Frump to Fab 2017 - A Whole New World

maman

sugarbaby125 wrote: »

If I am not too tired on Sunday, then I will be returning to Karaoke on Sunday evening.

After reading about all your problems sugarbaby that last bit really cheered me up on your behalf. It's great that you can find something to take your mind off things and it does mean that physically you must be feeling a bit better.:)


I do hope your appeal is successful. It's so infuriating when the odds seem against you but it sounds like you've been very efficient gathering all the evidence quickly.


I took a look at some images of Eltham Palace chanie. It looks great. I love Art Deco. We have a lovely dining table and chairs in that style. DH would love one of the sideboards/china cabinets to go with them but I couldn't cope with anything with glass doors. I need to be able to hide stuff! You're right we have far too much.;)



Hope you're feeling OK LL. It must have been a difficult week.:A


I lost a couple of pounds this week but still have a way to go to get back to my pre holiday weight. I'm really focusing hard on the healthy eating. It's my wedding anniversary on Sunday. We're planning to go out for the day so that will involve eating out. I'm looking forward to it but need to make sure I eat super healthy around it to allow for a few treats:).

indiepanda

sugarbaby125 wrote: »

I had to gather all the supporting evidence that I could get together quickly to prove that I was not in receipt of a weekly occupational pension, as they were stating as fact on my Benefit Notification Letter.

I did release just over £4500 I had in a pension plan in April 2017 when I turned 55 years old. I have saved £4,000 in 2 savings accounts. Lambeth Council seem to be suggesting that even though this money is my only savings, that because it came from me redeeming my pension plan, they are entitled to spread it across the year from 3rd April 2017 to 4th April 2018 and treat it as an occupational pension. Yet the upper limit for savings is £16.000 that affects your right to claim Benefits, so I am not sure why Lambeth Council have taken this stance, so I have to challenge their decision.
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Sorry to hear this, must be very stressful. There's a fact sheet at the link below, which also has some links to other information sources. Suggests anyone releasing money from their pension savings pot who is in receipt of state benefits is required to tell DWP / the local authority so they can decide how to adjust benefits accordingly. I believe this was introduced when the option to access pension savings without buying an annuity a few years ago, primary aim is to stop people using their pension savings up early and then relying on state benefits which they wouldn't have been entitled to if they bought an annuity as regulation previously required.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417473/pension-flexibilities-dwp-benefits.pdf

Does seem a bit odd they are treating it as if your savings from the pension could have been spend over just one year - the example in the factsheet seems to imply they should have worked out what annuity the savings would have bought, which is much lower. I would try speaking to pension wise to get more info. https://www.pensionwise.gov.uk/en

lessonlearned

Hello lovely ladies.....

Sorry I have been awol. Yes Maman it's been a very trying week. Yesterday's was extremely difficult but it's over.....I do feel a bit better today. In fact must of the time I am ok, it's the "red letter" days that are problematical. I guess these things just take time.

SUgarbaby......I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I do hope you get it sorted out soon.

Not much news. I am going away for a few days next week, visiting a friend. I think a change of scene will do me good.

[Deleted User]

Hello folks, I would like to join you if I may. Needing some inspiration. Will head off and read over the thread so far

chanie

sugar I hope you get your appeal sorted.

ll pleased you are feeling better, after yesterday's anniversary. Sorry, I forgot to mention it in my last post

maman I hope you have a nice anniversary. Well done on the weight loss

We had a chilled day at home day, but popped out to run a few errands in preparation for our holiday. Am now focussing on DDs autumn/winter wardrobe. My mum often buys lots of clothes for the children but this year she gave me some money for DD and its been fun choosing them myself.

I've also started packing - me and OH pack lightly when we go away. We spend most of our time by the pool anyway, so don't need much. Plus I hate the washing and unpacking when we get back.

ScarlettMcCain

OH is out at the pub and the babies are (currently!) asleep, I will finally try to catch up with you all!! We've been on holiday for a few days and then DS1 fell over on our return, cut his lip and chipped one of his front teeth, he has been a subdued little boy ever since

LL, I'm glad that you are feeling a bit better, and hope that you will enjoy a little break away; I saw that you are planning some 'winter cosiness'. my recommendations would be candles, snuggly blankets and hot water bottles plus things like bird feeders for the garden - lovely to watch all the birds merrily eating away - and stocking up on Kindle books too, for reading via the iPad. A lot of libraries (mine included) have books you can borrow online, very MSE! I haven't watched any GoT episodes yet but have read all the books, although of course the TV has now overtaken them..... OH loves the TV show, we've just taken out a Now TV subscription for him to watch it. Of course now he is claiming that he needs a new TV to watch it on, as you can only view Now TV on LG TVs and ours is Sony - he wants an enormous LG TV to replace ours!

