Income support/Incapacity Benefit help plz

pinkchix

thanks to anyone that can give me any help or advice and apologies beforehand for long post.

I have been receiving IS for the past 10 years.
My bf who doesnt work has just moved in with me and my kids so no longer entitled to IS as Im not a single parent anymore. Was told by local office that bf would have to claim for both of us and kids and we would both have to be actively looking for work,I explained that I cannot work as I suffer from Narcolepsy and Cataplexy, so then advised to apply for IB. Filled in IB form over the phone and when the question about medical certificates came up I explained to the lady that I have never had a medical certificate from doc as Ive not worked in 10 years to be signed off. Lady said that this was 'waivable' in my circumstances as long as I handed in a letter from my specialist confirming my condiotions. Form arrived for me to sign and i enclosed said letter and sent back to local office.
Today I received a call from them sayin that they had received notification of my change of circumstances and as of today my IS has stopped but they now want medical certificate for my IB.(fair enough I thought maybe the lady could only suggest they waive this and someone further up has said no)
I phoned my GP to get an appointment to get medical certs, my docs on holiday and only does half days during school holidays so earliest appointment is 23August!
I phone IB to explain this and ask wot happens now as they are going to leave me with no money from now til then? Told there is nothing they can do til certs are received, I asked if they could hold my claim for IB off til then and restart my IS untill this is sorted to be told under no circumstances would they do this.
I said wot I was told first time round and this was not a fault on my part so can they help me out in anyway?
Lady said 'All I can say is get yourself an emergency appointment at ur GP to get certs sooner!
Told her my GP surgery emergency appointments are like gold dust and u need to be dying to get one.'well then theres nothin I can do untill you hand certs in.
So they are going to leave me and my 2 kids with no money until IB is claimed and sorted!!!

I am going round in circles thiking about this and its gettin me upset which affects my claim.

dmg24

Is there more than one doctor at your surgery?

Two weeks is a ridiculous wait for an appointment, and if they cannot offer you something sooner, I would contact the Primary Care Trust.

krisskross

I didn't think you could get IB unless you have made the qualifying NI payments. It may be that time is being wasted pursuing something you won't get . Do you get DLA? Would this be accepted?

pinkchix

yeah i do get DLA.
Im so annoyed at getting told one thing off one member of staff and something else of another member.
I thought we were doing the right thing informing them of changes and this is the thanks.

rachnbri

What benefit are you and your bf claiming? How old are your kids? Is your bf able to work?

I ask because if your bf is fit for work and is claiming JSA and your kids are under 16 then he can claim JSA for himself with you and the children as dependants. In other words he has to sign on every fortnight and be available for work but you do not on the grounds that you are caring for the children. You should have been advised of this at the jobcentre! Also do you/have you claimed child tax credit?

pinkchix

my GP surgery is a shambles, they prefer you to see ur own doc when it comes to medical certs and really make u feel bad when u insist on somethin they dont want to do.
which I guess ill be doing tomorrow lol

pinkchix

I was gettin IS and still getting DLA
BF is getting JSA
Kids are 10 and 5
Not getting anything to do with Child Tax Credits only Child Benefit if thats the same thing lol
was told that if he claimed for me and kids I would need to be actively looking for work as well as him as my youngest is now at school,(they are trying to get all mums working when kids are at school age supposedly)

rachnbri

Sorry but that's rubbish!! You only both have to be looking for work if you are not responsible for any children. I can't find a link to the relevant info but I'll keep trying.

Re child tax credit - on new benefit claims (since2004 I think) they don't pay the allowance for children. You have to claim child tax credit instead. Get on the phone to them for a claim pack (0845 3003900) They will back date for up to 3 months.

I'll try to find a link to the other info

pinkchix

thanks for that rachnbri I had a feeling about that being rubbish, must have read it somewhere 2,but when I mentioned this I was told I was wrong(another example of the social not having a clue!)

rachnbri

Typical - can't find a link. The only bit of info I can find is this:

Joint claims for Jobseeker’s Allowance

[FONT=&quot]If you have a partner who was born after 28 October 1957, you may need to claim JSA as part of a couple (this is called a joint claim).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In a joint claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance, both members of certain couples usually have to claim JSA together, and both people must usually meet all the rules for getting income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. This applies if:[/FONT]

• [FONT=&quot]you, your partner, or both of you are aged 18 or over and were born after 28 October 1957, and[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]neither of you are responsible for a child.[/FONT]

Basically the way it works is this:
A joint claim would apply to a couple without children and both would have to sign and be available etc. If you do have children (as in your case) it would be referred to as a 'partner claim' and only one of you has to be available etc

I can't believe no-one at your jobcentre has been aware of this!! I know we have a reputation for being a bit useless, but I can say, in all honesty, that the majority of the people I have personally worked with have made sure they give people the right info.

You should get down to the jobcentre asap and ask to speak to a manager to get all this sorted out.

Also don't forget your tax credit claim!

pinkchix

Thanks again rachnbri
uve certainly put my mind at rest a little at least.
wot would I do withouth this site!!?

just phoned for my tax credit form.