make do and mend for tougher times

prepareathome

Pops I would not be one day late with any forms going back to DWP and any you send do so by either Recorded Delivery if you have the time ( can take a few days to arrive) or Special Delivery to ensure next day- what I usually do worth the cost about £5.

You do not want to give them any excuse at all to withhold your money. To them a day late might mean you are working so not had the time.....so get form back on time. If need be and you can only get it back day due then take it in to them if its to go to a local office and make sure you get a receipt (hubby did that once for me over something and it was security guard that did a receipt for him which not only gave date but time handed in as well - I printed this out for hubby to get filled in there.

You must play by their rules if not they just seem to assume you don't need the money. Also fill the form in, in black ink even if it doesn't say to do so.

Its a shame you can only see CAB the day form is due back but better it goes back in time than waiting for CAB. What you could do is photocopy it and then take that to CAB so they can check you have filled it in correctly and if not they will then have given you the correct answers so you will be ready when DWP complain its not done right or you haven't answered what they wanted.

Good Luck

Popperwell

I think I need luck if you read the following thread, seems strange to me...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3858977

Don't know what anyone else thinks...Perhaps I am just paranoid...

prepareathome

Pops I think they just want to check if you have inherited anything from your mum and you have not told them. So don't worry........its more a fishing expedition under the disguise of a review. Have you ever told them you will be inheriting some money? If not definitely fishing.

They are hoping they can stop paying you because you have inherited money but as its not through probate yet its not yours so you don't even have to mention it. Remember money/property cannot be classed as yours until probate is granted to you even if there is will as technically a probate court could award the money elsewhere if they wanted to - but that would only be if another person suddenly said they had a right to inherit and of course they have to be close family, so don't worry about that ( your grandmothers,daughters daughter has no claim all extended family were ruled out in a 1920 something act).

Social until probate gives you the right to your mums money cannot treat it as yours in any shape or form. So unless there is a question that specifically says

Do you expect to receive any money or property from anyone recently deceased?

You do not have to tell them anything about it.

Once probate is granted and you have the money (but not till money is in your account as sometimes banks can be slow to transfer these funds or lawyer release them) then you will have to tell them.

So just fill in the form answering everything as it is now- that is what is in your bank account now and then if they ask send a copy of your bank statement(s).


Don't worry my friend please, they really are fishing

Hugs and Love xxxx

Popperwell

PAH,
The CAB and the forms I have for Mum's estate to set probate off say that I can take upto two years but I was going to put the forms in during the next few months.

One solicitor and the CAB said even though it should be straight forward it could take up to a year to go through...

They were told that Mum had money at the time I reported her passing and it would go to probate. But that for the minute the bank would only be releasing the money to pay for Mum's funeral.

So I was upfront about that. I may be back to being frugal before you know it...

I haven't had contact with any Government Dept since she passed away in April and they've kept out of my way until this form and...on my birthday when they sent out that letter in error about benefits stopping and being in rent arrears...

prepareathome

I about 5 years ago had a letter telling me someone was coming out from Incap ben people. They would not tell me why? I was worried sick as could not think why anyone would need to come out as no change.

Woman came out and refused to explain why she had come till she went through a form she had with her. Asked me all about my condition, what benefits we got - couldn't believe we did not claim HB, CTB, nor WTC. Asked to see hubbys wage slips for past year and our bank statements and any credit card statements and ISA or savings accounts(none)

Eventually after it was established to her satisfaction that our income consisted of just hubbys wages and my Incap Ben she told me someone had reported that I spent all my time either bouncing on my large trampoline or shopping in town.

I looked at her in disbelief and took her out to show my back garden which is very,very steep with not flat part and asked her where I was supposed to put the trampoline, she had seen front garden which the was just wide open grass and any trampoline would be on view and most likely be pinched. Last time I was bouncing on a trampoline was at school 40 years ago. Son and daughter have one each at their homes but never been on them and I do not live with them.

