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

Sorry, still don't get it...
Scams and Frauds - immediate (re)action = My suggestion only.

Surely, responses thus far have been prompted by the immediacy and timeliness of the original post.
Contributions are bound to diminish as the thread ages - or 'drops off' altogether
Are these not sufficient?

I agree ixion. People will not keep coming back to say they think it is a good idea for the "next few weeks".

Sad, because we could have done with a thread about the points in Granny23's Wed 22-Sep-21 10:17:41 post. There is little point in putting it on a more general thread as people would want to come back to it over time, as we learn more about it. Much to do with benefit is long drawn out and involves different people coming and going.

I worked at Citizens Advice for 10 years as a Benefits Supervisor. Although I did a little work on UC, I retired before full service in my area. I represented clients at Tribunal mainly for Employment and Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payment. The relief for the clients when the tribunal hearing was successful was great. A Benefits forum is a good idea.

Many thanks "suep*. Your knowledge would be very useful if we can get it going.

I have no idea why Scams and Frauds - a good idea for many of the same reasons as this - was immediately taken up, while this hasn't been.

Anyone with any ideas?

Well, I think the first thing is to begin to look at something we all receive and that is the state pension.

So, what is the problem where many women have not received the correct pension, due to calculation error, and how can we all calculate our own pension etc.

PS they reckon £1bn is owed. Be good if we could get some money back for a GN person.

Soniagransnet thank you for stopping by to acknowledge this suggestion but why weeks? "If we can see there's a fair bit of interest over the next few weeks, we'll have a think about adding it as a board" surely we, the forum participants have already voiced our interest and yet again your (GNHQ) response is half hearted to say the least. Will this be yet another of those good ideas that is left till it fades from memory?

I do recommend using Moneysaving Expert, the information on there is always up to date.

I think that a ‘Benefits’ section is a great idea. It could cover additional sources of help as well as state welfare benefits. Housing benefits, blue badges, disabled facilities grants are a few examples.

Exactly, Blossoming.

I don't understand why the response from GN is so lukewarm.

If ..? We'll have a think about ...?

Isn't that like customers asking for something but a someone at HO saying we don't think there's enough demand. Websites should be driven by what its users want not what administrators and developers want.

With universal credit cuts, impeding fuel poverty for many and an existing care crisis, there has never been a more appropriate time for a space where people can come together to give help and support. Please act now Gransnet, not later.

Very good idea

I'm just bumping because we seem to have to fit some criteria when it comes to a "Benefits" board that hasn't happened in for other requests.

I've concluded there are two possibilities. One that there isn't a decision-maker available. Or two, that advertising might be affected if it looks like we are not the wealthy generation the media often paints us as. Who knows?!

Sadly, I feel this means those who would like a little help and comfort will get lost on the main (weighted in "active") threads.

We can keep bumping and hoping for a while.

How about another 'Day of Action'?
Last one worked well.

What "action" are you suggesting ixion

IIRC, FC proposed one fairly recently. It was as a direct response to GNHQ' s perceived reluctance to effect suggestions proposed by us. 203 people contributed.

I just thought that a pre-planned date, encouraging people to state their support for your proposal, might 'concentrate the mind' rather than have this drifting along over the weeks and running out of steam.
It could encourage people to email GNHQ with their support or maybe answer a simple question 'Would you like to see..?
Yes/No'

Just an observation...!

Soniagransnet

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for the ideas here which are really useful.

If we can see there's a fair bit of interest over the next few weeks, we'll have a think about adding it as a board.

Hi Sonia, What would HQ regard as a fair bit of interest ?

If the posts, so far, are anything to go by it looks as though there is already considerable interest!

Also, how many weeks = a few weeks ?

It’s worth repeating what director Justine Roberts said on the launch of Gransnet, ten years ago:

"The Mumsnet community has given a powerful collective voice to a group that was previously somewhat disenfranchised. We’d like to do the same for older people, who are arguably even more isolated and unheard and in need of a place for peer-to-peer support"

Source: metro.co.uk/2011/05/06/mumsnet-goes-grey-as-it-launches-gransnet-1528/

Peer-to-peer support is when people use their own experiences to help each other.

This is exactly what we are asking for in a dedicated Benefits section so why is Gransnet showing reluctance? One wonders if Ms Roberts is aware of what is going on in her own company.

GNHQ - would you please ask Ms Roberts to comment on this and tell GN members the best way to contact her directly.

I think it’s a good idea too.

I think GN wants to monitor the thread for longer because so far there are not too many voices ( as opposed to number of posts.)
I don’t think it matters too much what subject heading it comes under, benefits money and legal sounds good though.

twitter.com/Justine_Roberts?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

rocketreach.co/justine-roberts-email_1573308

uk.linkedin.com/in/justine-roberts-cbe-0211a914

networthpost.org/net-worth/justine-roberts-net-worth-2/

motivationalspeakersagency.co.uk/business-speakers/justine-roberts

Great idea. I read somewhere you can claim national insurance credits for childcare but I can't remember who posted it. I didn't know there was such a thing but I'm sure I read about it.

I believe it was when a poster was querying her pension forecast Millie22, and was having trouble getting through on the Future Pensions line. You can definitely get NI credits towards your SPA if you are giving childcare.

This would be very useful.
People who have never claimed benefits don't know where to start, and people’s circumstances change rapidly sometimes.
I volunteer for Citizens Advice, and you soon realise how complicated the benefits system is, and how hard it is for people to get help.
Sharing experiences would be useful, provided the wrong information is not given out.

I’m just acceptant that GN won’t due anything much about anything that we suggest.

It’s just not worth their time and effort.

The site is getting quieter and slower.

Sadly, I think that we overestimate just how much MNHQ are invested in GN.

Another who agrees that this would be of great benefit to many of us especially those struggling financially.
Why should this thread continue fir weeks for this to be considered by HQ. I see no reason why.