Bit of a strange one...

LL30

My friend has been sent a giro from DWP - she's just started work for the first time in 3 years, so I'm unsure what it's for, but assume it's part of the 100s of pounds that they're throwing at her to congratulate her on sitting on her backside for years and finally deciding to get a job (apologies, I'm slightly raw at the moment) Anyway, she requested that it was for her local post office. She presented it today, and they said it wasn't for that PO. She went to the one she used to use (recently moved) and they said the same thing. She rang the DWP and they can't tell her (!) so she rang the PO main line and they say they can't tell her for data protection reasons!

Any ideas on how she can find this out? She's not in dire need, but obviously the money is hers (and well earned...hmmm) but it's currently a useless piece of paper!

BrettMorganxD

LL30 wrote: »

My friend has been sent a giro from DWP - she's just started work for the first time in 3 years, so I'm unsure what it's for, but assume it's part of the 100s of pounds that they're throwing at her to congratulate her on sitting on her backside for years and finally deciding to get a job (apologies, I'm slightly raw at the moment) Anyway, she requested that it was for her local post office. She presented it today, and they said it wasn't for that PO. She went to the one she used to use (recently moved) and they said the same thing. She rang the DWP and they can't tell her (!) so she rang the PO main line and they say they can't tell her for data protection reasons!

Any ideas on how she can find this out? She's not in dire need, but obviously the money is hers (and well earned...hmmm) but it's currently a useless piece of paper!

If the DWP sent the giro, then surely they can tell your friend exactly what the giro was for?

What a nice friend you are :P

LL30

Yeah, I'm a real charmer at the minute! I didn't ask her what it was for, she just asked me how she could cash it as it's proving impossible. The DWP just said that they didn't know what PO it was for ! Crazy Could have been an advisor having an off day, I think she should ring them again personally but I said I'd try and find out any info for her...because I'm such a good friend.... :P

anmarj

if she has a bank account she could alway bank it.

LL30

Didn't know you could do that! I did wonder why they sent her a giro in the first place, she's had them occasionally but that's usually been due to an error, other than that, everything goes into her account!

shegirl

Either put it in the bank of try googling to find out which post office it's for.There will be a PO number on the front of it which identifies the post office

LL30

Oh lovely, thanks for that! I've never had a giro, so I don't know much about these things

AnxiousMum

LL30 wrote: »

Oh lovely, thanks for that! I've never had a giro, so I don't know much about these things

Never mind....one of these days you might find yourself down on luck, out of work and then you'll have the opportunity to get one too! Just so you know - the money that she might have received as a 'reward' as you call it........chances are, that she's used to receiving money every week and has budgeted in that way as well. Now that she's working, she may very well have to go till the end of October until she receives her first pay cheque. In the meantime, there's possibly clothes to purchase so she is presentable in her job, there's money for transportation and other costs of working, and she has to keep the roof over her head and food in everybody's bellies in the meantime as well. By giving her a little something to help with this, the DWP can help ensure that your 'friend' is able to continue working until her first pay cheque. Would you rather she starved in the meantime and couldn't afford to get to work?

Don't begrudge those that are receiving anything they are legally entitled to.......save that for the scammers......you never know when you yourself may need the entitlement

shegirl

LL30 wrote: »

Oh lovely, thanks for that! I've never had a giro, so I don't know much about these things

I had one years back that wasn't for the post office I thought it was but a search on the number on the front (was an spso on that one) gave me the right post office

LL30

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Never mind....one of these days you might find yourself down on luck, out of work and then you'll have the opportunity to get one too! Just so you know - the money that she might have received as a 'reward' as you call it........chances are, that she's used to receiving money every week and has budgeted in that way as well. Now that she's working, she may very well have to go till the end of October until she receives her first pay cheque. In the meantime, there's possibly clothes to purchase so she is presentable in her job, there's money for transportation and other costs of working, and she has to keep the roof over her head and food in everybody's bellies in the meantime as well. By giving her a little something to help with this, the DWP can help ensure that your 'friend' is able to continue working until her first pay cheque. Would you rather she starved in the meantime and couldn't afford to get to work?

Don't begrudge those that are receiving anything they are legally entitled to.......save that for the scammers......you never know when you yourself may need the entitlement

As I said, I am a little raw at the moment. I have been paying £500+ tax for years with the exception of maternity leave. I have just been made redundant and I'm entitled to IS and £53 per wk CTC. My friend out of her own choice has not worked for 3 years, and now gets a £250 grant, an additional £40 a week (nearly 2/3rds of what I'm entitled to) plus wages, WTC, CTC, help with childcare and 4 weeks HB and CTB run on. She has regular money coming in already, due to WTCs already kicking in. So yes, I do feel that that is a kick in the teeth and she's fully aware of how I feel about it, I don't beat about the bush with these things, and to be honest, she's overwhelmed by how much 'is being thrown' at her - in her words.

I, on the other hand, have no money coming in at all. I can't get IS until approx mid Nov, because I'm getting WTC run on...or was supposed to be. They pressed the wrong button last week, and cancelled everything instead, which is now going to take 8 wks to rectify. To add to this, HB count my childcare money as income, as they will not accept that you have to give 4 wks notice to remove your child from nursery, so even though technically I'm on IS (but not receiving it) and technically getting WTC (but not receiving it) I have no income until mid Nov unless a bullet is placed up someone's backside. I have nursery fees to pay, alongside rent, council tax and the usual household bills - all with no income.

So forgive me if I'm peed off. I'm grateful that we have benefits, don't get me wrong, but it's seriously mismanaged. I am now about to lose my daughter's place at nursery, so even when I do get a job, I will have no childcare. Please be mindful of passing judgement before you know the circumstances, it's fairly irritating.

LL30

shegirl wrote: »

I had one years back that wasn't for the post office I thought it was but a search on the number on the front (was an spso on that one) gave me the right post office

My google brain is failing me! I can't seem to pull up the right search, any tips? Sorry, use and abuse someone else's brain if yours isn't working!!