I had 6 months earlier gone to town as daughter took me clothes shopping for my birthday but not been there since - I insisted she came and checked out upstairs to see if she could find all the shopping I was supposed to have bought. The report she had was my home and clothes were all expensive designer stuff and that is why the person felt they had to report me as I obviously was committing benefit fraud and had nothing wrong with me, as I obviously had a fortune.

She saw my old second hand furniture and my cs shop clothes and no carpets or flooring anywhere - painted floorboards then. She could see I had not removed anything to hide it as I would have had to hide and replace everything.

I was crying not at her being there but at the fact anyone could hate me enough to say these lies, I never went anywhere had no friends but one(and wasn't her - see below) so to this day I do not know who did it. As not even family did not know I was claiming it.

If I had thought about it clearly at the time I would have realised it would 't have mattered if I did have millions as my Incap Ben like my ESA is contribution based not means tested and the only thing she should have been checking was my health.

The woman ended up making me a cup of tea and ended up comforting me as she could see the thought someone could hate me was more upsetting than anything else and she could see my health was bad - I understood she had to investigate. She was the one who told me couples with no children could claim WTC as I had not realised that so we had never claimed it.

My best friend is still coming to terms with getting a visit from benefits fraud over 10 years ago ( she is 70 now) and not long before she became a pensioner when she was still claiming Income Support. Someone had seen a man mowing her lawn and reported she was living with someone.

My friend who anyone would tell you is one of the most honest people on the planet and so to this day if her daughter cannot cut the grass will do it herself in case if a man was to do it she would be reported again, even though now she is on pension not IS. She will not let single workmen in the house they must be in pairs and have a van outside and she will stand outside even in pouring rain until they go as that visit just affected her so badly she was quite ill afterwards.

Neither me or friend lost our money not even a payment late as neither were guilty of anything.

prepareathome

As you told them about your mums money they are definitely fishing to see if you have it and not told them, but they cannot write to you and say this as that would be basically accusing you of fraud without proof so they send this.

You might get a few of these reviews over the next year or so until you do inherit.]

So fill in and if it makes you feel better enclose up to date bank statements but unless they asked for them you don't need to.

hugs and Love xxxx

GreyQueen

Morning all.

Another fine day in paradise and I'm feeling like going back to sleep but don't want to waste the weekend so will wait for my meds to kick in then drag myself to the lottie to sort thru the potatoes in the shed for blighted ones. I will also do a few other bits and pick some peas (think this will be the last of them) and a few of the broad beans. Thanks to Kittie, I know not to blanch them, which has made everything easier and faster. Very appreciative of that piece of gen.

I will also dismantle the bamboo wigwams which should be sporting lovely lush flowering runner beans.......had the slugs and snails not eaten them all to sticks despite my best efforts.

I have a skinny little trolley, too, in my small kitchen. It lives in a niche under a counter and has to be moved out to open one particular cupboard. I use if for some stray items which would otherwise be homeless, mainly cleaning stuff like a bowl etc.

Pops, I think they're just fishing for information. Please try not to stress to much about it. I know I'm a fine one to talk but the TC people did stop mine. And I will be doing the appeal paperwork this weekend and dispatching it on Monday, just in case they haven't undone their error as they said they have.

Re fraud, it's disgusting that people are being harrassed like that and I really feel for you, PAH, and for your now-retired friend. It comes to something when a pensioner cannot have a gent mow her lawn without feeling that she'll be accused of co-habitation. Trouble is, once the accusation is made, the DWP or the LA's fraud investigators have to investigate. Sometimes it's a very short investigation as the accused isn't actually in receipt of any benefits! But they can't tell the accuser that!

