TOPIC CREATED BY MAUREEN

Maureen

I copied your post before we lost the forum last week.

Hi I have been turned down for both the higher rate with Pip even though I was receiving both previously and my conditions have worsened since then.
I appealed as they requested. With approx 27 pages of clear photos and evidence , medical history etc.
I then received a letter stating they have not changed there decision as they had not received any more evidence.
When my husband informed them it was sent by signed for delivery and we had proof of a signature they then informed my husband it arrived too late as it should have been there on the 6th of April ( the signature of receiving our large envelope was early on 5th April!!!
The case assessor 'apparently' read through it, and still decided nothing will change. I therefore need to take it further through a tribunal.
My husband phoned requesting my original copies back as I want them for my case. They arrived back yesterday and they are barely eligible copies ,the photos can not be seen they are just thick black blurred images.
My husband phoned again requesting the originals,( bearing in mind they are of no use to them, considering they reckon nothing had changed.) He was told they'll be back in 2-3 working days!
Today he has had a phone call to say they no longer hold the originals as they are scanned and the originals are destroyed. If this is the case how can they judge my pictures, X-rays etc properly if what they have sent us are not recognizable. Do they have a right to do this?
Feeling very depressed and frustrated at the moment. It took us a long time to put all this paper work together.
I hope some one can advise on this matter.

Maurren

Whilst the DWP do copy all correspondence that they receive, I am not aware of them destroying the originals, you could try issuing a Subject Access Request for the information but it can take up to 40 days for this to be completed.

SAR :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/request-for-personal-information.rtf

From this page :

www.dwp.gov.uk/privacy-policy/data-protection/

I would strongly recommend that you do not send original copies of any documentation that you send to the DWP unless specifically required to do so in which case you should copy iot your self before sending it.

As to an appeal, please have a look at our PIP Appeal guide on the following link

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

If you have further questions then please reply to this post and we will do our best to help.

Gordon