fact that neighbours
either side read Daily Mail).

They have not replied in anyway and everything is unchanged. Can I
relax now and hope that whatever caused them to investigate me is sorted or am I
in one of these backlogs that I see people mentioning on these pages and
it could start off at any time.

Thanks your time in reading this.

billhan wrote: Dear Sirs,

I need to ask your advice over the BIC or Benefits Integrity Centre.

Had never heard of this (or since). They sent me a letter with a form asking a lot
of questions about my benefits, my medical conditions, my situations asking me to
send all the information to the Benefit Integrity Centre, Winsford Way, Chelmsford at
the other end of the country.

This actually was more than six months ago, but I havespent the lat five months being
very worried and nervous about this and terrified of a brown envelope arriving every day.

My question is, what is this ? The very name sounds sinister and investigative.

I can think of no possible reason for them to investigate my relatively simple
long term medical (15 years) or home situation (apart from fact that neighbours
either side read Daily Mail).

They have not replied in anyway and everything is unchanged. Can I
relax now and hope that whatever caused them to investigate me is sorted or am I
in one of these backlogs that I see people mentioning on these pages and
it could start off at any time.

Thanks your time in reading this.

Hi b,

Try not to worry !!

Several of our members have received such forms from The Benefits Integrity Centre in Chelmsford.

These review forms are sent out randomly from time to time to ensure that the claimant's circumstances haven't changed.

You did the right thing by filling it in and returning it as requested.

As it has now been more than six months since you returned the form, without any further action being taken by The DWP, you can take it that all is fine.

bro58

Very pleased for the reassurance on this matter.

Now onto the real paranoia !

Is there any connection in this and the fact that I returned my ESA50 form
over 35 weeks ago and have heard nothing ?

billhan wrote: Very pleased for the reassurance on this matter.

Now onto the real paranoia !

Is there any connection in this and the fact that I returned my ESA50 form
over 35 weeks ago and have heard nothing ?

Hi b,

I doubt it !!

The Benefit Integrity Centre is a totally different department than the one that deals with ESA WCA. (Assessments/Reassessments)

Many, many of our members have suffered very long delays in hearing anything after returning their ESA50 Questionnaires.

35 weeks is totally unacceptable, however you will continue to receive your current rate of benefit, until the DWP DM makes a fresh decision.

As long as you are sure that ATOS received the ESA50 by the deadline given, the ball is in their court.

ATOS are suffering a huge backlog, due to staff shortages, auditing, retraining, etc, etc.

If you wish, you could e-mail ATOS for an update :

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you want to complain, you could involve your M.P. :

Contacting your MP

bro58

You are totally right that this delay is shocking.

I did do as people advised and sent by recorded delivery.

My instinct is not to contact these people and am pleased for things to stay
as they are (IB) for as long as possible.

This is because having a rare medical condition I am sure it is easy for them
to downplay and belittle it's effects.

After nine months am I out of danger of having to attend a face to face medical,
he thought of which terrifies me?

billhan wrote: You are totally right that this delay is shocking.

I did do as people advised and sent by recorded delivery.

My instinct is not to contact these people and am pleased for things to stay
as they are (IB) for as long as possible.

This is because having a rare medical condition I am sure it is easy for them
to downplay and belittle it's effects.

After nine months am I out of danger of having to attend a face to face medical,
he thought of which terrifies me?

Hi b,

There is a possibility that you may have been transferred over to ESA without being informed.

A good indication of this would be the payee reference for your benefits payments in your bank account.

If it is still IB, it should say so, if it is now ESA is should say ESA or EESA.

You need to clarify this, as if you have been transferred into The WRAG of ESA in receipt of CB ESA only, (Which is possible, as your payments may remain the same as with IB, under Transitional Protection.) payment of CB ESA in The WRAG only lasts for 365 days before it stops :

12 Month Limit for ESA(CB)

If it's still IB, then you do not need to act.

Even after 9 months, there is no guarantee that you would not have to attend a F2F.

Please do update us when you have checked your bank account.

Have a read through our :

IB, IS, SDA, Migration to ESA FAQ’s

&

ESA FAQ’s

bro58