Comfortable room temperatures

It is called Raynaud's Syndrome karmalady and I get it too. It is a damn nuisance and winter glove time has arrived, plus fingerless gloves in the house.

My bill was online today, octopus and first proper smart meter bill. Full month and am pleased to see a total of £79 minus government handout of £66 = £13 for me to pay.

Warm and cosy here but I also dress for autumn. I get those white fingers if I get cold

Drizzle, today, has forced use to the kitchen fire. Cozy.

Not a moaner Whiff just one of those unfortunate people who keep falling into the gaps in the benefit system.

You do not sound like a moaner Whiff. Your situation needs some publicity and thankfully there is help and support on here.

Thank you all. I sound like a proper moaner but I 'm not really. I always manage to find a positive out of a negative no matter how silly. The positive out of all these is finding the wonderful people at The Brain Charity. They help anyone with a neurological condition whether it effects you physically or mentally or both. They offer support to families as well.

Thanks for letting me rant. 💐

If one has a smart meter it is easier to keep track of what you are using regarding heating and you do not get a nasty shock at the end of each month when the bills appear.

Can I just say that anyone over the age of 50 can access AgeUk for benefits help.

Whiff I can only speak of the Tribunals I attended, almost all Social Security Tribunals, and those all involved hree people. I did do one Industrial Injury Tribunal, that was 2 people, and one Benefits Tribunal and that was one person only as it was only about money and health or injury did not come into it.

I am sorry your experience was so bad, I do hope you had someone with you.

Whiff. This is so dreadfully unfair and has made me really cross and helpless on your behalf. My thoughts are with you although I realise these won't help your predicament. I wish I had some wisdom for you.

whiff that brought tears to my eyes, so very unfair

Karmalady I am 64 so won't get my state pension until 2024. It will be my only pension. Because my husband died in 2004 aged 47. I have been told because he only paid NI and tax for 30 years I will get 43p a week from his NI contributions. He paid in a lot because he had a good salary. I ask why only 43p and was told he didn't work long enough . But he died so how was he expected to work longer.

MOnica I have been to a tribunal many years ago when my husband was alive. 6 people not a medical or legal person amongst them sat in judgement on me it was humiliating.

The Brain Charity uses a solicitors and the solicitor I have been assigned is lovely. When we finally get a date which will be next year now she will be with me. After I got in touch with the court to tell them I was going to tribunal and told the PIP department. She sent whatever she had to to the court. Can't remember what it was called. That's when she was told no tribunals before Christmas. PIP received my original form 12th April. She has to write something for nearer the time can't remember what she called it. In the meantime my health has deteriorated. Waiting for an appointment for my neurologist,pain clinic and physio. At least my heart condition hasn't gotten worse.

I was told when I phoned to say I want to apply for MRN and the woman filled in the form while I talked to her that they would be contacting my GP, neurologist and cardiologist for further information. They didn't I checked with them when I had my MRN decision.

I would be better off if I was a criminal or illegal immigrant.

From when I first applied for DLA in those days in 1988 to now the system hasn't gotten any easier or fairer. And can't see it getting any better in the future.

My sister in law has MS she had to fight to get the higher rate and she's in a wheelchair.

The whole benefit system is run by the able bodied they have no idea what it's like. But anybody at anytime can become disabled either physically or mentally or both at any time. I was born with this condition and only through genetic testing could it be diagnosed. Hence only getting my diagnosis this year aged 64.

I am not asking for special treatment but fair treatment. Since my husband died I lived on what he left me which is long gone what I inherited from my mom's estate should me until I get my pension. So I am constantly worried about spending. Can't afford to have my heating on all day as I should because of cost. But I am not alone in this . This year there will be more people dieing from hyperthermia than flu or Covid. We are supposed to be a first world country. Food banks are in more demand than ever before. And things are only going to get worse not just for the disabled but able bodied and pensioners as prices are going to rise. And wages won't keep up with the rising costs.

With all the strikes and the threat of power cuts it's like the 1970's again.

You clealry do not suffer from Raynaud's Syndrome, twiglet

Gosh if my house gets to 19° it feels too hot. I don’t use central heating unless there’s a real risk of pipes freezing, and never have the thermostat higher than 15°, but on chilly evenings I light a fire. That took it from 15.7 at 5pm yesterday, to a very comfortable 17.2 by 7pm.

whiff, I am very upset about your struggle for benefit help. Very unfair when others get it so easily

whiff winter fuel allowance for oaps. 200 + extra 300 wfa this winter.

