The Diary Of Onebrokelady Aged 60 And A Half

jwil

Glad you've got an appointment date.  Hope you have a good time with your friend.

Onebrokelady

Had a nice catch up with my friend and someone else we used to work with came too, she still works there but is on holiday this week. It was really nice to catch up and have a good old chin wag 🙂

Before I went out I had a text from the job centre telling me I’ve got a phone appointment tomorrow to talk about my work commitments, so I messaged them to say they had told me I won’t have any work commitments, they messaged me back to say it’s a phone call to replace the one I should have had on Wednesday which was accidentally cancelled 🙄 and its to do with my ESA claim to discuss work commitments 😡. Then when I got home I had a letter telling me they need sick notes for the 27/4 to the 5/5 which I’ve already sent them. So the person who is going to be phoning me tomorrow has drawn the short straw because I’ve now had enough of them and their incompetence. This months statement came through and they aren’t going to pay me again so why do I have to jump through all these hoops. If I don’t get a straight answer tomorrow I’m going to give up and cancel the whole thing and just hope I’m allowed my pension. I can’t keep going with this it’s ridiculous. I’ve done it the benefits calculator again and out the same details in that I put on my claim and it says I should be being paid but they say not 🤷‍♀️

Willowtree222

As annoying as it is, please do not cancel. I know it is mental stress but you are entitled to that support. I hope the person tomorrow manages to sort this for you. 

satchmo1

Instead of cancelling your ESA application, put in a formal complaint. Sorry to say, but they'd much rather you gave up, rather than paying you.

Onebrokelady

I’m just so tired of it all ☹️
I’ve posted one the benefits board and got some really helpful advice on there. I will see what this person has to say tomorrow and I’m going to write down a list of questions so I don to forget what to ask 

Cherryfudge

It makes sense to have a list of questions and write down what they say so they know you have a record of it. Wishing you all the best.

foxgloves

@Onebrokelady - It must be so difficult & annoying trying to navigate the system & I can feel your frustration from here. However, if you are entitled to some money, please try not to give up. You have paid your NI contributions over the years, as have we all, to enable just this sort of help when it's needed. I can understand you feeling like telling them to stuff it, but saving that money is only a win for them, not for you & if there is some financial help to claim, then it can only help you to have it.
I think your idea to write down everything you need/want to ask them is an excellent one. I always do this when dealing with officialdom as although I'm both articulate & assertive, it's always so annoying coming away thinking, "Oh no, why didn't I say that?" & "I forgot to mention X". 
Would the CAB be able to help you wuth navigating this? Apologies if you've already gone down this route, & I know funding cuts for the service have reduced hours & access points over the years. It just sounds to me that you keep getting told conflicting things, which really isn't helpful to your (or anybody's) situation.
I do hope it can be sorted out soon, but please don't give up. You never know when somw extea financial support might come in useful.
F x

slm6002

Keep going.  I have been there and they made my life hell for a while but it was eventually sorted out.  It is stressful and I think they want you to give up so they don't have to pay out sometimes, but if you are entitled to help they should give it.

Onebrokelady

Hi and thanks for the replies I’m not having a good day so just popped in to say my phone call went ok and I don’t have any commitments so that’s good. I asked him my questions but he was a job coach and didn’t know as the ESA people are separate so I will have to phone them. I should get a letter at some point not telling me if I’m entitled to any money so hopefully it will be sorted soon.

I was supposed to be going to DD2s tonight to watch The Thursday Murder Club but she has messaged me to say she’s ill so I can’t go, she might have Covid so I’m staying away. It’s so annoying because she is on AL next week and we had planned to do some days out ☹️ I hope she hasn’t got covid but her ward is full of it so it’s a possibility 

edited to say they still want some medical info so I will wait and see what that entails. I will be able to give them a letter from my consultant after I’ve had my appointment and I also have my scan results I can send. My gp has just signed me off until November and I’ve that form digitally so they do at least have that one and she actually put Pulmonary fibrosis on it this time instead of breathlessness? That ? means query cause in medical jargon so it looked like I didn’t have a diagnosis on the previous sick certs 🙄

Onebrokelady

Cherryfudge said:

It makes sense to have a list of questions and write down what they say so they know you have a record of it. Wishing you all the best.

He couldn’t answer my questions so I’ve got to phone the helpline, I couldn’t face that today so will do it on Monday