Can anyone help? I'm in an absolute mess

TimeCapsule

I'm on ESA and in the Support Group. My payment is due every other Monday. But my payment did not arrive yesterday or today. I just rang up the DWP and the person I spoke to said there is nothing wrong with my claim but that there was a computer error that meant my payment wasn't "released". She tried to release it herself but got a computer error again.

So I have 50p in my purse and no available cash in my bank. All I've got in the fridge is 2 apples. I've got no electricity either. I'm quite scared. Being on benefits I live hand to mouth and don't have savings or a partner or family. The woman at the DWP said somebody will call me back within 3 hours and she claims they will make a payment direct into my bank account at some point today. But will they really?

I'm shaking like a leaf. I can survive on no food for a day or two but I'm not sure how much longer before I'd feel quite ill?

Also, my ESA claim was meant to be up for renewal last month. I asked the DWP woman about it and she said they've now decided to keep me on ESA for another two years after getting some kind of medical report from my doctor. I was not invited to fill in a form or attend a medical. Does all this sound weird to you? It does to me.

giddypenguin

I don't have any direct experience of this, but didn't want to read and run, where abouts are you? Do you have contact with any professionals who can give out food bank vouchers? At least then you could get some food if you don't get your money today.

Really hope this can get sorted for you soon, I'm sure someone much better will be along in a minute who can give you some better advice. In the meantime try and breathe and stay calm -this will get sorted soon xx

fed_up_and_stressed

Your council may have a hardship fund .. Contact them for advice.

TimeCapsule

Thanks for bothering to reply Giddypenguin. I'm calming down a bit. After decades of being a fairly well paid professional I'm finding it so hard to adapt to living like this. I'm in a right state but trying to think clearly. I've no idea how I'd apply for food bank vouchers but I'll try Googling it. I guess it's also possible the DWP are being truthful and really will have the payment in my bank account by today.

HappyMJ

TimeCapsule wrote: »

I'm on ESA and in the Support Group. My payment is due every other Monday. But my payment did not arrive yesterday or today. I just rang up the DWP and the person I spoke to said there is nothing wrong with my claim but that there was a computer error that meant my payment wasn't "released". She tried to release it herself but got a computer error again.

So I have 50p in my purse and no available cash in my bank. All I've got in the fridge is 2 apples. I've got no electricity either. I'm quite scared. Being on benefits I live hand to mouth and don't have savings or a partner or family. The woman at the DWP said somebody will call me back within 3 hours and she claims they will make a payment direct into my bank account at some point today. But will they really?

I'm shaking like a leaf. I can survive on no food for a day or two but I'm not sure how much longer before I'd feel quite ill?

Also, my ESA claim was meant to be up for renewal last month. I asked the DWP woman about it and she said they've now decided to keep me on ESA for another two years after getting some kind of medical report from my doctor. I was not invited to fill in a form or attend a medical. Does all this sound weird to you? It does to me.

Hopefully your local food bank is open today. My local one is only open Wednesday's. Do you have a social worker? I'd get onto them and ask for a food parcel.

Going forward you really need to get some savings sorted so you can at the very least last a month with no payments. It'll mean cutting back on a lot of things you might consider essential such as a TV licence so you can save some part of your ESA. You might need to negotiate with your landlord to reduce the rent for a while. You have to stop paying any creditors you have and get that food cupboard filled with some food to last a month.

How about going to a CAB office today and explaining what's happened? They can give out very low value vouchers which you can use to buy food.

If you get a voucher then I'd have a chat with the manager at the supermarket saying how grateful you would be if you can have some of the almost ready to be binned food in exchange for that voucher (ask if the manager if they can get some set aside before the yellow stickers go on it and before the vultures get their hands on it). That'll all have to eaten tomorrow though but it's something.

pmlindyloo

TimeCapsule wrote: »

I'm on ESA and in the Support Group. My payment is due every other Monday. But my payment did not arrive yesterday or today. I just rang up the DWP and the person I spoke to said there is nothing wrong with my claim but that there was a computer error that meant my payment wasn't "released". She tried to release it herself but got a computer error again.