Anyway, SuperGran continues to plug through the process of stripping out her kitchen ahead of the renewal. I have offered to help, esp with the wall cabinets, as she's a wee thing and nearly a foot shorter than me, but she hasn't taken me up on that yet. Just over a week to go now. And since I've already said she can borrow my kitchen whilst I'm at work I'd better up my game and leave it clinically clean as she's a very fastidious housekeeper and I wouldn't want to let myself down by comparison.:o

Fuddle, re saving on the leccy by limiting the use of the washer to spinning-off handwashing, I'm wondering how much leccy that would be saving you? Is it possible to get the leccy consumption of your washer, either from it's manual or from the manufacturer's website, and then find out what your company charges for that? If you're busting your gut and saving 20p, you may want to think again?

Ach well, this isn't getting the baby a bonnet. Time to make my flask and think about heading up the road to the lottie, a gentle 15 mins away by pushbike. Think snail's pace rather than Wiggo.;)

Have a good day, people and catch you laters, GQ x

fuddle

Kidcat the shopping card is such a good idea

pah I'm sorry someone decided to play nasty games. It would be a shock to me too. Vindictive. That's the only word I can come up with.

pops I have no knowledge of the process you're going through but I think like pah, they're fishing to see if you're in receipt of your mam's estate.

Well as DH is fishing it's another day in the house for us. I've a birthday cake to make for DH's birthday tomorrow - a chocolate cake. Bad news as there's just 4 of us and it will mean the whole thing has to be eaten (I wonder by whom ) I can feel I am getting bigger in these past 2 weeks off school.

In a bit of a dilemma. DH brought in 45kg (3 big sacks) of dog food given to him by his work colleague completely free. His dog was putting too much weight on and needed senior food - this is working dog food (that part I have no qualms with, you can't get any more working than a beagle/collie cross :rotfl: ) but I have just got his diet stable with James Wellbeloved (expensive but Alfie is much better on it than the cheaper stuff) This is Arkrights dog food and not as expensive. It's probably about 6 months worth of food, even more as he gets meat, offal and rice/veg of an evening. I don't know whether to use it but all my frugal instincts are telling me I have to. I'm going to try to compare the compositions of the two. I feed my kids basic value stuff :cool:

Cheapskate

Morning everyone

Dry here, but no sun, washing out in case it stays dry. Going to do food shopping soon, then going to weekend job before lunch. Have handed in my notice there now, lots of comments along the lines of "please don't go" or "we're going to miss you", very surprised, but lovely, never thought I was that noticed at work!

The old washer has now gone to DD (23), so a gaping space in the kitchen until tomorrow. I remember spending nearly 6 months washing by hand, whilst heavily pregnant, years ago when we were seriously poor and couldn't afford a new washer - even did towels and jeans in the bath! :eek: Thank goodness it was a hot summer was all I could think at the time! Then DH persuaded me (I blame pregnancy hormones) to buy a second hand twin tub - hardly better than hand washing! That lasted another 6 months, then we finally had enough to buy a brand new simple washer - highlight of my week!

Blackberries in our garden are getting bigger, but nowhere near ripe yet, but down snicket near us they're nearly ripe (get more sun there), so may pick a few to add to apple crumble for tomorrow's pud. I've got a couple of pounds still frozen from last year, plus 1/2 lb elderberries and 2 lb sloes, so might start some sloe gin off for Christmas presents early. Feels so backendish here that I want to start squirrelling away food things and extra money for the winter! :eek:

Just skimmed through the posts from the last few days, will reply later when more time! Once again, hugs/kisses to those having a carp time or dealing DWP etc.

A xo

Popperwell

Thanks for the support, I hate going on like an old record and returning to the topic, it is so unlike me...I had the form all filled in and then saw that thread and when they said because the very parts of the form I have had been highlighted/blocked out, panic set in...

I'll try not to worry...How long do you think that will last?

I know they won't see it this way but as PAH has said she has not always claimed what she probably could and was entitled to and I have never claimed IB and for years never took attendence or carer's allowance for Mum. So they have paid out on me in one way but in another I have saved them money. So if I manage a small amount of enjoyment before things change I think I am entitled to it.

Such as a couple of coach trips if I can manage them in between the theatre shows, my operation when I sort that out.