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MSE News: Charities in plea over unclaimed benefits

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Comments

  • clb776
    clb776 Posts: 647 Forumite
    NASA wrote: »
    It's their own fault.

    Not necessarily. My Grandmother, who is 96 and suffers from dementia would not know she could claim these things. My grandparents scrimped and saved. She has since spent all of her savings on carers and such over the past few years and is now left with nothing. There are many people like this who would not even think to claim benefits (they have never had to before!), and unfortunately not everyone has people who can/are able to help them claim or find out what they are entitled to.

    Obviously it is not the governments job to monitor everyone when they are able to claim any benefits, but even a small step to letting people know that they are eligible and how to claim these things would help alot of people. There are so many different types for so many different people, it can be very confusing.
  • healy
    healy Posts: 5,293 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    NASA wrote: »
    Its a privately owned board which the public are allowed to post on.

    Martins rules and exceptions to rules.

    So the board is public.

    I just think it would be better to stick to one set of rules.
  • NASA_2
    NASA_2 Posts: 5,571 Forumite
    clb776 wrote: »
    Not necessarily. My Grandmother, who is 96 and suffers from dementia would not know she could claim these things. My grandparents scrimped and saved. She has since spent all of her savings on carers and such over the past few years and is now left with nothing. There are many people like this who would not even think to claim benefits (they have never had to before!), and unfortunately not everyone has people who can/are able to help them claim or find out what they are entitled to.

    Obviously it is not the governments job to monitor everyone when they are able to claim any benefits, but even a small step to letting people know that they are eligible and how to claim these things would help alot of people. There are so many different types for so many different people, it can be very confusing.
    If you have a family member who is unable to manage their own affairs then I would be expecting a family member to be acting on their behalf and either contacting the DWP or a benefits advocacy group.
    healy wrote: »
    So the board is public.

    I just think it would be better to stick to one set of rules.
    My point is that it matters little what you think (And matters little what I think) when this is a private owned board and we have no say in its running.

    I was thinking when I saw this thread this morning that two people would make a comment about it being in this section. No suprises that it happened but it just reinforces the pointlessness of the complaint or whinge - its not going to be listened to.
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,925 Forumite
    You don't really endear yourself to people, do you NASA? :p
    Gone ... or have I?
  • NASA_2
    NASA_2 Posts: 5,571 Forumite
    dmg24 wrote: »
    You don't really endear yourself to people, do you NASA? :p
    I'm not here to make friends though - when (If) I ever find something better to do with my time (That doesnt involve alcohol) then I will cease using the forum for the length of time that I do currently.
  • healy
    healy Posts: 5,293 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    edited 3 February 2010 at 8:17PM
    NASA wrote: »
    If you have a family member who is unable to manage their own affairs then I would be expecting a family member to be acting on their behalf and either contacting the DWP or a benefits advocacy group.


    My point is that it matters little what you think (And matters little what I think) when this is a private owned board and we have no say in its running.

    I was thinking when I saw this thread this morning that two people would make a comment about it being in this section. No suprises that it happened but it just reinforces the pointlessness of the complaint or whinge - its not going to be listened to.

    I know that it does not matter what we think but I still like to give my opinion especially when people have a go at me for saying something.

    Did you guess who the two people would be? It may be pointless to complain or whinge and we know it will not be listened to but people still do it, it is only human nature.
  • NASA_2
    NASA_2 Posts: 5,571 Forumite
    healy wrote: »
    Did you guess who the two people would be? It may be pointless to complain or whinge and we know it will not be listened to but it people still do it, it is only human nature.
    I did. Which shows that I use this place too much. I know peoples posting patterns.
  • clb776
    clb776 Posts: 647 Forumite
    NASA wrote: »
    If you have a family member who is unable to manage their own affairs then I would be expecting a family member to be acting on their behalf and either contacting the DWP or a benefits advocacy group.

    Very true. Its a shame that some people dont have any family, thats the point I was getting at. Some people have no-one to help them. These are the people that need help. People slip throught the system.

    I would much prefer money to go to those that deserve and need it rather than only those who know how to fill in the forms and which things they can claim and which they can't.

    I think its good that a charity is working towards this. Hopefully it will help someone!
  • NASA_2
    NASA_2 Posts: 5,571 Forumite
    clb776 wrote: »
    Very true. Its a shame that some people dont have any family, thats the point I was getting at. Some people have no-one to help them. These are the people that need help. People slip throught the system.
    If some people have no-one to help them, and they dont know there is help available, then although that is a sad state of affairs, there isnt really much that can be done without spending an obscene amount of money on a system that is already burdening the state.

    People slip through the system because the whole notion of helping your neighbour has ceased to exist (If it really ever existed).

    People castigate the government for sticking their noses in to private affairs of people yet also call for the government to make everyone aware that the welfare state exists.
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