The Guardian: DWP accused of offering disabled people 'take it or leave it' benefits

(Not about ME but may be of interest}

The Guardian: DWP accused of offering disabled people 'take it or leave it' benefits

https://www.theguardian.com/society...-disabled-people-take-it-or-leave-it-benefits

Lower value ‘deals’ allegedly offered to vulnerable people appealing against decisions

Vulnerable and disabled people are being pressured to accept unrecorded telephone “deals” paying thousands of pounds less in benefits than they may be legally entitled to, charities and lawyers have said.

The Department for Work and Pensions has been accused of making “decide right now” offers to people who have appealed against a decision to deny them benefits. In some cases the people say they were told the offer would be withdrawn if they did not accept it within minutes…

 

They sometimes negotiate with welfare advisors too. They really shouldn't be pressuring people to make an instantaneous decision like some dodgy double glazing salesman, though, especially if the person doesn't have access to an advocate who understands the caselaw. Ideally, people should either be entitled to an award or not; if a decision can't easily be made because of multiple grey areas, it's the guidelines that are the problem, not the individual's case.

 

There is an implied 'offer' whether it is articulated or not, which is that if you appeal you may lose some of what they have awarded you. I can imagine some people giving in to this intimidation because they need the money from an award right now, and it takes months if notyears to get your date for a Tribunal, and backpay ( if .you win).

 

Interesting that these sort of tactics are being appropriated from the insurance industry.

As anyone who has had to claim on car insurance will know, they always try to persuade you to go 50-50 with the other party involved to save themselves the cost of admin. Your resulting higher premiums over the next 3 years are a windfall. Or woe betide you if your car is elderly - they'll try to write it off and offer you the minimum possible value.

Despicable in a government department dealing with the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.

 

Although we keep being told that a tribunal will warn you if you stand to lose (some of) your existing award, and ask if you still want to continue.