I wrote to DWP to point out:
some customers are receiving payments before the decision letters
some provisional awards are being made direct into bank account which bear no relation to the actual awards
local Inland Revenue offices are handing out individual giros to desperate customers.
DWP advised: “We are already aware that this is occurring and are considering how best to tell LAs to deal with it”.
What we don’t know is what happens next. Will these interim payments be deducted from this years awards? If so, when? Are these payments voluntary, part of the award, repayable loans or what? I know HB is supposed to take into account all sources of income but until these issues are clarified, I do not see how this can be appropriate.