Put on work group because I can sit and read.

The Saga continues.

After phone calls to them and promises of letters I finally went to my local CAB two weeks ago. CAB phoned the DWP and I was promised a letter of Mandatory reconsideration within 6 days. Six days came and went. No letter.

So back to CAB today, another phone call to DWP. They couldn't answer why I still hadn't received a letter or tell us what is going on. I was then promised a phone call within the next 3 hours by somebody who would look into my case and tell me what was going on.

So the DWP have phoned, apparently they never took my letter headed "Mandatory Consideration" as a mandatory consideration, they gave me a "soft????" consideration. Not having this I enquired why my MD letter was ignored. The man waffled on and really didn't have a clue what he was on about. Then told me he would have to look at my case notes which he didn't have in front of him and phone me back. (So obviously he just phoned to fob me off)

Second phone call, somebody will now look at my mandatory reconsideration and phone me tomorrow to see if anything has changed. That will now be my MD. Oh and as they have already said no there is very little chance that the decision will change. I asked why then go through the whole thing again and was this just a delaying tactic. No he doesn't understand either.

So now I wait for the phone call tomorrow.

Hi Bramble,

I have been going through the same thing over the past year.
I had clearly stated in a very detailed letter asking for a mandatory reconsideration, 4 months later I got the confusing letter saying decision had not been changed and I could ask for a mandatory reconsideration. I thought I was going mad, a MR of an MR. The guy at cab said he'd never seen that before. My MR request obviously wasn't accepted either.
I stuck it in again, that was 7 months ago.

Have been chasing them up and qualified for some 5 hour ring back thing, nice lady phoned me and promised to look into it and see what's going on as it appears to be messed up their end.

Hope you heard back from whoever was calling you today. Will keep an eye on your posts as I'm in the same boat.

Terrible all the added stress and worry to still be going on this long.

Hi Mum, no they didn't phone today. Surprise, surprize. I'm sure they just do this to wear you down, hoping we'll give up.

A brown envelope arrived today. I thought, finally I'm getting my MR notice. But no.

This is what I got.


"With respect of Mandatory Reconsideration request

This is to confirm that the letter you sent us dated 14/1/15 headed Mandatory Recon was received on 20/1/15. As this was a request against the decision to place you in the Work Related activity group. We looked at the decision again on the 18/2/15.
Following this new decision a BF31 was issued giving you the right to request a Mandatory Recon on this new decision which you requested today on the 17 March."


What planet are these people on?

What is a BF31? I've just looked at the letter I received when they told me I needed to do a MR of my MR and at the bottom left hand corner there are the letters BF31 (DMACR).

Bramble wrote: A brown envelope arrived today. I thought, finally I'm getting my MR notice. But no.

This is what I got.


"With respect of Mandatory Reconsideration request

This is to confirm that the letter you sent us dated 14/1/15 headed Mandatory Recon was received on 20/1/15. As this was a request against the decision to place you in the Work Related activity group. We looked at the decision again on the 18/2/15.
Following this new decision a BF31 was issued giving you the right to request a Mandatory Recon on this new decision which you requested today on the 17 March."


What planet are these people on?

What is a BF31? I've just looked at the letter I received when they told me I needed to do a MR of my MR and at the bottom left hand corner there are the letters BF31 (DMACR).

Hi B,

This smacks of even more DWP incompetency !!

A DMACR is a form completed by the Decision Maker with respect to : Claims, revisions, supersessions, etc, determination of questions and reconsiderations.

With ESA it is known as an LT54 DMACR.

I have not heard of a BF31, but from what you have written, you have already received it.

I am not aware of any pro-forma letter/form that is used by a claimant to request an MR.

Prior to the introduction of MR's in October 2013, there was the GL24 Form which was specifically for requesting appeals.

However, even then you could request an appeal using a letter, and it was not absolutely necessary to fill in a GL24.

Have you contacted your M.P. yet ? if not, it may be time to do so :

Contacting your MP

bro58