Why am I being penalized?

NASA_2

I dont think it is fair that I have worked since I was 14 and have to pay for everything I do but there are people that get it for free after claiming benefits all their life.

No point getting annoyed at it though because it is not going to change.

Indie_Kid

You can apply for help with health costs via the NHS low income scheme.

seven-day-weekend

Bubbles911 wrote: »

I am sorry but I find your post disgusting. I am not complaining about giving my parents board and yes I am forced to give it to them, its that or be homeless as they cant afford to "keep" me on pensions! If I lived elsewhere I would get housing benefit and my esa would be purely to live on. I am paying the £100 plus my share of the bills and am currently selling practically everything I own on ebay to survive. What I am saying is I paid into the system for years and get the same amount of benefit as someone who is on the income based ESA yet they get their prescriptions and dental care free yet I have the same amount of money as them and have to pay for prescriptions and dental care which can amount to more money than I get in a month! If I had sat on my bum for the last 5 years I would get the same money but not having to pay for this. Do you think that is fair? It has nothing to do with where I live but if I paid rent they would take it into account, I am paying rent just to my parents as they are trying to survive on as little money as I am.

Whether I think it is fair or not has nothing to do with it, you are not being penalised, you are being treated the same as anyone else in your position.

Would it be easier to manage if you moved away from your parents and got your rent paid? Bearing in mind you would then have to pay all the bills.

Also, claim for your prescriptions on the grounds of low income, as others hjave mentioned; you can get a form at most Doctors or pharmacies.

jennilb

Hi Grace Kelly

To get the cheaper rates with British Gas I went on their website and found the number and then rang them - originally I was just asking about insulation - and they told me that I should be on the cheaper tariff and swapped me onto it.

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/energy/our-products/essentials-programme.html?WT.seg_3=i100264

When the surveyor came round to inspect my loft, he looked at my benefits letters and that was it. I was really very impressed with the whole service.

So far as ESA goes, I put my appeal in on 14 December 2009 so I've not been waiting that long. But I've been told the wait is at least 5 months round here (NE London).

I hope this helps
Jenni

Bubbles911

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Also, claim for your prescriptions on the grounds of low income, as others hjave mentioned; you can get a form at most Doctors or pharmacies.

As I stated in my first post, I have been turned down for getting prescriptions on a low income. They dont accept paying parents board as an expense so they say I have enough income to pay which is what I was complaining about. Someone on ESA income based gets the same money weekly as me but their prescriptions and dental care free, I worked to pay for contribution based esa yet on the same amount of money have to pay.

The issue isnt living with my parents, I have to as they care for me so moving away is not an option. I pay £100 for rent of room but I also pay a third towards the bills and my own food etc and I only get £200 a month so am left with nothing which I dont mind, I barely leave the house but it does mean I cant afford the dentist. I dont expect a holiday, clothes etc but I would like to be able to eat without pain!

jennilb

Hello again

If you are caring for your parents are they recieving DLA? If so, could you claim carer's allowance for helping them out?

I hope this helps
Jenni

calleyw

jennilb wrote: »

Hello again

If you are caring for your parents are they recieving DLA? If so, could you claim carer's allowance for helping them out?

I hope this helps
Jenni

That is exactly what I was thinking if there care needs. Why are they not getting DLA.

Also why are they only getting £50 a week?

Also what will bubbles911 do if her parents become to frail to care for her

Yours

Calley

yellowduck_2

interesting thread, I get Contributions based ESA which I am assuming is exactly the same amount as Income based ESA (someone correct me if I am wrong) and have been mystified as to why I will not get CW payments and have to pay dental and prescription charges as a consequence of having been in work prior to getting sick. I thought that maybe CB ESA was higher than IB ESA to justify the CW stuff. Blimey it's like "Alice in Wonderland" trying to make sense of the workings of the DWP!

ChishyChoshy

It's because Income Related ESA takes into consideration your finances/savings/capital and those of others in your household whereas Contribution based doesn't. So if you were IR ESA and had a partner that worked you would get little/nothing and even other people on benefits in your house would lower what you get compared to those on contribution based.

Imagine the Daily Mail headlines if bankers on contribution ESA who had tens of thousands in the bank got help with their CWP/dentists/prescriptions!

yellowduck_2

ChishyChoshy wrote: »

It's because Income Related ESA takes into consideration your finances/savings/capital and those of others in your household whereas Contribution based doesn't. So if you were IR ESA and had a partner that worked you would get little/nothing and even other people on benefits in your house would lower what you get compared to those on contribution based.

Imagine the Daily Mail headlines if bankers on contribution ESA who had tens of thousands in the bank got help with their CWP/dentists/prescriptions!

that has helped me understand, but when I put in my claim I has no savings, no partner so I guess I got CB as I had paid enough contributions even tho I would be better off on IB. on a lot of medication and have pre pay thingy but not having to pay would help.