A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

prepareathome

My latest battle is going to be getting HB and CTB. Mentioned on GC thread how have only £35 for the month for food as hubby is now only getting £133 a week and my incap is £99 ( which of course can be stopped any time as transfer form gone in and we all know how slim chances are to be transferred to ESA) anyway someone mentioned checking on turn2org if we can get any benefits and so had a look and turns out we should get £5 towards CT and £25 towards rent. So phoned council today and asked for form to apply. This really 'caring ' woman said she had to ask a few questions first and I said ok, so she asked if I was married, was hubby employed and did we have children at home, said yes to first two and no to last. She then told me she could not send me a form as council policy was not to pay CTB or HB to couples with no children. I explained how hubby only works 24hrs a week as hours been cut and how much he and I get but she said it doesn't matter, he could earn £1 and they still would not pay it, they will only pay if the claimants are on JSA/IS/ESA and only if they are soul incomes. Then - here she surpassed herself, she said ' I suppose I will see your claim form in the next couple of weeks after your husband gives in his notice to work tomorrow. I admit I was speechless, then I said unless he is made redundant in the next round of redundancies coming up in April he will not be leaving work, she just gave a noise that I took to be a laugh and put the phone down.

I plan to contact my MP tomorrow ( opps its nearly 1am so today) as government is going on about getting people back to work yet my council wants to make my husband give up his job, surely they cannot be allowed to do that, but I guess I should know better and they can.

In 2004/5 hubby was off work for 8 months and his work only pay SSP so we did get full HB/CTB then a week after he went back to work, I had phoned council as soon as he went back to say we were stopping the claim, I received a letter thanking me for getting in touch about repaying the loan of CTB and HB made while hubby was off and when I phoned they told me they always ask for the benefits to be repaid if the person goes back to work within a year of the benefits being paid. So for nearly a year we had to struggle to pay double rent and council tax as they demanded the full weekly amounts and threatened to pass it to baliffs if we didn't pay it. It was then we actually got into debt for the first time as we had no money left for food etc and as we have always had prepayment meters we had to ensure we had money for them. Thankfully now no debts but I know unless we can improve our income we will end up in debt again and that £30 a week in CTB/HB would make a big difference to us. In case hubby is ever off sick again I try to keep our rent account 3- 4 weeks in credit so we do not have to apply for these benefits as it would cripple us to have to repay them back now.

If I thought they were doing this to help people it would not be so bad but just about every year we hear about how another grandiose plan the council had has gone belly up costing so many millions of pounds, all paid out of council tax. Latest is have a mayor - they stopped having a mayor as it was costing to much, now we must have a mayor and maybe, just maybe government will give the council money, another gamble that everyone will pay for.

Its a shame this was a nice place once but each subsequent council seems to think that the council tax pot is money they can use for anything that takes their fancy. Even when something pans out it still never makes enough money to pay its way, so whatever it is it will last a year or two then falls by the way side.

Right rant over

BitterAndTwisted

Council Tax and Housing Benefit/LHA is a loan? That's news to me! It's supposed to bridge the gap between extreme penury and being able to eat. Did you not even question it? Was it paid in advance for some reason? I've never hear of such a thing and if I had experienced that I would have fire-bombed the council offices. This must be a misunderstanding about the basis on which the benefits were paid.

Don't take any nonsense from council a-hole employees on the phone. They are not gatekeepers yet. You are entitled to apply so get down to the benefits section at your local authority and collect the forms.

prepareathome

I did try to query and fight repaying the benefits - even gave my case to an advisor CAB recommended that fiddled around for over a year, by then I had repaid it, and told me that if you query an overpayment it has to be done in a year after that you cannot do anything about it. I went back to CAB but they were just useless. I am not the only one that has had to repay benefits given when someone is off sick. I was given the government ruling which I will try and find through which our council found a loophole to do this. I did contact my MP but they were off sick for months and I never heard anything but I just hope maybe something was done. It wasn't paid in advance we had been paying CT and Rent ourselves then hubby took ill and was off for 8 months so we applied for the benefits and only income was my IB and his SSP which even then barely covered the two with nothing left for anything else at all. They still moaned about giving us it, they even wrote and asked could hubby not manage to get back to work, or ask his employer for a loan to cover the CT and Rent - I still have those letters. They do not want to part with a penny. Last year they sent the council tax bills out at beginning of April and at end of April started taking people to court for non payment - we were one, we had written ( recorded delivery) to ask to pay monthly, they only ever send a bill for full amount and you have to contact them to arrange monthly payments, and they had not even replied to us by the time we got letter to attend court at beginning of May. So we went along with copy of letter we had sent and postage proof and showed court and council were asked if they had bothered to reply to us, they admitted they had not, so they were fined for wasting court time as they had not agreed to letting us pay over 10 months and it could not be judged we had defaulted on paying CT without that option being given to us, not that we were offered anything. There were so many people who had been taken to court, people who had done similar to us, ask for monthly payments but not though to use recorded delivery. Court usher told us the council arranged the court dates in March, they just supply the names the week before. They basically did a block booking for a couple of weeks in May - this is Magistrates court. Years ago when so many were taking to court over poll tax, people who turned up were not allowed to appear as council didn't want them - papers were full of it, papers were full of all the people being taken to court last year. I guess this year they will block book end of April, as they will want everyone to pay on the 1st. Last year thanks to inheritance in July we were able to pay off rest of council tax for the year, this year of course we will have to pay it monthly, I just pray there is no breakdown of banking system to delay the payments going through ( there was other day our bank had a notice on its site saying payments would take 5 days instead of 1 due to some problem) as I know council will have us in court before we can blink. Just waiting to see if they will put the CT up, last year before the government said it must be frozen our council had already raised it and printed the bills, which they then had to destroy and reprint - again hit the local papers. Basically, it seems, as soon as someone becomes a councillor they become a mini hitler, they seem to think the council is more important than the government and they will do what they want. Don't know how many times our council has been fined by the government for breaking rules.

