Suspended Incapacity Benefit

peregrin

Hi,

I hope someone can help! I have unfortunately had to claim Incapacity Benefit for about 2 years, and in that time have had to fill in a couple of their IB50 questionnaires and go to a medical, which I have complied with no problem.

This morning I checked online and found out that I hadn't been paid IB. I rang up the Jobcentre and they told me it was because I had not returned yet another IB50 questionnaire. This was news to me, as I hadn't receieved one!

So they said that they would send out another one, but in an effort to expedite the process I popped down to the Jobcentre and picked one up, and asked if I could have some extra time to fill it in, given it's importance. They said no, and said that they wouldn't release my payment until it's back in their office.

Reluctantly, I went, filled it in as best I could and returned it to the Jobcentre, and asked about my payment. They said they would courier the form to the processing centre (which is in the same town but they 'don't give out addresses') and I should ring up "in a few days" to ask about my payment. I was out of energy then, so gave up.

Is there anything else that I can do? I really need the money as I have a tight budget, have bills to pay and food to buy! I can probably wait a day or two but not more really! They seemed so immovable when I went there, they said stuff like "there's absolutely nothing we can do until that form's back in our building" and I didn't know what else I could say or do. I feel like I have been blamed for a mess either at their end or with the Royal Mail!

I didn't feel totally happy with the answers I gave on the form but felt like they had effectively put a gun to my head by withholding my money for no fault of my own until I had returned the form. If it comes to appeal I will certainly be using that against them!

Any help would be appreciated as to how I can get my payment?!

thanks!

stazi

When an IB50 is sent out, if it's not returned to JCP after 4 weeks, a reminder form IB53 is sent. The reminder IB53 says 'we sent you an IB 50 on xx/xx/xx, and you need to return it by xx/xx/xx, or your benefit may be disallowed.'

If you didn't get either, then you appear to have a problem with your post, and I agree, it's not your, or JCP's fault. Until you contacted JCP, they didn't know you hadn't received the forms either.

When the JCP Benefit Centre gets your IB50, your payments will, more than likely, continue.

kurjam

whos to say the job centre posted the ib50 in the first place, it may be mislaid in there offices, you cant always blame royal mail

foxxymynx

go to the job centre and apply for a crisis loan in the meantime