ESA wording change on 16 hour rule
R Brocklehurst made this Freedom of Information request to Department for Work and Pensions This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
Ref: FOI/2023/69201
Dear DWP. Thanks for responding to me. Not all my questions were answered and secondly I do not understand the answers you gave which do not relate to the question I asked about word changes on ESA benefit. Word change on ESA is not publicly available . The question again is when did the words change on ESA hours in order to claim benefit and how were claimants informed? When did it change from 'Up to 16 hours' or less to 'less than 16 hours' ?
Yours faithfully,
R Brocklehurst
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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
Ref: FOI/2023/69201
Dear DWP. Apparently you asked for clarification but I have received no further letter eeking that clarification.
Thanks for responding to me initially but it wss about Jobseekers Allowance that you wrote and I was seeking information regarding whether or not wording had changed so that there was confusion on claiming ESA (perhaps when renewing that claim). Secondly not all my original questions were answered and thirdly as indicated, I do not understand the answers you gave which do not relate to the question I asked about word changes on ESA benefit.
Word change on ESA is not ' publicly available' at all -at least not in any easily found manner. I can't find anything on word change on it.
The question again is when did the words change on ESA hours in order to claim benefit and how were claimants informed? Specifically - when did it change from 'Up to 16 hours' or less to 'less than 16 hours' ?#People interpret meaning differently and this can cause people who are making a justifiable claim or a continuing claim but renewing, to lose the benefit causing extreme hardship as in the recent case reported in the Guardian of a single mother of children who also lost housing benefit because she had put 16 hours instead of below 16 hours of part time working which was what she actually worked.
Thank you
Yours faithfully
Rosie Brocklehurst
Thank you for contacting the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received by the DWP Freedom of Information mailbox and will be
processed accordingly.
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Timescales for responding
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2000, you can normally expect a response within 20 working days.
Internal Review (IR) Requests
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We will respond to all valid FOI and IR requests within our statutory
timescales, if we are unable to do so then we will contact you to explain
why. Please note that we are not able to process your FOI or IR request in
any shorter timescales that you may indicate.
Receiving a response from us
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[email address]
We recommend that you add this address to your email contacts otherwise
the response may be treated as Spam or Junk by your email account
provider.
Further Information
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request please contact us.
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References
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Our ref: FOI2023/73577
Dear Mrs Brocklehurst,
Thank you for your request for information which was received on 25th
September. Your request is being considered under the terms of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000.
The Act requires that a response must be given promptly, and in any event
within 20 working days. We will therefore aim to reply by 23rd October.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Yours sincerely,
Policy Group FOI
Our ref: FOI2023/75504
Dear Mrs Brocklehurst,
Thank you for your request for information which was received on 3rd
October. Your request is being considered under the terms of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000.
The Act requires that a response must be given promptly, and in any event
within 20 working days. We will therefore aim to reply by 31st October.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Yours sincerely,
Policy Group FOI
Dear Mrs Brocklehurst,
I am writing in response to your request for information, received 25th
September.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Central FoI Team
Dear Mrs Brocklehurst,
I am writing in response to your request for information, received 3rd
October.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Central FoI Team
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