So I have 50p in my purse and no available cash in my bank. All I've got in the fridge is 2 apples. I've got no electricity either. I'm quite scared. Being on benefits I live hand to mouth and don't have savings or a partner or family. The woman at the DWP said somebody will call me back within 3 hours and she claims they will make a payment direct into my bank account at some point today. But will they really?

I'm shaking like a leaf. I can survive on no food for a day or two but I'm not sure how much longer before I'd feel quite ill?

Also, my ESA claim was meant to be up for renewal last month. I asked the DWP woman about it and she said they've now decided to keep me on ESA for another two years after getting some kind of medical report from my doctor. I was not invited to fill in a form or attend a medical. Does all this sound weird to you? It does to me.

First of all it is usual for payments to be made direct into your bank in these cases. They often send a text to confirm this so watch out for that.

Just in case there is a mess up you can either go to the Job Centre and get a food voucher or CAB will direct you to the Salvation Army or similar. (CAB might also call the Job Centre for you to speed up the process)

Ring your utility company and explain the situation. They are able to put some emergency credit on your meter.

TimeCapsule

I've already got rid of my TV licence and TV. I've sold everything I have of value. I'm in £1 a month arrangements with some of my creditors. There's not anything left that I could shave off my outgoings now apart from getting rid of the internet. There is no way in hell my landlord's reducing my rent. I've had to fight hard just to get them to keep it at the same rent for the past 2 years. I will speak to my doctor about the idea of doing Permitted Work though moving forward. He's said you are allowed to earn £25 a week while on ESA. I can try phone sex work or something along those lines.

Can the CAB food vouchers be used at any supermarket?

TimeCapsule

pmlindyloo wrote: »

First of all it is usual for payments to be made direct into your bank in these cases. They often send a text to confirm this so watch out for that.

Just in case there is a mess up you can either go to the Job Centre and get a food voucher or CAB will direct you to the Salvation Army or similar. (CAB might also call the Job Centre for you to speed up the process)

Ring your utility company and explain the situation. They are able to put some emergency credit on your meter.

Yes the woman I spoke to said that in this case they will be able to send a Faster Payment through to my bank account before the end of today. I guess she's got no reason to lie? IF the money really does arrive in my bank account today that is fine as I would be able to buy groceries on my debit card and top up my electric meter.

pmlindyloo

Our CAB office directs you to a food bank run by a charity (they have to refer you) but it may be different in other areas.

Since you are in the Support Group you may be eligible for Personal Independent Payment? Have you applied? CAB could help you with the forms.

Look up the descriptors. It is awarded for care/mobility needs and is not means tested and you can work.

By the way, you can be awarded ESA on renewal without going to a face to face assessment, based on medical reposts, so that is good news. If you don't receive a letter about this you will have to phone (but that can be left for a while)

TimeCapsule

When I called at 8am the DWP said something about the Processing Team not opening until 9am. So I just called back and a very rude man told me he's got no idea if I will receive any money at all at any point.. I asked him if something is wrong with my claim or if it's been stopped or anything. He said nothing is wrong with the claim and that he's no idea why it hasn't been paid or if it will be paid at all. As you can imagine I'm now in a terrible state.

My nearest CAB is not even in walking distance. I live in London and have no car and no money for bus or train fare. I'm starting to feel suicidal.

HappyMJ

TimeCapsule wrote: »

I've already got rid of my TV licence and TV. I've sold everything I have of value. I'm in £1 a month arrangements with some of my creditors. There's not anything left that I could shave off my outgoings now apart from getting rid of the internet. There is no way in hell my landlord's reducing my rent. I've had to fight hard just to get them to keep it at the same rent for the past 2 years. I will speak to my doctor about the idea of doing Permitted Work though moving forward. He's said you are allowed to earn £25 a week while on ESA. I can try phone sex work or something along those lines.

Can the CAB food vouchers be used at any supermarket?

To me food is more important than rent. I'd just pay £20 a month less in rent and spend that on food and wait for the LL to take action. Tell them how much you need the money and they might just accept it. In any case they aren't going to take action quickly for a low amount of arrears.

Depends on your local CAB some give out vouchers some refer you to someone else (which you've then got to make another appointment and travel to defeating the whole point of it all) some just sympathize and don't do anything at all.