I will ask hubby to call in at a one stop shop run by council tomorrow ( I forget about them) and see if he can pick up benefits forms there. Public are not allowed at the actual benefits section, they are a law unto themselves and they stay well barricaded in their offices. I am determined to fight as that £30 a week is better in my pocket, but they will fight to keep it. I think you can get blood out of a stone easier.

Oh well life has been peaceful for a bit, so guess its time for a fight, makes life interesting

meme30

Prepareathome am just horrified at the appalling woman at your council. I hope you got her name so you can report her. You would think it was her own money you were asking for, instead of something you are clearly entitled to. :mad:

There is an increasing feeling in this country that childless households need less than those with children. We have many friends whose children are grown up and left and they struggle on in part-time jobs with very little help. If there were children in the house they would get tax credits, and if they were 6 years older they would get pension credits! (mind you, retirement date is retreating out of sight) This age group have been conveniently forgotten.:(

I certainly don't begrudge anyone with children any financial help. I remember how hard it is to have small children. Doesn't get any easier as they grow up! Lurching from one crisis (new shoes) to another (money for school trips) Huge financial drain and very stressful!

See, I just joined your rant:rotfl: My buttons are getting easier to press as I get older. Big Breath in.......

Would still be worth trying CAB to help you. A friend got someone to come out from the Benefits office to fill the form in for her and that was successful. Just don't give up.

Going for my next session of neck traction today so am throwing a 'one pot casserole' together before I go. Will be a bit 'wilted' when I get back. come to think of it I had better do some ironing before I go as well, Huge pile :eek:

debtfreenow

PrepareatHome

Is there any local claimants' union or similar organisation that you could get together with to fight this Councils rulings? If CAB and the local MP hasn't worked last time this happened, then maybe it's time to go to a national newspaper (eg the Guardian) with as big a dossier as possible of details of people affected by this particular Council.

Maybe you could put up details of this on the Benefits Board on here, giving full details (including the get-out clause your Council is attempting to use to stop due payments) and see what helpful suggestions you receive? The info. from my Council is quite clear. They give a table of household income (from ANY source) and level of help payable with Council Tax for instance and there's no question of them saying "It's a loan and we expect you to pay it back later when your circumstances change". You get the help if it's due and that's it...end of...

Winchelsea

Preparedathome - I am shocked and speechless at your story. Thank heavens we have GreyQueen to give out her wise and well informed advice.

Do hope you manage to get it sorted out - I'll be thinking of you.

katieowl_2

Preparedathome That is bl**dy disgraceful. I've never heard such a thing as having to repay it either. I swear to god I'm sharpening my pitchfork!!!

I ran my middle DD's BF's circumstances through turn2 the other day, and it appears that other than a small CTB rebate he's not entitled to anything either. He works 20 hours a week at a min wage job, it's the only job he can find, he's been there for four years and they haven't upped his hours. He's being told continually he'd be better off on benefits, but fair play to him, he refuses to do it. He's just moved out of home, and is sharing with a mate, but it's mate's grannies house, so mates rates on the rent, otherwise he'd be stuck. His mum's giving up her council house so she can move back home to look after elderly parents. I thought once you hit 25 you could claim Tax Credits? Older DD get's it now, but I'm wondering if that's because she's supporting her BF who is currently unemployed?

Today I have to crack on with the stuff for my chocolate workshop Monday - the kids one is fully booked :eek: I've got some recipe hand outs to type up, and one more experiment!!! I also need a trip to town to buy some boxes to send stuff home in, have to do that tomorrow though as cheap shop is shut till Friday.

Also have more tons of washing...sigh.

I love seeds too A packet of seeds is such a symbol of hope.

