MSE Parents Club Part 11

searching_me

SusanC wrote: »

We were never overpaid but we spent so much time giving them information (and complaining about/correcting their mistakes) that it was almost a part time job.

london rush everything (has to be done in a month) and then if they over pay take it back .. and sheffield take 3-4 months and they want to know the far end of a fart ... and they STILL messed every year by at least £200 .. how??? you can tell me that as i havent got a clue ...

sorry after the year ive had with the benefit system and paying back over £1100 just to london alone my opinion is low of them plus id like to think someone who really really needs the money is better off with it then me x

searching_me

My_Fathers_Daughter wrote: »

I understand that you have had a bad experience and I will shut up about it. But FWIW I think you may be cutting your nose off

Feel free to punch me in the nose next time you see me xxx

awwww no punches .. just your opinion and that you're allowed x

SusanC_2

My_Fathers_Daughter wrote: »

But then again I have no experience of the systems from a claimant POV so I should probably shut up

I've claimed three times:
First time: received HB after about six months and CTB after about a year.
Second time: no significant problems
Third time: A complete nightmare - took four months to receive first cheque. Benefit incorrectly stopped without warning twice even though after the first incident we made a formal complaint and became the example in training. We had to go in almost every week with information - within eighteen months I had a whole ringbinder full from the correspondence between us.

It is the same people who do the council tax though and they tried to take me to court because they were too busy to read their correspondence.

I think it probably works well if your circumstances are constant (i.e. no fluctuating income or temporary/occasional jobs) but personally it was the times of great variability that I was claiming and the times of stability that I wasn't. The system doesn't seem to be able to cope if you are non-standard in any way.

searching_me

susan thats the same problem i had because im part time and non salary i had to show 3-4 payslips and explain 6 times why they were all slightly different ...

right off to the shop be back soon x

SusanC_2

searching_me wrote: »

london rush everything (has to be done in a month) and then if they over pay take it back .. and sheffield take 3-4 months and they want to know the far end of a fart ... and they STILL messed every year by at least £200 .. how??? you can tell me that as i havent got a clue ...

This is why I had a (ridiculously) complicated spreadsheet to check all their calculations. Our calculations didn't give enough information for you to know if they were doing it right and giving you the correct allowances - I only knew because we had to have a special meeting because of all the problems.

Fritha_2

*sidles in*

*posts a link to this month's Warrington sling meet*

*sidles out again*

redstararnie76

Grrr. Sorry to vent, and please feel free to skip.
I've waited in all day as the garage are meant to be collecting my car today (with my daughter climbing the walls - she really needs some fresh air...). I rang them this morning and was told they would be here 'later this morning'. Still no sign, so I rang them 5 minutes ago to be told that their driver's not back yet 'but I'm next on the list'. I pointed out that I needed to go out at 3.15pm, and was told to leave my mobile number so they could ring me - but I'm taking my daughter to her swimming lessons, I can't just come back! Grr, so now they're saying that they can't guarentee he'll be here by then, and they'll have to come tomorrow - I really can't take another day stuck inside waiting in case they decide to turn up eventually....
Sorry for the rant..

My_Fathers_Daughter

SusanC wrote: »

I've claimed three times:
First time: received HB after about six months and CTB after about a year.
Second time: no significant problems
Third time: A complete nightmare - took four months to receive first cheque. Benefit incorrectly stopped without warning twice even though after the first incident we made a formal complaint and became the example in training. We had to go in almost every week with information - within eighteen months I had a whole ringbinder full from the correspondence between us.

It is the same people who do the council tax though and they tried to take me to court because they were too busy to read their correspondence.

I think it probably works well if your circumstances are constant (i.e. no fluctuating income or temporary/occasional jobs) but personally it was the times of great variability that I was claiming and the times of stability that I wasn't. The system doesn't seem to be able to cope if you are non-standard in any way.

The systems are woefully inadequate in general...and a case such as yours would need an experienced Benefits Officer to work on it...potentially for days at a time (these things aren't as easy as they seem) but they are there nonetheless and I hate the idea that there are millions and millions of pounds going unclaimed because people are distrustful of the system / find it to be too much hard work as much as I hate the millions and millions of pounds that gets claimed fraudulently each year.

It is just a sad state of affairs - the money doesn't go anywhere more deserving if it doesn't come to you, the government use it to pay bankers bonuses


See - this is why I don't work in benefits anymore (that and I earn more bossing hairy construction workers around!!)

jillie1974

having never claimed HB i'm not sure how the system works (not aksing) but i presumed it was just like Tax Credits...one easy to fill in form

i'm like MFD though... so many people fraudulently claim and get benefits no problem but those who could use it dont claim as the forms/prev experience puts them off!

i just think that if you are entitled to something you should get it. no matter how small. sm- i know you have had a rough time in the past so totally understand your resons for not going down the HB route again.

jillie1974

anyone seen this...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8604663.stm