Help - Losing week's money on IB

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

alluring29 wrote: »

I received a letter today from Belfast stating that my Incapicity Benefit will be paid fortnightly instead of weekly, commencing in August.

The new payment will be paid in arrears but means that I lose one week's money while the change over takes place.

They have offered me a loan but I have to repay it back over 12 weeks. Essentialy, everone receiving IB on a weekly basis and then is switched to fortnightly payments will all lose a week's money because it is paid in arrears.

How can the Government expect us to live without that extra week's money, I am thoroughly fed up and confused. Where do we go to complain about the disastrous decision?

Ive always been paid my IB fortnightly in arrears & thought everyone was?

dmg24

alluring29 wrote: »

DMG I understand what you are saying but basically I am still losing the week's money because I will get it at the end of my IB claim, i.e. in 20 years time.

Just a pain being switched over to fortnightly payments, losing a week's money and now trying to think of where I can find money to support my family for that one week.

I guess a loan from them is the ONLY option I have.

You always were paid in arrears, so you always would have received the amount at the end of your claim.

You have been offered an interest free loan to support your money for the week. Ring up and sort it. There is nothing to gain in moaning about it.

emsywoo123

alluring29 wrote: »

DMG I understand what you are saying but basically I am still losing the week's money because I will get it at the end of my IB claim, i.e. in 20 years time.

Have you not totally contradicted yourself there........not losing the week...... just being delayed. So in fact no money lost!

dmg24

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

Ive always been paid my IB fortnightly in arrears & thought everyone was?

Most people are paid fortnightly, those who have trouble budgeting (and I think those on the terminal illness rules?) can be paid weekly.

alluring29

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

Because they are paying you in arrears so the loan money is to cover you for a week where there is no payment, however - that payment will be rec'd in the first 2 weekly payment which is paid in arrears hence why the loan has to be paid back.

The loan is to bridge the gap between weekly and bi-weekly payments.

No, my first fortnightly payment does not cover the week's payment I lose, it is for the next two weeks.

11/08/10 Normal Weekly payment

18/08/10 1 day's payment (because switching payment date from Wed to Thursday

26/08/10 Fortnightly payment

09/09/10 Fortnightly payment

and so on...as you can see I only get 1 day's payment for the week 18th August. This will not effect just me but everyone who receives IB on a weekly basis.

The ONLY thing I can do is accept the loan and try to budget for the repayments BUT it still doesn't mean it is right!

alluring29

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Have you not totally contradicted yourself there........not losing the week...... just being delayed. So in fact no money lost!

My daughter will have left home by then and I need the money NOW and NOT in 20 years time, doubtful I will be even alive by then anyway!

alluring29

I wish I had the luxury of not being worried about £10 a week. Obviously, it is not a lot of money to most people in here but in my family we have to count every penny!

emsywoo123

alluring29 wrote: »

My daughter will have left home by then and I need the money NOW and NOT in 20 years time, doubtful I will be even alive by then anyway!

At the end of the day, harsh as you feel it is, there is nothing that can be done.
Try to look at the positive of the interest free loan Better than saying "good luck and crack on!"

dmg24

alluring29 wrote: »

No, my first fortnightly payment does not cover the week's payment I lose, it is for the next two weeks.

11/08/10 Normal Weekly payment

18/08/10 1 day's payment (because switching payment date from Wed to Thursday

26/08/10 Fortnightly payment

09/09/10 Fortnightly payment

and so on...as you can see I only get 1 day's payment for the week 18th August. This will not effect just me but everyone who receives IB on a weekly basis.

The ONLY thing I can do is accept the loan and try to budget for the repayments BUT it still doesn't mean it is right!

But then you get two weeks payment the following week!

You are still receiving all the money that you are entitled to, just accept it even if you do not understand it.

I am now walking away from this thread because I'm going to end up swearing at someone!

alluring29

dmg24 wrote: »

Most people are paid fortnightly, those who have trouble budgeting (and I think those on the terminal illness rules?) can be paid weekly.

I was put on IB weekly from the beginning, never offered it on a fortnightly basis. Perhaps, this is a recent change, I have been on IB since 1996 when I had my accident, unsure?