Who really know the answers?? My situation AGAIN

SteveCat

Well what a unbelievable waste of time I have spent this morning trying to solve 'my situation' I reported on here yesterday that my accountant has advised me that renting property whilst claiming IB was fine as IB is not means tested like other Benefits. He also suggested it comes under the permitted work ruling so everything was fine, me being a worrier decided to double check and make sure. For the record I have not actually earned anything for the last 3 years and the Investment property I own is purely for the 'pension' I do not have, nothing more.

Anyway 1st port of call were these guys: http://www.opportunities.org.uk/

Sorry but what a bunch of idiots they are, as per usual I get someone on the phone who believes she is above everyone and knows everything but actually knows nothing. My converstaion went something like this:

Me: I tell her my situation and ask if everything is all right.

Her: No not at all, you need to be doing permitted work.

Me: I am doing it under permitted work as my accountant advised.

Her: What you are doing less than 16 hours a week and earning £92.00 a week?

Me: No, I am under the rule where you can earn no more than £20.00 per week for an unlimited period.

Her: That doesn't exist for people on IB, its only for people on JSA.

Me: Oh really, have you got access to the internet?

Her: Yes, of course.

Me: Can I send you a web address to look at.

Her: Yes of course

Me: So I send her this: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10020667
And ask her to pay special attention to this:
You can work: for earnings of up to and including £20.00 a week for an unlimited period.

Her: **Silence** I'm sorry but I'm not trained to deal with that, I'm not sure what that is about. Actually it must be wrong, if I was you I would seek advise elsewhere.

Unbelievable!

Actually I cannot be bothered to post the other response I got from another organisation as its a bloody nightmare.
So where the hell do I go now or do I trust the info from the website above?

foxxymynx

Sorry to hear that you got through to someone unhelpful who didn't understand the rules. Did you not ask to be put through to someone who had been trained to deal with "that"?

SteveCat

foxxymynx wrote: »

Sorry to hear that you got through to someone unhelpful who didn't understand the rules. Did you not ask to be put through to someone who had been trained to deal with "that"?

No she told me to seek advice elsewhere.

Horace

Write to your local MP - that's what he/she has been elected for.

Instead of saying no that you won't call back - don't cut your nose off to spite your face ring them back and ask to speak to a manager and complain about how you were treated and advised by an untrained person.

Lakelady_2

Steve - DH does that permitted work for less than £20. However he did have to have an interview at the Job Centre and for this to be approved, along with all the form filling in.
DH was very worried about going in to the JC however they couldn`t have been nicer, he was worried they would say work full time. What they did say was, very increduously "You ????? work!!!" I think they thought they had their work cut out.

SteveCat

Thanks for that, who is DH though?

I actually contacted these guys today: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10020667

And found them very helpful, basically they said what my accountant confirmed in that having rental property does not affect IB as its not means tested and you actually pay tax on it anyway. They also said any Business that is not showing a profit is fine providing it is exactly that i.e. I guess operating at a loss. However they did say its a very complex issue and to inform the Benefits Agency of any changes should they occur. They also reccomended this site for finding out exactly what you may be entitled to:
http://www.entitledto.co.uk/default.aspx

Lakelady_2

DH = dear hubby.
Pleased you got the answer, was just talking to DH and really you are talking about an investment - not to be confused with work!

SteveCat

Lakelady wrote: »

DH = dear hubby.
Pleased you got the answer, was just talking to DH and really you are talking about an investment - not to be confused with work!

What exactly does your DH do then for his permitted work if you don't mind me asking? I mean is he self employed or does he work for someone? Also how did he get it?

Apologies for the number of question but it does seem I'm getting somewhere and I want to Nail it now.

Lakelady_2

DH does some casual musican work - so he is self employed.
It really pays nothing at all but what it does for his self esteem is priceless!

SteveCat

Lakelady wrote: »

DH does some casual musican work - so he is self employed.
It really pays nothing at all but what it does for his self esteem is priceless!

Nice one! So how did he go about getting it then? Was it easy getting the permitted work go ahead and what actually happened?

Lakelady_2

The JC were very very nice about sorting it out, he went in and saw one member of staff and made an appointment to see a specialist advisor. She basically filled out a form with him and that was it.
They were a mine of information and do have other people they can refer you to such as for the want of a better description - councellors.
Dh does suffer from depression (not his long term disability though) as alot of long term disabled people do, the JC does have a link into alot of facilities. Not that I could get DH to use any of them.
I think alot of disabled people will not use the JC and you can understand why, DH had a terrible fear he would lose his benefits. Lets face it you live on b*gger all and know the chances of getting a job you can do is nil and you live with a fear of losing the pittance you`ve got. Honestly its a sad state of affairs when disabled people worry most about is a DSS medical or being accused of fraud!
Anyway now I`m in full flight I`ll say it was a very positive experience for us, DH can play his music enjoy it and get a couple of quid for it, if he can find a gig and he feels better about himself.

Would anyone like to help me down from my soapbox?