Income Support Change of Circ letter HELP!

carlbbb

Hi, i was hoping someone can help me.

My sister has severe learning difficulties and has been on income Support basically forever.

Today, Saturday 16, she got a letter saying that Income support were writing to tell that her recent change in circumstances does not affect the amount of income support they pay her etc etc

However, there has been no change of circumstance and we have not contacted them?

At the end where they tell you how the Income Support amount has been worked out, it says at the bottom they will pay her £XXX amount a week from 6 June 2012- 12 June 2012??

Basically this letter covers that 6 Day period and says nothing else. This 6 day period has now passed?

I know this is a standard change of circumstances letter, she has had one before when we have sent in review forms etc,but we haven't sent anything? AND this only covers 6- 12 June 2012?

Please can anyone shed any light on this, as its Saturday and i can't contact them until Monday, since my Mum died of Cancer i do all this for her and i worry myself sick

Anubis_2

They always work out a week on the letter so don't worry about that.

Has she had an A2 review form in the last few months? How old is your sister? Has she had a recent birthday? If you are worried give them a call but there is nothing to worry about here.

carlbbb

Hi Thanks for your reply

Her Birthday was about 2 weeks before the letter was sent, she is 46 now. We have had no review form, but yes it was her Birthday very recently, does that make a difference.

I just thought it was strange they only put the period of June 6 - June 12

Anubis_2

They always put a week date on the actual working out, but her actual letter (not the award part) will state "after this date they will continue to receive ....." so read the actual letter that came with the last page of the working out.

I have had the odd letter like this, it is nothing to worry about but ring if you are concerned.

For example, my last one was about the rises, and it shows a week in April on the working out page - always has done. If you can locate the one she will have received about the rises in April, you will see that will also show a week.

missapril75

Quite often nothing has changed but a member of staff needs to go through something on the computer records as if something has changed, just to solve a problem or make a technical correction (a name recorded wrongly, for example) or amend a capital amount that wasn't making any difference anyway.

At the end there is an option to cancel the issue of a letter. Pressure of work, just missing it or not even knowing it can be done is the usual reason for a letter to be issued when nothing has actually changed.

carlbbb

Thanks so much for your replies.

Yes, i located the one in April about rises and it does show a week, but this letter just received does not state anywhere "after this date they will continue to receive ....."

On the actual letter it just says "This will mean you will continue to get £XXX a week"....Then on the working out part shows a week from June 6 - June 12 2012, and thats it.

I just found it strange that it says nothing about June 12 onwards, but if its just to show the a week workings out then it makes sense? If the rate were to change or anything to change, in the past they have said "From (Date) your income support will change to £XXX a week, this is due to etc etc...."

I just hate dealing with these things when its a weekend and there is nothing i can do but think about it

Anubis_2

When does the payment usually go in? I would check on the due date and give them a ring. Like I said I have had such a letter I think twice where circs had not changed and just got it out the blue. If the IS was being stopped you would soon know about it but doubt this is the case.

mikey_bach

sounds like a standard notification letter and nothing to worry about,
if the claim was going to close, the processer would have had to put an excusion reason in, so the letter would read, claim closing from say 13th June customer to claim JSA or other reason.

Have you taken out a social fund loan, third party deduction etc, sometimes when the relevant section action these changes they then leave the claim in 105, thats the dialogue ready for payment, then the processer goes through clears the payment and issues the letter.

I would say dont worry at all, but ring Monday if you are worried

carlbbb

Thanks for all the comments and info.

The last payment was on the 12 June, the date of the letter, and it went in fine, no worries, so the next is due on the 26 June.

I will call Monday anyway. Now i'm scared that the IS will stop or something? I don't understand how or why that would happen. She also gets DLA and HB, these both due end of month also.

The only thing that has changed in the last few months is that my sister started a Day Centre for 3 days a week, this started at the beginning of March, for people like her with severe learning difficulties. This is paid by the Local Council and she has to make no contribution towards this (She was assessed at the beginning of the year by the Council) We were told it is completely separate from everything else and would not affect any benefit she is on, but maybe they have just updated her file etc to include this info now and sent out this standard circ letter?

missapril75

Ah, dialogue 105. I remember it as if it was yesterday.:)