Where does a claimant turn to for professional help

NeilCr

aaronlowe wrote: »

Yes, I tried, but wouldn't try again, because I know it doesn't work. That's why I suggest people don't waste their time hoping for an MP to do anything.

This company didn't charge anything. They were a free service and extremely effective. Called CHAI. They seem to only be in Edinburgh so not much help for people not living in Edinburgh. Edinburgh has many excellent services to help people caught up in the system. Other places - not so much.

As much as I like the CAB and every time I have gone to them, the CAB has yet to help me once. This is no criticism of the CAB and might just be a thing that happens in Edinburgh, because there are so many services that are available that are more specialised and quicker to respond than the CAB can be.

My local CAB is only open for 1 day every fortnight. Personally I think that a country that doesn't pay for citizens advice cannot claim to be civilised. That's my personal view. I'm sure many people would disagree and I'm ok with that.

Cool.

Had a look at their website and they look great. I guess they are a charity from the way they set up. I saw your reference to "company" and bridled slightly as I am aware of these organisations that charge for welfare benefits advice.

Totally agree with your last paragraph. CitA gets a bit caught as they provide advice on all sorts of issues - whereas specialists like Shelter and ACAS can be much more specific.,

Danday

Danday wrote: »

You are entirely right. But let's be honest if the government can't find another £385m a year for the NHS, what are the chances of them finding a similar figure to reverse the cuts to Legal Aid?

I do have to be honest I had fantastic service from the CAB back in 2009 when I first claimed ESA and was told that I was fit for work. There was little waiting around to see a case worker and within a couple of weeks she had drafted out my appeal, obtained all of the evidence needed from the GP and had it submitted to the DWP - a couple of weeks later I was told that the DWP had re-looked at the claim and offered the Support Group for three years. I never heard anything more from the DWP until I had to close the claim down when I became 65 in May 2013. Also for years I had let my DLA claim go with low mobility only and did not appeal against it in 2001. Also in 2009 that same case worker questioned the award and suggested that what she knew about me should equate to a much higher award. It only took a few months maybe three when through her hard work she managed to convince the DWP that I should be entitled to High Care & High Mobility.
All in all she took my case on and did a full and thorough review of the benefits that I was receiving.

As I have said the last time I wanted help - none was forthcoming.

I would add one more thing. that is in part relevant. I used to volunteer with a charity called TAXVOL. I had a small area in the county to look after and used to spend about half a day a week helping the aged out with their tax matters. Just before I became 65 and having done this work for a number of years I had to give it up as it was becoming a full time job! The reason I was told was a reduction in the number willing to do the work for nothing and an ever increasing number of clients that needed help.

NeilCr

aaronlowe wrote: »

No, I never said that, and I don't like your trolling. I'm not going to answer your questions just so you can troll more. If you want a serious conversation then do so without allegations and personal insults.

Edit: Upon review I see this reply is to someone else. That doesn't justify it.


I hope your remaining posts can be like this. I don't mind people disagreeing with me but when it comes to personal insults that is trolling and unnecessary.

Actually if you look at the posting history of the person I was responding to you may get more of a sense of why I said what I said. And I always find it's a good idea to read and understand a post I am replying to. As opposed to knee jerking and accusing someone of doing something they haven't.

I am, also, more than happy for you, or, indeed, anyone else, to look at my posts and decide whether or not I am a troll

LilElvis

Whilst I appreciate that many layers of our health and social care systems are at breaking point the State support we have is still much better than millions across the world experience. I've lived in the US where, unless you can pay thousands a month for top notch treatment, you are left with receiving little more than a sticking plaster on the state. I'm currently posting from South Africa where yesterday I paid £35 for Calpol, oral antihistamine, anti-mosquito gel and cooling mousse as our daughter has come down with chickenpox - the maid gets about £12 per day in wages. I'm grateful for what we get, !!!!!!ed though the system might be.

BorisThomson

LilElvis wrote: »

Whilst I appreciate that many layers of our health and social care systems are at breaking point the State support we have is still much better than millions across the world experience. I've lived in the US where, unless you can pay thousands a month for top notch treatment, you are left with receiving little more than a sticking plaster on the state. I'm currently posting from South Africa where yesterday I paid £35 for Calpol, oral antihistamine, anti-mosquito gel and cooling mousse as our daughter has come down with chickenpox - the maid gets about £12 per day in wages. I'm grateful for what we get, !!!!!!ed though the system might be.

It's not a race to the bottom. We should never stop questioning why our country continues to punish the most vulnerable, just because another country has even worse levels of inequality.

poppy12345

aaronlowe wrote: »

No, I never said that, and I don't like your trolling. I'm not going to answer your questions just so you can troll more. If you want a serious conversation then do so without allegations and personal insults.

Edit: Upon review I see this reply is to someone else. That doesn't justify it.


I hope your remaining posts can be like this. I don't mind people disagreeing with me but when it comes to personal insults that is trolling and unnecessary.

Neil isn't the troll here, far from it. However the OP "Dandy" is the troll, not anyone else. A lot of us posters have been here too long to know the same old stories that come from a certain poster.

Danday

poppy12345 wrote: »

Neil isn't the troll here, far from it. However the OP "Dandy" is the troll, not anyone else. A lot of us posters have been here too long to know the same old stories that come from a certain poster.

Let's get this right. I am extremely annoyed that once again you are intent on spoiling a good thread. I don't know what your game is but please abide by the rules of this site and be nice!
I am not a troll and where these so called 'stories' come from I have no idea.

So unless you can contribute to this worthwhile thread in a decent manner please move on and annoy some other individual

I'm off this thread now before it descends further into the abyss.

aaronlowe

poppy12345 wrote: »

Neil isn't the troll here, far from it. However the OP "Dandy" is the troll, not anyone else. A lot of us posters have been here too long to know the same old stories that come from a certain poster.

This does not excuse disrespectful behaviour. People should stick to the topic and not attack a poster just because of who they are. I don't care how long people have been here. They still have to behave.

Alice_Holt wrote: »

Neil, I've now decided to add the OP to my ignore list (along with Rockingbilly, maninasuit, SpideroftheWeb, toooldtocare), so I will never more have to look at Danday's slippery provocations.

There seems to be a concerted effort my several posters to target this individual. I've only been on the forum a few days and have already seen how predatory people behave and even became a victim of it myself as you well know. It's not acceptable. If and when I see it it will not escape being reported. Let's stamp out this bad bahaviour and clean up the forum.

People should stick to the topic of the OP and not resort to personal attacks. That includes making disparaging remarks aimed at individuals. It doesn't matter if you think the person is moaning. That's no excuse to descend into name calling and innuendo.

If you don't agree with this then you better add me to your ignore list right now, because I won't tolerate it.

aaronlowe

NeilCr wrote: »

Thinking of including aaronlowe to that list!

Be my guest. I do not tolerate trolling.

Alice_Holt

aaronlowe wrote: »

I've only been on the forum a few days.

Perhaps then, aaron you shouldn't rush to judgement.

I come on to this forum to help people - here is an example:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5819117

NeilCr, with his background as a CAB volunteer, does the same.