I think we have similar taste in books Lainey - I'm currently enjoying the St Mary's series by Jodi Taylor, have you tried those? Time travel themed and very entertaining! The first one is only 99p on Kindle at the moment if you want to give them a go.


Sorry to hear about your health problems savingfortomorrow and MaddieMay - I have a relative with polymyalgia rheumatica which is also very painful, and she has been told that there is very little which can be done to help, as the only medication available is steroids which of course come with their own side effects. SFT, I was prescribed extra iron tablets after blood tests for tiredness, perhaps that would help you too? You can buy them without prescription anyway if required (cheaper too if you have to pay for prescriptions!) - I have ferrous fumarate.


Ah handbags! Mine can be used as cross body, backpack or handbag, has loads of pockets and is wipe clean, I love it!! Probably a bit bigger than most of you need though: http://www.peanutandpiglet.co.uk/store/p23/Piglet_Twin_Changing_Bag.html


Lovely to catch up on your plans and goings-on indie. I hope you enjoy any dates you have planned I may have missed it, but how did things end up with your 'flaky' friend? I think sugarbaby may be right about my friend, she cancels on me so often that I wonder if actually she can't be bothered to meet up (although if we met at a party or whatever then we would have a great time!); she's suggested meeting up over the bank holiday weekend, we shall see..... she doesn't have kids and I don't think understands how difficult it is for me to arrange things in the first place, I have another couple of friends who have been the same. It made me a bit sad on my birthday actually as none of them made an effort with presents (and it was my 40th!) - I know I can't meet up often, but I do always send birthday cards and buy presents which I know they'll like. LL's comment about women becoming butterflies once their kids go to school and they have more free time was a revelation to me, I definitely think that will be the case for me.


Oh sugarbaby, what a terrible thing to happen with your benefits, I will have everything crossed that it is sorted out very soon for you. It is a testimony to you that you do have savings squirreled away and had a pension too, many people I know have never bothered with either. I know Citizens Advice would help you and I'm sure some of the debt advice charities such as Stepchange (https://www.stepchange.org/) would be willing to help too. I was going to say too that I'm with you about Skechers, I love them but can't justify the cost, but have bought two similar pairs from Pr!mark (one for indoors and one for outdoors!) for £8 each. I do have to buy them a size larger than usual but who cares for that price?!


Not much more news from me (I know this has been a very long post!) - I'm definitely feeling fat and frumpy but my latest exercise attempts have left me with a sore stomach, I think from tearing the muscles during pregnancy. I haven't ventured back to WW/ SW or even onto the scales, just can't find the motivation. I do walk lots and lots (14K steps per day on average) but it's not enough..... I'm waiting for the next Sainsbugs sale to buy a few bits, new bras etc, as they do some decent basics.


In happier news I've sent the money to my debt charity to (hopefully!!) pay off my debt, they have enough to offer 75% to all my creditors, which with any luck will be acceptable. It would be amazing to finally get rid of that!


For our Frump to Fab Posse meeting, the only places I know well in Covent Garden are Fire & Stone or All Bar One, if either of those would be good?


http://fireandstone.com/
http://www.allbarone.co.uk/national-search/london/all-bar-one-henrietta-street/food


I'm happy to send my email details to Floss if that's the best way to organise our get together


Apologies to anyone I may have missed but hope everyone has a fab weekend! xx

chanie

ruby your poor little man. I hope he gets back to his normal self soon.

I'm pleased you mentioned the Sainsbury sale ruby as I popped back on say to say that I think it's starting either this Tuesday or the Tuesday after. Both dates clash with my holiday, so I'm just trying yo work out the logistics of my order. I'm eyeing up some boots (my size sell out quickly) plus a school coat for DD.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

I have vast experience of human error in the Benefits system, so I already knew what to do and to gather all the relevant evidence that I needed to ask for the decision to be looked at again, which is a Review. I am not doing an Appeal at this stage, because the decision could be reversed now that I have provided detailed information about my personal finances, with supporting evidence for each fact I am making. Only if I fail at this stage, would I then have to do an Appeal. I only had 28 days from the date of the letter to ask for the decision to be looked at again and a new Benefit Notification Letter to be sent to me, or an explanation of why the decision will stand as it is. The way it works with Lambeth Council is once someone has signed for my Recorded Delivery package, it will then take another 5-7 days before it will have been deemed to have be officially received and logged onto the computer. Only once this has happened will they then assign another person to look at the decision again. I will have to keep phoning to ensure that they are actually processing my Review in the correct time frame. Gentle pressure has to be politely applied or I could be waiting far too long before a decision is made either way.

