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Legal, pensions and money

The ongoing fun of claiming benefits.

(53 Posts)
MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 10:43:28

I've just spent over an hour on the phone regarding the universal credit amount.

I was assessed as being in the support group, meaning mainly and most importantly that I do not need to sign on.

The second part is that the rate of pay is slightly higher.

This was back in july/August, and I am still to sort out the higher rate.

A something or other has been raised, and I "should" hear back to verify that it is going to be paid.

I am also having £200 deducted this month as I had an over payment of child tax credits when I couldnt work anymore.

Just reminding people that it's a long, drawn out process.

Whiff Thu 27-Oct-22 09:41:21

Franbern we will never agree on anything as shown on other threads. As I have known you since 2019. I know you haven't had an easy life and suffered great tragedies.

There is a list of what Ulkraine nationals who enter the country can claim . One of the posters on GN posted and she is very knowledgeable about all things to do with benefits as she helps people with their claims. Can't remember what thread.

Yes the government is at fault . As it's the same old story the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

My husband died in 2004 and he paid in a lot of tax and NI as he had a good salary. I have been told by DWP I will get 43p from what he paid in. The reason I was give was well he only paid in for 30 years. He died when he was 47. So if I resent people who haven't paid a penny in tax and NI into the country I have good reason.

Franbern Thu 27-Oct-22 08:46:08

Whiff exactly WHAT benefits are ' handed out to those coming into this country'?

If people would stop looking sideways at other people trying to exist on minimal income, and look upwards at our millionaire government, and their mates, and start to realise who the REAL enemy is - things might get better for us all.

DaisyAnne Thu 27-Oct-22 07:52:29

I may have missed it MadeinYorkshire, but which disability payments are you getting? Those are the ones that will trigger an upgrade on a bathroom to a wet-room, etc.

Whiff Thu 27-Oct-22 05:47:46

MadeinYorkshire sorry you are going through this. Does your local council have a welfare department if they do they can help you with any financial help you are entitled to. Plus if you have an illness get in touch with the charity that deals with it.

My PIP and MRN decisions went against me. But found help from The Brain Charity and everything is now in the hands of a solicitors they use. The solicitor assigned to my case is lovely and we will be going to tribunal but as they aren't giving out any dates due to a backlog of tribunals so it will be next year before we get there.

If they had people with any form of disabilitiy either physical ,mental or both write the questions on the forms and then they assess them and do the assessments and ask GPs and any specialists we see the system wouldn't be so unfair.

But everything is done by the able bodied. And assessor's have no medical training . They need to realise anyone can be disabled physically and mentally at anytime of their life.

I was born with my 2 conditions no cure as it's in my genes only treatment but according to PIP my condition will improve. In fact I have gotten worse since . Since August had 9 pain flares and my walking is getting worse and my balance.

Waiting for an appointment to see my neurologist.

What so annoys me they are quick to hand benefits to who come to this country but who haven't paid a penny into the system.

If people what to live and work here then yes they are entitled if they have paid taxes and NI .

Last time I was on hold to PIP found it very insulting that for the hour I was on hold a recorded message was telling Ukraine nationals not to worry their PIP payments will not stop?. I know there is a war on be stop giving everyone benefits they haven't paid into.

I had planned on going back to work once our son was at school unfortunately my health getting worse made that impossible when he was 6 months old and our daughter 4.

34 years I have been fighting for benefits but won't give up.

paddyann54 Thu 27-Oct-22 00:01:05

Citizens advice have been a great help to my daughter with her PIP claim.
She wanted PIP so she could get a blue badge ,you cant get one in her area without being on a benefit.She had her claim turned down twice despite having doctors letters of support about her illnesses .
The lovely man from Citizens advice went to the third attempt with her and she got the lowest level which was fine as she had told them she didn't want money just proof she couldn't walk any distance because of her hyper joint mobility syndrome.
The people on these panels are not medically qualified and work for DWP to stop people getting benefits they need .The DWP pays them more than the benefits would cost according to the Citizens advice guy .Its all a horrible mess .

MissAdventure Wed 26-Oct-22 23:43:03

Age uk and the citizen advice were both absolutely brilliant with me; they almost babied me through what needed to be done, which was exactly what I needed.

Then, they gradually helped me to feel a bit more in control of things.

welbeck Wed 26-Oct-22 23:37:41

MadeIn Yorkshire, are there any local advocacy groups where you are, or disability rights, welfare advice, debt/money advice ?
how about contacting your local councillor ?
Age UK ? CAB ?
google local advice and support.
good luck.

MissAdventure Wed 26-Oct-22 21:46:50

Oooh. Wok.. I thought I'd managed to correct every mistake.

MissAdventure Wed 26-Oct-22 21:45:46

We need to get our collective heads together and wok out a strategy for MadeinYorkshires problems.

