esa increase?

Blackpool_Saver

nannytone wrote: »

i dont understand why you would think that it would be a permenant increase.
benefit rates only change once a year in april, aoart from some who get the xmas bonus ( that is if your circumstances dont change during that time).
the nmas bonux isnt paid to the 'unemployed' anyway.
it is paid to people on sickness/disanility benefits, pensioners and those on income support. so technically to all but the unemployed that receive benefit

everyone on benefits should get it, that is not fair

nannytone_2

it is given to those who cannot change their circumstances. the unemployed can ( or have the possibility to)

rogerblack

nannytone wrote: »

i dont understand why you would think that it would be a permenant increase.

Because the letter doesn't give an end date.
This stupid letter causes both stress by misleading people that their award is coming to and end - and extra costs when they ring up - and by misleading them that there has been a rate rise, when the simple phrase "In December 2014, you will be paid a 10 pound winterval bonus on top of your normal benefit" would solve this entirely.

Letters that are actively misleading to people that don't know the in-and-outs of the benefit system are way too common.
This one is one of the poorer ones, though not actually illegal.

John_Clark

nannytone wrote: »

i dont understand why you would think that it would be a permenant increase.

Because it says that From 28 November 2014 your Employment and Support Allowance will be £118.15 a week. But it fails to mention that from 5th December 2014 your your Employment and Support Allowance will be back to £108.15 a week

mollymegan

I had exactly the same letter,it's very misleading and I phoned them to query it.This is the first year that the bonus is paid as part of the fortnightly payment rather than a separate one, the guy was apologetic and agreed that it was misleading and mentioned that they've had quite a few calls about it.

John_Clark

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

everyone on benefits should get it, that is not fair

everyone should be fit enough to work instead of being crippled up with extreme joint pain - that is not fair either. But if you will take my disabilities I will give you my £10 bonus - Is that fair?

geriann

i'm on Income-Related ESA [Support Group] but i've never had an Xmas bonus.
i don't understand why some benefits include the Xmas bonus & others don't.

John_Clark

geriann wrote: »

i'm on Income-Related ESA [Support Group] but i've never had an Xmas bonus.
i don't understand why some benefits include the Xmas bonus & others don't.

i'm on Income-Related ESA [Support Group] and I have been getting the £10 Xmas bonus for years. (its only this year I got the badly worded letter suggesting it was a permanent increase)
So I don't understand why you didn't receive it. Maybe its the length of time we have been claiming?
I have noticed that when they cut benefits they tend to keep paying the higher rate to existing claimants. Its unfair, and an encouragement to stay on benefits. (because those who are able to come off benefits and get a job would be worse off if the job didn't last and they had to claim benefits again) But I suppose its politically expedient to reduce the electoral backlash they would get from cutting benefits to everyone.