Kate

prepareathome

Thanks DFN, your right maybe it is time someone stood up to them. I did have a file that was almost a foot thick filled with all the communication from when we were trying to either stop paying and reclaim the benefit money, but will have to see where I put it, I am sure that I did not shred it. I wish I could remember what law it was, I will ask my daughter later, she will be driving to work but not sure what office she is at today ( she is an area manager of a estate agent ) she might remember as I discussed it with her at the time and she tried to help as she had previously worked in Housing benefits but for a different council. Not sure if anything can be done now as claim they made us pay back ended in July 2005 when he went back to work. He would have gone into work if he could have got out of bed - he had very bad glandular fever, at 50, a slipped disc ( he tried to get out of bed to go to bathroom and fell and in trying to save himself twisted somehow and disc popped out) and sciatic all at once poor lamb, they would have hospitalised him but he has a morbid fear of hospitals so at one stage we had a nurses here 24/7 and all sorts of equiptment and drips. They decided that was better than stressing him, doctor was frightened if they did send him in it would kill him. I am only person he has visited regularly and stay with till they chucked him out, when kids were in he would pop in for a short while then leave, even when his mum was in seriously, he would go once a day and stay an hour and be a nervous wreck for rest of day. He did have another bout of glandular fever in 2010 but thankfully was only off 6 weeks and although again he was only on SSP of £67 and I was ahead enough with rent and council tax not to have to ask for HB/CTB then as I know they would only ask for it back minute he went back to work. With my Incap we could manage for that short amount of time.

I am busy trying to rearrange the way I pay things to try and maximize my money. Its funny I did not stop smoking 2 weeks ago because of this, well I knew I had to stop, but I stopped because it was just right for me to do so then, other times when things have been bad and we have had debts nothing stopped me, but am so thankful I have now as at least will not build up debts because I am burning the bill money. Money is only so very tight as hubby is off work 3 days and away for a bowls competition later in the month ( won his way through months ago) and although hotel is paid for he still needs money for meals and petrol ( about 600 miles altogether). I also have my WI fees (£32) to pay next week, and I am blowed if I let my place go ( I got last membership available and they now have a waiting list - secretary phoned yesterday to see if I still planned on joining next week as they have 4 people who would like to join) its the only thing I belong to ( or will do). I have stopped SW for this month so will rejoin at a later date. I am lucky I have enough food to feed us for the month even if I didn't have any money left for it, even plenty of frozen veg and flour, yeast to make bread, just need to buy milk ( although have long life and dried in that I could make do with). Its just unfortunate his hobby costs money but there is none to win - on his bowls forum someone signature is 'If you want to make as small fortune at this sport you need to start with a large one' so very true, but he has been playing for 28 years and been very successful, been national champion, his only disappointment has he has never represented England, he has been asked to play for them many times but no sponsorship and we just cannot afford the travel and hotel expenses. Next month we should have a bit of a respite before CT and WR are due again. Car MOT and RT is May and our RT thankfully is only £30, just not looking forward to how much the insurance will be when we renew in May.

As to now its not that they are asking for benefits back its them saying they will not pay them to a couple with no children and if that is against the law then i will fight it all the way.

Different topic I read a news article that there is at least a 4 month waiting list for medicals for ESA, not sure if that works for transfers but if so then I should have my medical in two months.

Its weird now I only noticed just before ( I ran our figures through councils own benefits calculator - got same allowances) he is actually being given tax instead of paying it, and he is not having any NI taken from him.



Might have to make appointment with either doctors or dentist, all my gums have become tender and it hurts to use teeth, even letting them touch is sore - teeth don't hurt. Well its one way to lose weight not being able to chew. They don't look particularly red, but are bleeding when I brush and even at other times am getting blood in my mouth. Been awake 24hrs again so not really up to going today so will see how they go, am rinsing with corsodyl so will see if that helps, only started using it yesterday. Have had before Gingivitis but never hurt to use teeth before, its come on so quickly, was fine on Tuesday.

Well enough moaning, I must count my blessing hubby, children and grandchildren are healthy thankfully and that is far more important than money.

Hugs and love to all:A

katieowl_2

Gums...try getting some Gingigel gel. Boots sell it. It does help, my mum suggested it to me. I had appalling toothache a few months ago, and the dentist says it's my gums not my teeth. Corsidol made it worse for me, so I'm using another mouthwash now, I really must look into making some myself using some essential oils (James Wong has a recipe).

But the Gingigel did soothe them - it's not cheap mind you, but it was three for two when I bought it.

Kate

Mrs_Chip

Morning Campers!

PAH - I cannot believe how appallingly you have been treated. If it was me I would have exploded with frustration by now! GQ knows her onions (and her tomatoes:)) and if you have the mental strength to fight the bu88ers we will be here to share your pain. At the very least the person you spoke to needs a good ticking off, I have done a similar job (different topics tho) and know full well that is not acceptable. Do they record the calls? Can you ask for a copy?

GQ - It's like a small miracle to watch your seeds poke up through the compost and grow into sturdy plants isn't it? I can't start mine yet as we need to go back to London for a period to clear the house, but my fingers are itching! I know that there is plenty of time, but doesn't help the urges! I have been saving cardboard rolls and 2ltr plastic bottles for weeks, so all ready to go!

As for the other thing - er, the 'bunging up' issue - I never had that problem during LC as I ate loads of fiberous green veggies and kept fluid intake right up.

Hope everyone keeps warm and safe today - more snowiness and icyness forecast.