Crisis Loan or something

AsknAnswer2

Witter wrote: »

You can still claim a community care grant if you are waiting or are going to be receiving benifit.

Only where the claimant is due to leave an institution or care home within 6 weeks, and are likely to get one of those benefits or entitlements on leaving.

That does not appear to be the case here.

Witter

AsknAnswer2 wrote: »

Only where the claimant is due to leave an institution or care home within 6 weeks, and are likely to get one of those benefits or entitlements on leaving.

That does not appear to be the case here.

My friend was awarded a ccg a few week ago due to her husband leaving her, she had just put a claim in for income support at the time

wardie2437

My former employers say they cannot do a payroll run until 26th may to generate my P45 - I did hand IS and Carers a covering letter stating that I'd left AND a copy of my final wage slip - However its the previous months wage slip they've lost, and carers say they need two wage slips. I have given them a direct number for the payroll department so they can check things out for themselves.

My wife should be classed as "vulnerable" as she's on Higher rate of DLA and is awaiting a lung transplant.

There must be something we can do - I mean this is only a temporary thing until it gets sorted out - which it will do by the end of June

wardie2437

in reply to TCR...
I called up Carers - they said they had sent out a "form" for my employers to fill out in the absence of my P45 - contacted employers to chase them up on this. Resending march payslip - although i dont see what use this will be as they have Aprils.

Phoned IS up - weren't helpful UNTIL - I mentioned "perform an abatement" - the woman didn't know what it meant - went away - came back and said "we are precessing your money now - we cant tell you how much it is yet, we can tell you the amount tomorrow if you call back, but it will be paid this week" - so fingers crossed

suelees1

Although you were told it will be paid this week it could still take several days to reach your account. The JCP now has the facility to make online payments which can be accessed by the claimant later the same day so if you have no money I'd ring them tomorrow morning and ask for this method of payment

AsknAnswer2

Witter wrote: »

My friend was awarded a ccg a few week ago due to her husband leaving her, she had just put a claim in for income support at the time

In that case either the directions have been applied incorrectly, or the CCG team liaised with Income Support who advised that IS was being awarded and backdated to (or prior to) the date the CCG was claimed which would make her eligible.

The pending benefit is not discretionary: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/community-care-grants/

Wardie - pleased to hear the IS will be paid this week. Let us know how you get on.

tcr_3

wardie2437 wrote: »

in reply to TCR...
I called up Carers - they said they had sent out a "form" for my employers to fill out in the absence of my P45 - contacted employers to chase them up on this. Resending march payslip - although i dont see what use this will be as they have Aprils.

Phoned IS up - weren't helpful UNTIL - I mentioned "perform an abatement" - the woman didn't know what it meant - went away - came back and said "we are precessing your money now - we cant tell you how much it is yet, we can tell you the amount tomorrow if you call back, but it will be paid this week" - so fingers crossed

I'm delighted things are finally moving for you.

Should really explain now what an abatement is. Income Support is a means tested benefit, that means they look at how much your other benefits are before they work out how much Income Support you're entitled to.

Income Support normally deduct Carer's Allowance from the amount of their benefit which is payable. But right now they can't do that, because you're not receiving Carer's Allowance at the moment. And they can't take money off you if you're not receiving it.

Instead what they should do now, in theory, is pay your normal Income Support allowance without a deduction for Carer's Allowance. And when your Carer's Allowance is finally assessed, and those arrears calculated, the Carer's Allowance office will offer those arrears firstly to the Income Support office. Income Support will work out how much they wish to claim back (and they need to do that, otherwise they'll have paid you too much), they'll then claim their cut and the rest of the Carer's Allowance arrears will be sent out to you.

That horrible administrative work is called an abatement.

All that isn't going to happen quickly, most Income Support offices have a backlog of such work, I doubt you'll hear about that for a few weeks.

As to your Crisis Loan ... from what you say the situation has now changed. And that's because Income Support benefit might now be due. So your Crisis Loan application might be refused on the grounds that your benefit should be paid same day instead.

As Suelees1 says, you'll need to give Income Support a buzz tomorrow and see if they can do a payment for you, either directly into your account or by counter payment/giro at the Job Centre.

Thank you for coming back to tell folks what happened, there's many regulars here who are keen to help you if ever you need it.

dreamylittledream

A crisis loan is only paid to meet immediate living expenses without which there would be a serious risk to health or safety.

Bills are not covered (water in particular which has an exclusion all of its own).

Food would be if you have no other means to meet that need (no family who could help temporarily?).

If an Income Support payment is due this week then any crisis loan will only be a very small amount for the next day or two if you genuinly have nothing currently...

wardie2437

Wow - Looks like we're sorted - first payment is on its way now - second payment is due on 28th - thanks for all of you who helped me out on this with advice. Big thumbs up
Just one final thing - will my carers allowance (I think its about £53 per week) be offset against the income support granted?

suelees1

Nice one wardie...yes it will.