The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is carrying out aggressive and rapid debt collection practices which are more severe than most banks, a charity founded by Martin Lewis has claimed.
Rose Jones, a young carer, faced a repayment demand of 2,145 from the DWP after being misinformed about her earnings under the Kickstart scheme. Despite her role as a carer for her disabled mother since age eight, she felt abandoned and overwhelmed by the situation, especially after receiving conflicting advice from her jobcentre work coach. Guardian readers responded to her plight, funding over 3,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to alleviate her financial burden.
People are literally calling for help and receiving no answer. The state is AWOL just when it needs it most, illustrating the stark disparity of experience between claimants.
The Supreme Court ruling has forced the DWP to review Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims as far back as April 2016, potentially resulting in significant back payments for thousands.
