reclaiming Income Support after leaving work due to sickness

zippy75

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some help if possible with a benefits situation,

I was getting IS with a disability premium (and IB credits) for nearly six years on the grounds of sickness. I started a part time job at the beginning of May, but unfortunately after 3 weeks I had to go off sick as the boss was doing everything in his power to make the experience unbearable. My GP signed me off sick with stress and worsening of my medical condition.

I was told by JCP to claim IS again as I couldn't get SSP (this is due to the 104 week linking benefit rule, if that's the right name for it).

The problem is that I don't know if I was supposed to get a rapid reclaim, or if the application has been done correctly, and I'm in a bit of a state over it all, with no money coming in in the meantime.

I was told to ring new claims, I told them the situation, told them I had just come off Income Support with Incapacity Benefit Credits, and was put through a horrendous 55 minute interview while they filled out the form.

At every turn there was confusion; the lady kept saying things like "it says you're not entitled to IS (or it might have been IB) but we'll claim it anyway".

When I received the form to sign it was full of mistakes, like "you have not told us that you are unfit for work", and "you have told us that you are looking for work" (which I might actually have said - I was so stressed out by the end of the phonecall I could barely remember my own name).

I'm not sure how to deal with this form because I don't know if there's a 'right' way to correct the answers, or if there were mistakes in the way she asked the questions which might mean there were other options on the computer which now aren't on the form because of the answers she keyed in (I hope that makes sense). Or even if this was the right application at all (hence my question about the rapid reclaim).

I have asked every agency I can think of for help with the form this week, but all they say is 'just correct the mistakes and send it back', without listening to what I am asking.

I have not been able to concentrate at all to deal with the form because I have been so poorly.

There is no way that I can go back to work for this employer - does anyone know if I'm definitely entitled to go back on to IS again, as the rules seem to state?

Also does anyone know if it would make any difference if I left the job myself, or if I was dismissed?
Thanks

Zippy

welshmoneylover

zippy75 wrote: »

.

There is no way that I can go back to work for this employer -
Zippy

What about trying to find work with a different employer?

NASA_2

You were on six years, so if you went back to work within a month of closing IB claim, you can claim IB/IS again.

zippy75

welshmoneylover wrote: »

What about trying to find work with a different employer?

Thank you for that; yes I am, and have been since the second week of the job, despite having serious health problems, and, as you will have read in my post, suffering with severe stress.

Zippy

zippy75

NASA wrote: »

You were on six years, so if you went back to work within a month of closing IB claim, you can claim IB/IS again.

Thanks loads for the info NASA, I'm wondering if you know where I can find a link on the internet (DirectGov or similar) where it sets out this rule? I think I need to send them a letter in with the form asking if the claim is being dealt with in the right way and quoting their policy on the link bank to benefit.

Thanks

Zippy

NASA_2

zippy75 wrote: »

Thanks loads for the info NASA, I'm wondering if you know where I can find a link on the internet (DirectGov or similar) where it sets out this rule? I think I need to send them a letter in with the form asking if the claim is being dealt with in the right way and quoting their policy on the link bank to benefit.

Thanks

Zippy

http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/t4_linking_rules___back-dating.pdf

Its page 4 - 104 week link.

Its DSDNI rather than DWP literature but it is the same rule.

zippy75

Thanks for that NASA, I really appreciate your help!

welshmoneylover

zippy75 wrote: »

Thank you for that; yes I am, and have been since the second week of the job, despite having serious health problems, and, as you will have read in my post, suffering with severe stress.

Zippy

There's nothing worse than working with an !!!!!hole of an employer

Good luck, you need to learn to rise above him and anybody else, hopes it helps with your stress levels. Work related stress is a b*gger to deal with.