Mental Health and Bailiffs. Advice urgently needed please.

Booie_2

Ames wrote: »

When did you get the DLA reassessment decision? If it's less than a month as for a formal appeal, otherwise reapply.

ESA is the new out of work due to sickness benefit, it's replaced incapacity benefit for new claimants, are you on either IB or income support? You really should be on one of the three.

Your housing department might have a section for helping vulnerable people, you could ask for a home visit.

i think it is coming pretty close to a month now, I did wonder whether i could appeal it, as it was an appeal, but since i appealled things have changed, i'm now on beta blockers, and tranquilisers.

And i'm on incapacity benefit.
I did find out that I may be entitled to discrectionary payments for help towards my rent, due to the fact that i'm being penalised in my housing benefit due to having a 2nd bedroom, when i only have entitlement for 1, and being on high priority, So i will look into that, and let you know the result.

Can i just say thankyou to you, and to everyone who has responded to my thread.

Herbie21

You clearly have many issues and the advice being provided here for you is excellent. There are many advice agencies waiting to help you and PLEASE do contact them.

With regards to council tax, the CAB and Shelter will be able to write to the bailiff company on your behalf because it is clear that you are classed as "vulnerable" according to the National Standards for Enforcement Agents and accordingly, the bailiff company will know that they should be returning your account back to the relevant local authority.

With regards to the Landlord, this is not my area of expertise but the advice given by others on here should assist you.
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https://www.bailiffadviceadvice.co.uk

Ames

From what you've said you haven't had a DLA appeal - you've had a reconsideration. You need to ask for an appeal. This is where it goes to an independent tribunal. Once you've got a date for the tribunal, let me know and I'll help you, I've got a lot of info about it. There seems to be a lot of people getting confused about reconsiderations, thinking that it's an appeal and they can't go further - you're the second person in two days I've heard about. Of course, it suits the DWP for people to be confused, so I'm not surprised they're making things hard to understand.

I'm not sure about the rules regarding a second bedroom. I know for council housing they've changed the rules and you're only entitled to one bedroom and not a second one for a carer. My carer used to sleep on a futon mattress on the hallway floor! I'm not sure about housing benefit though, but discretionary payments seem to be the way to go. I used to get them, the form's not that bad.

Booie_2

Hi all, Just an update, Things are still tough, Landlord is still being intimidating, he thinks i'm genuinely withholding his money,he can't seem to understand i dont have it, he told me the other day, he wants his money, and he's not prepared to fund my christmas.!!!! If only, I'm suffering guilt big time with not being able to give to my family. They understand, but it is hard. (He is recieving rent, once a month, I'm just 4 weeks in arrears.)

Anyway, on a positive, I sent letters of vulnerability out to creditors, and on my own, without any support, (support woker has a letter of complaint in the system) i've been to citizens advice bureau, and they assessed my problem, and i'm seeing them for full advice this afternoon.

Ames, It had been over a month since I'd recieved my DLA award, so I am having to reapply, what a nightmare these forms are!

dancingfairy

It sounds like things are getting sorted slowly but your landlord sounds like a nightmare - breaking in - whatever next. Hopefully Shelter or your local council can help you sort him out and if you haven't got the money you haven't got the money -as long as your are repaying as best you can. I hope you can get your benefits sorted out - even jobseekers etc can be a nightmare with the system.
Am sure Ames (and others) can help get you on the right track.
Oh and congratulations on getting to the CAB - that's brilliant that you were able to go.
Keep on going.
df

Ames

The forms are a nightmare, and totally demoralising. Make sure you have a nice treat at the end, even if it's just a nice chocolate bar!

Tips for filling in the forms:

If you've got a local DIAL, go to them, they're worth their weight in diamonds!

If not. Put everything down. Everywhere. Even if it means repeating yourself all the time. Don't assume that they'll remember something from the previous page. Don't assume they'll understand anything, explain it as if they're 5 year olds.

Think outside the box. Eg, for walking out of doors, you might be physically able to walk outside. But do you get urges to throw yourself under a car? Would you be able to approach a stranger and ask for directions if you got lost? If you had a panic attack, how would you cope?

The forms are heavily weighted towards physical problems, you have to really think about how to fit mental health problems into the questions.

If you need any more help or advice, just ask.