JaneJudge Wed 26-Oct-22 20:49:37

I hope you are ok MadeInYorkshire sad x

Cabbie21 Wed 26-Oct-22 15:55:25

I am so sorry about your misfortunes, MadeinYorkshire.
Local authorities have been given funding to help people through the cost of living crisis, especially those who might not qualify under other categories, so it might be worth a general enquiry. Each council does things differently so I cant advise in more detail. I hope you can get some support.

MadeInYorkshire Wed 26-Oct-22 10:37:42

Oh dealing with the DWP is just dreadful! I have had to be in touch recently as I didn't get the Cost of Living payment ..... apparently, because I "did the right thing" (a good Truss quote, and WORKED before I became useless, I am NOT entitled to it!! So my £1400 debt to British Gas means that the heating in my conservatory will not be going on at all. Cannot get ECO4 funding for solar panels or insulation as the rest of the house is gas, but I can't live in there, and the council keep ignoring me (as does my delightful Tory MP) about a grant to give me a downstairs bathroom, rather than having to strip wash in the kitchen ..... no bath/shower now for 9 months and my skin is suffering.

We do NOT get a new car every year, it is 3 years, and we pay for it out of our benefits anyway - just extended mine to a 5 year lease as the Advanced Payments on anything that would even vaguely suit me are around £5k, so that ain't happening either! Oven blew up a few weeks ago, daughter/carer has moved out as couldn't get any money to do the works needed for house to work for all of us, and will be taking the microwave shortly; kitchen cupboards are falling down, my riser/recliner in which I have slept now for over 12 years (not the same one!) failed on Friday night, chairs are not on the out of hours list so didn't get a new one until yesterday - 4 nights of (not) sleeping in agony, legs filling with fluid and getting around 3 hours a night if I was lucky.

Quite frankly I have no joy in life left, just had enough now - and the prospect of even more austerity with this crew in Govt is terrifying me quite frankly. No idea how I will survive this?

JaneJudge Wed 26-Oct-22 10:10:44

MissAdventure

I have just had a call from the dwp.
The enhanced rate will start in November, not this month.

They made a mistake when they told me, apparently.

brilliant news smile

Cabbie21 Tue 25-Oct-22 13:48:19

MissA it is lovely to see you so positive.

DaisyAnne Mon 24-Oct-22 23:57:17

So sorry, MissA, I was catching up with your story and then made myself a cup of tea and replied to a new PM tread.

I am so pleased you are recovering from what seemed like and endless task. I really shouldn't be like this.

DaisyAnne Mon 24-Oct-22 23:53:24

MissAdventure

It is good, in so many ways.

I was in a pretty desperate state.

He seems reasonably sane. That has to be progress. I will no doubt be back to worrying tomorrow though.

crazyH Mon 24-Oct-22 22:25:03

MissA - so pleased for you. I hope you feel better now x

Grannybags Mon 24-Oct-22 22:22:48

That’s good news Miss A I’m glad you’re getting there

Forsythia Mon 24-Oct-22 22:08:11

I’m very sorry to hear that. Makes me all the more glad for you.

MissAdventure Mon 24-Oct-22 22:03:25

It is good, in so many ways.

I was in a pretty desperate state.

Forsythia Mon 24-Oct-22 22:01:11

It’s good you have managed to get it sorted out.

MissAdventure Mon 24-Oct-22 21:59:32

Ah well, I'm a long way further in my journey than I thought I would be, at this point.

It was a hell of a mess to try and unravel, and made worse by feeling so unwell at that point.
I really do think I've been lucky, in many ways.

Whiff Mon 24-Oct-22 21:24:21

On other threads there have been talks about what has been said about GN on MN. Apparently we are a lot of out of date fuddy duddies who only come on GN to moan about their children.

I have never read MN and never intend to. The posters are Gransnet are the salt of the earth and try to help eachother no matter what the topic is. Yes there are some rotters on GN but they are reported and disappear. But then reappear under a different name . But they soon out themselves and they are ignored . It's the only way to deal them that sort. If you respond to them it gives them a voice. So they are best ignored.

MissA typical DWP I sometimes wonder if it would be better run by chimps. ?

DaisyAnne Mon 24-Oct-22 18:25:02

biglouis

Over on Mumsnet there have recently been a number of benefit bashing threads, including the usual one of someone whose neighbour has "a new car every year and multiple foreign holidays" but claims to be disabled

Only one of my neighbours knows my name and I doubt if she or any of them know I am on a disability benefit. I dont discuss my personal or financial affairs with neighbours. The less they know about you the better.

When I read what these people have to say I remember the MP who reported back from his door knocking. Several people told him a similar tale of a woman "on benefits" who had this, did that, etc.

He went down and knocked on her door and had a chat, then came back to talk to the complainers. She was running her own business. She worked from home quite a bit as she had young children (this was before it became a "thing"). She was NOT on benefits.

The Mumsnet people and those who come out with these things on GN are nasty, vicious, ignorant gossips as far as I am concerned. There are few people I like less.

MissAdventure Mon 24-Oct-22 16:18:57

I have just had a call from the dwp.
The enhanced rate will start in November, not this month.

They made a mistake when they told me, apparently.