Benefit cuts timetable

HappyMJ

What cuts are you worried about? You don't look like you are claiming too much...just enough to get by. I doubt it'll change by that much. I know any reduction is bad but you really don't look like you'll be affected too much. Benefit cuts take ages to affect existing claimants..it's virtually never immediate.

You can get help with costs of getting to/from healthcare appointments with consultants that you've referred to see by your GP. http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Travelcosts.aspx

jonnyjackov

HappyMJ wrote: »

What cuts are you worried about? You don't look like you are claiming too much...just enough to get by. I doubt it'll change by that much. I know any reduction is bad but you really don't look like you'll be affected too much. Benefit cuts take ages to affect existing claimants..it's virtually never immediate.

You can get help with costs of getting to/from healthcare appointments with consultants that you've referred to see by your GP. http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Travelcosts.aspx

Thank you for the link, will check it out.

From the rumours I heard I expect to lose £40 a week, £30 reduction in esa and 10% off HB. I know these are just rumours and I need to wait and see, it just seems an awful lot to lose £170 per month. Hopefully it will be less.

pmlindyloo

Whether the welfare reform affects you or not there are things that you can do now.

You will feel better if you have some control over your situation.

First of all your rent. You need to find somewhere cheaper. Is this a possibility?

If you could visit your council and speak to a Housing officer and ask to go on the housing register. It is unlikely that you would get a council place as most areas are very limited in the housing stock available but there is a small chance.

At the same time you could ask about a Discretionary Housing Payment to 'top up' your HB whilst you look for a new place. I expect you are on a fixed term contract and so you need to say that you are actively looking for another place but need help in the meantime until your fixed term ends. (Of course you can ask the landlord to let you out of the contract but not many are happy to do this) Discretionary Housing Payment is under used in our area and hopefully it will be in yours.

Also ask what your local housing allowance is for a one bed place. You will then know what the maximum the council will pay for your rent and can look for places in this range.

Take your benefit award letters and your tenancy agreement so the council have all the facts.

Next have a read of this link:

http://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/money-issues-benefits-employment/personal-independence-payment (Scroll down and click on Resouces:PIP

and consider applying for Personal Independence Payment. You can go to CAB for help with applying and completing the form or a welfare benefits officer (ask at the council if they can signpost you) If you are awarded PIP you would be eligible for more money.

bloolagoon

woodbine wrote: »

sorry if the truth hurts; btw i have mental health issues amongst other stuff,the details of the budget have been well flagged up for weeks now,but i suspect he has some other tricks up his sleeve,if people are frightened it is with good reason,personally I'm scared as well but try not to dwell on it as i can't change any of their evil plans

Well let's see 2 days to go to see.

SailorSam

There was someone talking on Tv about the possibility that WTC will be done away and the difficulties it could present. So it was thought if it should happen only new claimants may find out they're not going to get it, at first. And the people who already received it would be phased out over a period of time.
Thing is nobody knows, it's all speculation.

rogerblack

SailorSam wrote: »

And the people who already received it would be phased out over a period of time.

WTC is _already_ and has already been planned to be phased out for several years now.
The current date at which everyone will move over to universal credit is 2017.

At that point, nobody will be able to make fresh claims, and any existing claims protected by transitional protection will rapidly fall away in most cases due to changes in circumstance.

KxMx

Is your ESA income related? If so, you are eligible to get all health costs automatically free so travel (public transport only usually) to Hospital- but not GP- would be included in that.

You can get hold of some HCT (5) forms and claim afterwards, or on the day, contact the PALS team at the Hospital where you are seen and they will advise you further.

I can't see travel refunds etc being done away with in the Budget but there is a small chance I suppose.

zagfles

OP - please ignore all the politically motivated rubbish. Exactly the same happened 5 years ago with all the usual lot who don't have a clue about benefits putting fear into people. Even after the changes were announced people were posting in panic that they'd lose a load because they read misleading headlines, when in some cases they were even better off!

OK unlikely this time, but a lot of changes could be for new claimants only or could come with transitional protection, and the benefits which have risen the most over the last 10 years are likely to be the ones cut the most (eg CTC).

KxMx

zagfles wrote: »

OP - please ignore all the politically motivated rubbish. Exactly the same happened 5 years ago with all the usual lot who don't have a clue about benefits putting fear into people. Even after the changes were announced people were posting in panic that they'd lose a load because they read misleading headlines, when in some cases they were even better off!

OK unlikely this time, but a lot of changes could be for new claimants only or could come with transitional protection, and the benefits which have risen the most over the last 10 years are likely to be the ones cut the most (eg CTC).

Did £12bn have to come off the welfare bill at the last budget?

Anyone who doesn't think mass cuts which are going to affect a vast number of people are coming are deluding themselves. Nothing to do with politics, more to do with the FACT that so much has to be saved, and that can't be achieved without mass, widespread cuts.

topaztiger1983

I agree with the cuts in the fact that it is not right that someone on benefits can earn nearly twice as much as someone working for NMW, but saying that I do believe that help should be given to the most needy in the community & not people who cant be bothered to work