Would it be an idea to have a Benefits Forum on the list?

A good idea

A very good idea, but it would need to have on hand someone who really knew what is what currently on the benefits front in all parts of the uk. Posters who have been through the process can comment on their own experiences too, but things change so fast that they could be out of date.

The people dealing day-by-day with benefits are already busy doing the nitty-gritty and probably don't have time to also check the threads daily and reply, and I can't imagine GNHQ actually employing and paying an expert to answer questions.

I think a Benefits section would be a good idea. I don't think it is reasonable to expect GNHQ to maintain & update, would not imagine they would have the resources to do so. GNHQ may contribute of course but surely it would gradually become more informative by the the pooled knowledge, experience and links added.

Brilliant idea, they are quick enough to take it off us but never tell us when we are entitled to it so a little help in that respect would be great.

Brilliant idea I hope GNHQ take up the idea .

Is there any amongst us who is able to help with good knowledge?

It's a very good idea - as so many people are unaware of what they (or those they care for) may be entitled to.

It could include links to relevant websites - to avoid updating issues.

Elegran

A very good idea, but it would need to have on hand someone who really knew what is what currently on the benefits front in all parts of the uk. Posters who have been through the process can comment on their own experiences too, but things change so fast that they could be out of date.

The people dealing day-by-day with benefits are already busy doing the nitty-gritty and probably don't have time to also check the threads daily and reply, and I can't imagine GNHQ actually employing and paying an expert to answer questions.

I don't think you could dictate the posts any more than we do on other threads.

If it is working, it might be possible for GNHQ to get an expert in at some point so people can get information there too.

I've always thought the inter-grandparent help on GN was something it's really good at.

Elless

Brilliant idea, they are quick enough to take it off us but never tell us when we are entitled to it so a little help in that respect would be great.

Pension credit take-up is lowest of all means-tested benefits, with 40 per cent of those eligible failing to claim. Take-up of pension credit has been around 60 per cent since 2010 and government efforts to improve it have not helped.

[Source - Financial Times]

Whitewavemark2

Is there any amongst us who is able to help with good knowledge?

We can research and use the knowledge people are prepared to share. I doubt we could go further than that.

Hetty58

It's a very good idea - as so many people are unaware of what they (or those they care for) may be entitled to.

It could include links to relevant websites - to avoid updating issues.

Good idea.

The benefits system is (deliberately, I think) complicated and convoluted - just what you need in a crisis.

I remember a phone call about Mum's pension credit - or attendance allowance. I was asked:

'Is she a permanent care home resident?'

'No, temporary, for rehabilitation.' I replied.

Are you sure?

No, I'm not - how can I be?

Apparently it potentially 'made a difference', although she was self funding.

When I eventually had time to look up 'temporary' - that's up to a year.

Bumping this. Please add your opinion as HQ are trying to get some idea whether to put this on as a subject or not.

Pippa have you ‘reported’ your thread to them?
That should get a quick response of some sort

As FC rightly pointed out earlier, I did suggest to HQ that a separate forum be set up on the topic of scams and fraud, simply to centralise what I saw as crucial information to 'put out there' under one heading, rather than have useful info appearing in other places, which might be missed.

I seem to recall that this was achieved with good will and understanding within, I think, 24 hours - and no need to ask for the opinion of others??

It did, ixion, it was literally a matter of three or four hours

I came onto GN to share this report from today's National. I was wondering where to put it and agree that a specialised forum would be very useful.

Here is today's News

^AS many as 134,000 pensioners have each been cheated out of thousands of pounds in a £1 billion under-payment bungle.

Most of those affected are women and it’s estimated that each missed out on £8900 thanks to outdated IT systems and “repeated human errors” made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, it’s claimed that some were denied payments of as much as £100,000.

The public spending watchdog said part of that was “almost inevitable” due to the “complex rules” around entitlement. And in a report today, it says the figures may just be the tip of the iceberg as “the Department’s estimates are highly uncertain and the true value of the underpayments will only become clear once it has completed its review of all affected cases”.

I take the point about updating Benefits information, but think it is too big a job for most people. And a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I would prefer advice/pointers/tips. All the detail is covered in Gov.Uk. There could be discussion and examples of peoples experiences.

FannyCornforth

Pippa have you ‘reported’ your thread to them?
That should get a quick response of some sort

I asked them about it before I put the thread on Fanny and they suggested I put it on Site Stuff and they would keep an eye to see what people think.

pensionpat

I take the point about updating Benefits information, but think it is too big a job for most people. And a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I would prefer advice/pointers/tips. All the detail is covered in Gov.Uk. There could be discussion and examples of peoples experiences.

Just hearing about something like Hetty's experience - can give you the "it's not just me then" confidence. What others have discovered has helped me pensionpat.

I don't think people always find Gov.UK easy to navigate. If you are frozen by anxiety just a kind word of support can help. It's often the things you don't know you don't know that trip people up. It would be a place for discussion. People could be saying what they had found out and how they had managed to weave their way through the system. Don't forget, with it's own forum heading, separate threads can be started.

We may be wanting to help ourselves, our parents or other elderly relatives, our children or just people we know. We live in challenging times and I hope this would be a support and help.

I agree pippa. On our Carer's courses we find the hints and tips given by others are as important as the 'actual' advice.

We had one participant whose advice for getting blue Badge was to cry while on the phone to an adviser who thought Denentia didn't warrant one.

Dementia - not dementia!!!!

I agree that this would be very useful, not legally binding of course, but advice, experience, hints and tips. Not just for those over retirement age either, perhaps pass on hints and tips gained from our working age adult children and their experience with universal credits, PIP etc., A jolly good idea PippaZ.

Why the delay in setting this up by GNHQ?
How much input do they need, do you suppose?
?‍♀️

I got in touch this morning ixion. I am now wondering if the person who replied knew I had been asked by her colleague to put this thread on "Site Stuff".

Perhaps, if there is anyone there, they could let us know what their thinking is on having a Benefit Forum on the list.