What problems do you face when benefits are delayed or underpaid?

giddypenguin

This thread just proves how out of touch our government are...

missapril75

pmlindyloo wrote: »

What is missing is the fact that there is currently no system in place that will provide money in these circumstances immediately. Hence the rise in food banks.

That's an excellent point.

I remember the previous system whereby the reduced rate was automatically paid instead of the full rate. There was a 40% reduction in the personal allowance part of benefit. If there was a health issue or no other resource (money in the bank) then it was a 20% reduction. In many ways that was preferable and struck a meaningful balance.


However, with today's regime I'd be concerned that reduced but readily available benefit might make for an "easy" sanction decision in borderline cases.

mattcanary

pmlindyloo wrote: »

This isn't going to happen.

This is tax payers money that we are talking about and if the sanction is proved to be justified then there may be problems with the money being repaid. There will always be (IMHO) an onus for the claimant to prove that a mistake has been made/good reason for the sanction.. The money will then be backdated.

What is missing is the fact that there is currently no system in place that will provide money in these circumstances immediately. Hence the rise in food banks.

The ability to receive food is, in reality, the only priority that anyone in this situation needs. Any other expenditure is non priority. The questions asked when applying for any of the financial help are detailed. Help from family members is always queried.

I also agree that mistakes are made and this can be very frustrating. The DWP and other departments are no different from any other 'company'.

What I strongly advocate is the opportunity for benefit claimants to be able to get quick and accessible help for any problems.

Contact from your MP usually produces incredibly quick results. CAB also has tremendous success in sorting things out. This is, I believe, because these people carry some 'weight' when dealing with benefits departments. Contact from an MP/CAB/welfare advisors are usually passed to someone far senior than the front line staff who often are inadequately trained to deal with anything that requires more than 'pushing a key on a computer screen'.

The sad thing is that many councils are now doing away with face to face help because of costs. if this becomes more prevalent nationwide then things will only get worse, especially for vulnerable people who need that face to face support.

I am unsure why this post has been put here. There is so much statistical information out there from individual complainants through their MP/CAB/welfare advisor to the administrators of food banks etc etc etc.

It does not take a super brain to work out how to improve services - more staff/better trained staff/computer systems that work/more face to face help..... I could go on.

I fear this is just another face saving exercise so that the public feel involved and we are 'all in this together'.

Not always true. Having internet access is a priority if you are on JSA. Electric and gas are a priority in the winter if you have prepayment meters.

Browntoa

consistancy would be good

Someone I know on housing benefit lives in the same house and has done for ages , each review by a housing officer claims either an underpayment or overpayment of benefit

There's no changes in their income or circumstances on each occasion to explain the round robin of calculation errors on the benefit

HappyMJ

mattcanary wrote: »

Not always true. Having internet access is a priority if you are on JSA. Electric and gas are a priority in the winter if you have prepayment meters.

A basic telephone service is also a priority. Although public telephones still exist having a cheap PAYG mobile to make/receive calls can be much cheaper than using a public phone at 60p a call for up to 15 minutes.

Delays in payments are a major problem for those with no savings at all. I personally can manage quite a few months with no income at all but if I had no savings then the bills won't get paid. I'd get charges on those bills for late payment which would reduce my future disposable income even further making the situation even worse. As I would have late payment markers on my credit file it will make it more difficult and more expensive to credit in the future. Credit is needed for so many things that it's nearly essential to keep a good credit record.

pmlindyloo

mattcanary wrote: »

Not always true. Having internet access is a priority if you are on JSA. Electric and gas are a priority in the winter if you have prepayment meters.

Free internet access can be found at libraries/Job Centres/council offices.

If you ring your utility company they can extend the emergency credit.

You will not get any extra charges for debts if you ring the company and explain the situation. They are usually very understanding and should allow a month's grace while things are being sorted. DDs should be cancelled so extra charges are not put on. Rent arrears can be paid back when you receive your back payments. No landlord can evict for rent arrears unless you are in two months arrears.

Keeping in contact with people that you owe money to is usually met with a sympathetic response.

I am not making light of the situation. Things need to improve and get more efficient. I am merely trying to explain how only food is considered a priority and everything else can wait or be managed.

restless6

If a payment is delayed, direct debits etc still leave your bank account and then you get charged extra by the bank for not being able to pay them.

The DSS or whatever they are called nowadays should refund these bank charges to people who can prove they were as a result of delayed benefit payments.

LoveLifeAgain

mattcanary wrote: »

Not always true. Having internet access is a priority if you are on JSA. Electric and gas are a priority in the winter if you have prepayment meters.

I was just about to post that if someone is on a pre-payment key meter then this is equally as important, a working fridge along with hot water is a necessity for washing dishes and yourself, imagine if you have a job appointment and cannot get yourself or clothes clean or put the light on to see if you are dressed properly on a winter's morning :eek:
A minimum payment should be made each week and an investigation done as quickly as possible whilst waiting and of course the need to keep a roof over your head.


Have to add that I am retired, never been on JSA but can see the problems, just wonder why those who make the decisions can not.

pmlindyloo

LoveLifeAgain wrote: »

I was just about to post that if someone is on a pre-payment key meter then this is equally as important, a working fridge along with hot water is a necessity for washing dishes and yourself, imagine if you have a job appointment and cannot get yourself or clothes clean or put the light on to see if you are dressed properly on a winter's morning :eek:
A minimum payment should be made each week and an investigation done as quickly as possible whilst waiting and of course the need to keep a roof over your head.


Have to add that I am retired, never been on JSA but can see the problems, just wonder why those who make the decisions can not.

It is difficult isn't it? We all take things for granted and these days have an expectation of what are the necessities of life.

I do agree to some point but we are generally not talking about living like this for months/years.

As already said there are things in place for people to get emergency credit on their prepayment meters but in any case how do people survive when there are power cuts. In some cases these can go on for weeks. We had a power cut for a while (during December) and we managed. Inconvenient, yes, life threatening, no.

Fatherof2mids

pmlindyloo wrote: »

It is difficult isn't it? We all take things for granted and these days have an expectation of what are the necessities of life.

I do agree to some point but we are generally not talking about living like this for months/years.

As already said there are things in place for people to get emergency credit on their prepayment meters but in any case how do people survive when there are power cuts. In some cases these can go on for weeks. We had a power cut for a while (during December) and we managed. Inconvenient, yes, life threatening, no.

Even just 3 days without electricity or gas during winter could be life threatening to many groups.