CCM4365 - Examinations: Examinations following a change of circumstances: Opening letter where there is no penalty
These cases will be allocated to a Compliance Officer by the
manager. The details are entered on TCW or CCMIS.
The first step is to decide if a penalty might be
appropriate – see
CCM4360.
If a penalty might be appropriate – see
CCM4760
If a penalty is not appropriate continue as shown below.
When contacting the claimant(s) to open the examination it
must always be in writing. Where the claimant has notified a change
of circumstances and it has not yet been actioned, you must use the
standard letter template letter TCC17.
The letter formally opens the examination and asks the
claimant to provide more information about their change of
circumstances, see
CCM4220. The letter also tells the
claimant they will not receive any additional payments until they
provide the information.
Where there is a joint claim, even if the risks only relate
to one of the claimants, you need to send separate copies of the
letter to both claimants.
You should always state the date by which the claimant
should get back to you and allow at least [30] days. For example,
if you wrote on 06/08/08, you would specify 05/09/08 for a
response. If you are aware that postal delays are likely, for
example there is a strike or it is close to Christmas, allow a few
extra days. Also allow a longer time if you know for example the
claimant is abroad or incapacitated and it means they will not be
able to reply within [30] days.
Your next action will depend on any response to the opening
letter. If the claimant:
If the claimant phones you to discuss your letter make full notes of everything they say and keep a record in your papers. If the claimant has fully answered your queries over the phone they do not need to reply in writing and you should see CCM4370.
