Award Notice Reminder Cycle (Info)

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The award reminder cycle can be

• Started

• Extended

And

• Restarted

The award reminder cycle is triggered by the computer when an original or duplicate award notice issued to the claimant requires a signature. The claimant is given 30 days from the date of issue to return the signed notice. The computer issues a reminder notice on the 16th calendar day of this cycle.

If the signed award notice is not returned at the end of the 30 day period, the award will be terminated and payments will be stopped.

Note: The claimant can give their signature over the telephone or sign their declaration at an Enquiry Centre

The issue of a duplicate award notice which requires a signature, will automatically stop the original reminder cycle and start a new reminder cycle for the duplicate award notice.

You can control the reminder cycle and determine the timescales that the family have to complete and return the signed award notice. Function MANAGE REMINDERS allows you to override the normal reminder cycle.

It is only appropriate to extend the award reminder cycle when you have established that more time is required for the notice to be returned. An extension to the reminder cycle can only be applied when the computer has issued or attempted to issue the reminder notice. The reminder cycle can be extended for up to a maximum of 14 days. (This text has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)

When you decide to change the reminder cycle, for a live reminder cycle you must select a reason for the change.

Once the reminder cycle has been extended for the maximum period, no further extension is allowed.

Restarting the award reminder cycle is automatically applied by the computer and can only be triggered when an unsigned award notice has been logged incorrectly upon its return. By unlogging the returned award notice, the computer will restart the reminder cycle by resetting the last known end date.

You should consider whether there are grounds for extending the cycle if an unsigned award notice has been logged incorrectly and you recognise that the end date of the reminder cycle is imminent.

You should consider whether it is appropriate to adjust the award reminder cycle if

The claimant contacts you requesting a copy notice, or asks for more time to return the award notice

• Where the family have returned the notice with no signature and it needs to be returned to the claimant for them to sign

Or

• The returned award notice has been logged incorrectly on to the computer and a signature is still required