crisis loan application-anyone else made to feel like scum

robpw2

i applied for a crisis loan after ringing and ringing for an hour and the automated sytem cutting me off as they are too busy !

finally got through made and application for some money for food as im desperate,

I felt as she couldnt care less , when i mentioned about my flatemates partner as they ask you anything kept suggesting girls names even thought i had stated his name , it may sound like a girls name but she then laughed when i spelt it out

then was getting funny when she asked why couldnt i ask my parents for help .

It upsets me and then she finsihed with i have sent your application and good luck!!

what its not a :mad: :mad: :mad: competition or a lottery

this is a genuine need

oh btw no internet after friday as cant pay the net bill due to the fact the jobcentre still not have given me a penny !


so anyone who says well if you can afford internet then you can afford food

zappster1966

First off, I hope you obtain the help you need today. Let us know what happens regarding your application. But why has your benefit been held up ? Have you discussed with your benefit delivery centre the possibility of getting an Emergency Payment of benefit rather than having to apply for a crisis loan ?

The DWP have no excuse for folks waiting an hour before their calls are answered. And they should be answered professionally too. I can't explain the confusion regarding your flatmate's name, I guess you had to "be there" to understand the confusion.

As to the lady "getting funny", they do actually need to know whether you have another possible source of funds & that includes whether relatives or friends can tide you over until your benefit is sorted out. Crisis Loans are (supposedly) the very last resort so to be fair to her she did need to ask. As to wishing you good luck in your application, I doubt there was any ill intent. Crisis Loans are awarded very much at the discretion of the Social Fund Officer, he/she has to weigh all the circumstances in the balance when making the award ... they're not as cut & dried as ordinary benefit applications.

Hope you get on okay this afternoon.

robpw2

thanks zappster i guess im just really really stressed and worried

got an mri scan in two weeks, got no money and being made homless and no-one seems to be able to help and yes i applied as a last resort

i think they will say no

i have been in touch with benefit people and they are still deciding they have a backlog

zappster1966

Well, I wouldn't put up with the backlog excuse. Just because they've got a backlog doesn't mean to say you have to suffer hardship.

Let's see if we can give you some real help this afternoon.

What benefit have you have applied for, when did you apply for it, have you had any correspondence from them since applying ? What were you doing with yourself before having to apply for benefit (working, studying etc ?)

If you applied for benefit a couple of weeks ago, there's every chance you're actually due benefit now. And you need it now too. I'd be back on the phone to the benefits people right away, I wouldn't really accept the backlog excuse either ... that's really not your problem. Phone the benefits people back, explain your circumstances & ask for an emergency payment of benefit. They must consider that request immediately. If you're getting nowhere, "keep the heid" (as my Granny used to say ... stay calm) and ask to speak to a supervisor. Again, state your case & ask for an emergency payment of benefit. And that you need it today, not in X weeks time.

You've mentioned you're going to be made homeless. Have you also applied for help with Housing Benefit to help cover your rent payments ? Or do you perhaps have a mortgage ?

You don't think your crisis loan application will be successful. Technically, if a few weeks have passed, they don't actually have to pay you a crisis loan if your benefit is due. That's why your benefit application must be sorted out quickly. And from that your Housing Benefit application & all the rest will follow.

Back on the phone I reckon. All the best.

robpw2

we need to find £1200 by the 19th else we are homeless

have applied for hb but need letter of jobcentre so we can get benefit but they havent processed my claim

i am applying for incapacity benefit applied back 20th july

the council wont help me as i have not lived in area for 6 months and i could have to wait 2 years to get a property if they do .

I cannot afford a deposit on a new place etc so in a catch 22 situation

zappster1966

Okies. You've mentioned "we" and "I" ... are you just yourself or do you have a partner ? What are their circumstances (working, studying etc etc) ?

Assuming you're single you can also apply for Income Support to cover you while they're trying to sort out your Incapacity Benefit. You can also apply for that to be backdated too, although you'll need a good reason for them to backdate your IS claim. You might also be able to get Income Support if you have a partner, but that very much depends on their circumstances.

£1200 by the 19th ? Yikes. But it still gives you a few weeks yet to get things sorted. How far down the line are you to being evicted ? Has your landlord started the ball rolling for the eviction ? Is the 19th the eviction date ? By the 19th you may be due quite a bit of HB & it could make a big dent in the £1200.

You've got an awful lot on your plate. I'd probably recommend at this point for you to get in touch with the welfare rights officer at your local council immediately, either them or Citizens Advice. They'll be able to get in touch with DWP for you to speed things up, they'll liaise with HB about the rent & might be able to cobble up some agreement with your landlord about your rent arrears, allowing you to pay the arrears back over the next few months.

They'll also point you to help you'll be able to get with a deposit on a new home, & help you can get with the first months rent in advance (crisis loan again, unfortunately).

robpw2

thanks zappster
its me and my partner , hes the best thing in the world but he cant seem to find any work he is trying and trying but doesnt seem successful.
the £1200 is the deposit and rent for septemeber on the place we are living in not rental arrears.
what has happened is the lead tenants done a runner and thus informed the landlord that he has moved out ending the tenancy , the deposti is in his name and the landlord refuses to transfer it over basically saying if we want to stay we have to pay 600 rent 695 deposit otherwise we have to leave on the 19th

i cannot apply for a budgeting loan beacue i have not been on incap for 26 weeks


i hate myself because im ill and cannot work and im afraid im losing everyrhing

zappster1966

I'll be honest Rob, I don't know much about the legalities when it comes to housing tenancies. I'm fairly sure crisis loans might be able to help with the months rent in advance, but I'm pretty sure too they won't cover the deposit. There may be local schemes in your area which help with deposits, certainly in my neck of the woods the local churches have a special scheme which helps folks that way. The housing office at the council might be a good start, see what help if any is available in your own area when it comes to deposits.

Are you & your partner on the tenancy agreement right now ? Did you both chip into the deposit at the time or was it solely the lead tenant who did that ? Are they expecting their deposit back or can you call in a favour, short term at least, have them forego their deposit, get the landlord to transfer it over leaving you only with the £600 rent ?

Is your partner getting all the benefits he's due too ? If so DWP recognises s/s partnerships, I'm wondering whether it might not be easier short term for you to get added onto his JSA claim (assuming he's claiming that).

robpw2

we are not on tenancy so technically have no rights but our flatmate is and he contributed to the deposit


we have asked if letting agent will transfer money over but as yet he has not repsoneded
the other teenant wants the whole 695 claiming that he paid everything and because under the new scheme they only have lead tenants then the landlord will only pay him back the 695
me an my partner have paid the last three months rent as no-one else was going to pay it .

he is getting jsa bit because i cant work im not entitled to be on his claim .

their are no tenancy deposit schemes of any kind in my area we have tried that

lighton

Hi sorry you are having all this stress. I just wanted to see if you are claiming everything you are entitled to. You mentioned you are unwell. Do you claim DLA? Or I/B?
if you are unable to work , maybe dla would be an option. If you recieve DLA your partner could claim carers and income support.

robpw2

i applied for dla but was refused appealed was refused problem is that i have not a diagnosed condition as yet and they wont class "back pain" as a disabiltiy etc

im claimingh just ib