Happy Christmas Department of Work and Pensions

Oh dear! Bureaucracy on the rampage.

How awful for your daughter, Nonna, and at this time of year too! I hope it gets sorted out soon. There's sure to be a wise gran or two on here who understands the system, and can offer some practical advice!

An all too familiar story I'm afraid.

My father have had similar experiences.

Hope it gets sorted out sooner rather than later.

Bastards! (excuse my language)

She should immediately write to her MP. It is very easy on the site writetothem.com You just put in your postcode and it finds the MP for you and then it emails it off.
MPs always follow up in my experience (even when someone is complaining about a private employer !)
And in they public sector people tend to "jump" if an MP has contacted them about a consitituent's problem.
The website keeps track of response rates etc.

I'm with phoenix on this - how stupid, petty and totally c**p. Some jobsworth is no doubt patting him or herself on the back for their brilliant work [spit] emoticon. Good advice, jessM hope it works and the said MP is not off on his extended skiing or whatever holiday. Ami getting cynical in my old age? (Don't answer that)

I agree with phoenix gracesm knows what I think of DWP decisions!

Absurd, even by DWP standards which are the lowest of the low. I'd advise writing a letter and stating that it is to be taken as an appeal against the decision and sending a copy, with a covering letter, to her MP.
this is a link to how to appeal.

How about the man threatens to sue for libel - but seriously this is unbelievable- had she been to local CAB?

Thanks for the suggestion to contact her local MP and for the information about the writetothem.com website. My daughter's on the case! The queue for the CAB went round the block when she went there yesterday so she gave up on that, temporarily. As I write, she's getting the appeal form from the Job Centre and hopes they will send it off for her today. I find it extraordinary that the DWP would make a decision that is inevitably going to increase the pressure on someone who they know has a longterm mental health problem. I really appreciate your support. I'm feeling a mixture of anger at the system and the injustice of it all and sadness that our society has come to this.

I'm so sorry about your daughter's situation, Nonna. People who have not had to depend on benefits find it hard to believe that anyone can actually have everything stopped and be left with no income while it's sorted out. If you can bear it, local radio and local press can sometimes be a way of getting bureaucracy to focus. I hope it is resolved quickly.

ESA is payed at a reduced rate while the appeal goes through. I wonder if its the same for co-habitation? Worth asking.

Not in my experience, jeni, but it's certainly worth asking. Otherwise a crisis loan from the social fund might be feasible.

Aw. Letter from her doctor? Get "landlord" to write in outrage to MP as well?
This is just shocking.

Nonna1949, sadly I'm neither shocked nor surprised; there are very many people who get caught out by DWP decisions that seem deliberately crass or stupid. More worrying is the lack of a 'joined up' service for people with mental health problems who frequently are left floundering in this sort of situation.