Whiff If you are going to a Social Security Tribunal then there will be people there who understand disability. The tribunal includes a doctor, someone who works in the sector and a lawyer with many years experience in the field.

How do I know this? I used to work with Age Concern (as was) as a home visitor, most of the work was benefits applications and I accompanied clients to a number of appeals. Also my closest friend, going back to school days, was for many years a tribunal chairman and became one of their most experienced and senior judges.

Going to an appeal you have an over 50% chance of success. The government has for years hated these tribunals because they do grant so many appeals. The government actually tried to abolish them at one point.

Take somebody with you, someone who knows you well, they cannot speak directly to the tribunal but they are good for jogging your memory if they think there is something you should be mentioning to the tribunal, that you haven't mentioned.

The actual tribunal process is not intimidating. It is usually in a small room with a big table and you and your companion sit one side and the assessors the on the other, their only purpose is to be clear about the problems, they can ask for more information about information on the form, but you cannot produce new evidence, for example any development in your condition since you filled the forms in. They also have to keep within the relevant law, even if they, personally, sympathise with your situation.

If you need any further information PM me.

MOnica thank you for the link. But I have been refused PIP and MRN so have to go too tribunal which will be next year now. Because I have been refused benefits for 34 years I can't get any help. I am 64. Without being on a benefit you can't assess other benefits. Either way I can't win. It's so annoying . Trouble is forms are written , assessed and judgement past by able bodied people. Assessor's have no medical qualifications and assessment is done on the phone. My assessment took hour and 46 minutes. I asked for a copy of the assessors report it took her 38 mins to write it was 23 pages long. Only page without any mistakes was the page she signed and put how long it took to write. I knew she hadn't listened to me. Everything is in the hands of a solicitor the Brain Charity got me.

There are tens of thousands like me who need help but can't get it.

I have my heating on 18 to warm the house up in the morning, but am usually out and about so don’t have it on during the day, or, up to now in the evening when it doesn’t drop below 17 and I just throw a rug over my legs, but all that will change when I have my hip surgery at the end of the month (the timing couldn’t have been worse really) and am not very mobile, and DD will be working remotely while she is here with me, so it will be cycling on and off during the day to keep us both warm. I don’t want to think about the cost, but recognise that I am fortunate to be in a better position than many to cover it, so it’s a case of whatever it takes for as long as it takes.

Whiff There is extra money available for those on benefits. There is also the enhanced winter fuel payment.

Here is a link to everything that is available www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

Karmalady where do you get the figure of £900 from? I will only be getting the £400 off my energy bill spilt over however many months it is.

Last year Eon sent me an email saying I could get £140 towards my energy bill because of my disability. They couldn't fill in the form as I hadn't got a diagnosis. Finally after 34 years got my diagnosis in April phoned Eon who said phone in November. I did but can't get it as the energy company no longer controls the warm weather payment. If I had it last year I would automatic get it this. Yet another thing I have been denied. Having my diagnosis found out I was born with this neurological condition and it's rare.

Been denied PIP and MRN so will have to go too tribunal with the help of the Brain Charity but no tribunals before Christmas as the are overwhelmed with them. 34 years I have been fighting for benefits.

youtu.be/6VB4bgiB0yA

My daughter has been reminding me recently that it’s not healthy for the elderly to be sitting for long periods in low room temperatures breathing in cool air. I couldn’t resist having a bit of fun with them last week. I set this YouTube video running on my tv ready for their arrival.

It’s a real crackling log fire and the clip runs for 10 hours. When she arrived with my grandchildren I declared I had the house toasty warm for them and their expressions were a picture when they looked at the beautiful log fire crackling away on the 42” tv. The 2 teenagers stood serious faced glancing at each other thinking “gran has lost the plot”

I realised while I was waiting for them to arrive that it was actually quite comforting and I did feel a little warmer gazing at the flames. Or maybe I have lost the plot 😆

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

karmalady

no-one should be worrying about the heating bill. We have all had at least £900 towards that this winter

On a single pension with all the other bills rising I have concerns that even with the £900 from government I will struggle. I certainly can't keep the heating up to 20 degs this winter and will be spending time in richer people's homes !

karmalady

no-one should be worrying about the heating bill. We have all had at least £900 towards that this winter

You keep saying that, but for people who are genuinely struggling to make ends meet from one month to the next, any increase in heating bills (yes, even with the '£900'), could be the final straw which breaks the camel's back. I could not afford to have the heating on all the time even if I wanted to. Our living room is warm, thanks to our log burner and free wood, but the rest of the house is probably what most of you would class as freezing.