As I am only working part time and only in term time, I have to send each wage slip every month to Lambeth Council asking for my Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support to be reviewed. This is because my salary fluctuates every month and in the long summer break I receive no salary in August. If I did not do this then I would invariably be overpaid or underpaid Benefits.

As a very experienced claimant, I was aware that the Inland Revenue would have to inform Lambeth Council that I had redeemed my pension as a 'small lump sum' payment as they had a legal obligation to do so. I therefore as a claimant of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support did not also need to inform Lambeth Council. All government departments are legally obliged to share information on claimants to prevent over payment of Benefits or fraudulent benefit claims.

Indie I have no other personal pension. I only had that small amount in the one pension plan and less than 2 hundred pounds in savings. I have a sister who is a HR consultant and she concurred with me that the decision to divide the £4,5000 into a 52 week personal pension is incorrect, as I am not able to retire until I am 67, so technically, this 'small lump sum' has to last me for 12 years not 1 year. Lambeth Council only had the right to divide this 'small lump sum' over 624 weeks not 52 weeks which would be a weekly pension of £7.26 which would not have affected my claim for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

LL I am sorry that this has not been a good week for you, but this is understandable when it is the anniversary of your husband's death. I hope you will feel a lot better once you are in the company of your friend. :grouphug:

Ruby it is lovely to have a nice long update from you once again. I hope your son will soon be back to his happy, contented self. It is a shame you were not surrounded by good friends on your 40th birthday Ruby.

Ruby, as I only had 28 days to gather evidence and ask for a Review or an Appeal, I simply did not have time to consult with any organisations that would have given me advice. In the past, I have found that I usually have far more experience of the Benefits system and my rights as a claimant than an Adviser in an organisation like Citizen's Advice Centre.

If I do have to go down the Appeal route it will be a long drawn out legal process over months. This would not be my 1st or even 2nd Appeal that I would prepare and fight on my own, but I will be happy to fight my corner with Lambeth Council once again.

LaineyT

Morning my lovelies,

Sugarbaby you sound like you have a very firm hand on the situation ( no surprise there ) will keep digits crossed that LC see sense.

Ruby ooh must admit have not heard of that author/series of books, will add to ever growing list

Maman well done on the weight loss, mine has also stalled over the last couple of weeks, haven't gained any just haven't lost, so need to crack on again.

LL sorry that your week has been so tough, you are an amazing lady with such a positive attitude so I know that will pull yourself up by bootstraps and enjoy time with your friend, sending hugs x

Will pm you my contact details Floss looking forward to the meet up already.

Well, not feeling so fab this morning as have woken up with a sore and itchy left eye, am hoping that it's not conjunctivitis by luck there is some medicated drops in the fridge from a problem that OH had a couple of weeks ago so have popped some in, fingers crossed they work. We are meant to be going horse racing again this afternoon but will see how the eye feels. It's not a 'big' meeting so haven't purchased any tickets yet so no money wasted if we don't go but I was looking forward to an afternoon out.
I did get into Cambridge for a haircut and colour on Thursday so blissful couple of hours sitting down and being pampered, my revised style is gradually growing into place and have to say like it very much. It's long enough at the sides now so I can tuck it behind my ears to change my look and a good shape into my neck at the back. It's funny how just knowing your hair looks good can have such a positive effect on your confidence and make you feel more 'together'.
Clothes wise I haven't really been buying much, a couple of new bras in the JL sale but that's about it. I do have a small list of needs/wants for AW17 so will keep my budget in place for them and as always an eye out for a bargain.
Right time to get the coffee on, am thinking scrambled eggs for breakfast, yum.
Love to all x

Floss

LL I too struggle on the anniversaries of my parents deaths - they each died within a couple of weeks of the others birthday too, which makes for an even more difficult time.

Chanie thanks for the Sainsbobs heads-up, have they got much more of the autumn stuff online?

Also ladies, if you can pm me your email addresses then I will set up a mailing group for the Big Day Out