No money for over 18 months

Scuba007

I injured my leg in September 2023 and up losing my job worked all my life for 50+ years never claimed the benefit run out of money went to the job centre wouldn’t help me Told had to wait six months cut  a long story short we’re now in March 2025. Had no heating since 2023 I’ve had no income since September 2023. I’ve been in hospital multiple times had to have operation gone from 12 stone to 7 1/2 stone. Any money that’s put in my account the council took for rent when I told them people put it in for food. Because I don’t have the phone or the Internet. The DWP won’t help me so you’ve got to have a phone but I can’t have a phone or the Internet so I’ve got no money my argument is am owed  benefits from September 23 to March 2025. They’re saying they’ll only backdate it one month but how is that fair when they’ve kept turning me down because I’ve not got to have a phone number if they gave me the money over the  last 18 months I believe it would be about £15,000 which would get me back to normal get me back into work but they won’t give me anything. They said that the best they would backdate one month how is that right or even fair?

Brie

Have you tried talking to citizen's advice?  they are the most likely to be able to assist.  Sounds like you are not saying the right things to get DWP to help you out and CA will know how to phrase things.  And they may be able to get some benefits in place retrospectively back to when you originally applied.  Well worth a try.

You obviously have found an alternative today given that you've posted here.  The usual place to look for free internet and a pc is the library.

Grumpy_chap

Scuba007 said:

I injured my leg in September 2023 and up losing my job worked all my life for 50+ years never claimed the benefit run out of money went to the job centre wouldn’t help me Told had to wait six months cut  a long story short we’re now in March 2025. Had no heating since 2023 I’ve had no income since September 2023. I’ve been in hospital multiple times had to have operation gone from 12 stone to 7 1/2 stone. Any money that’s put in my account the council took for rent when I told them people put it in for food. Because I don’t have the phone or the Internet. The DWP won’t help me so you’ve got to have a phone but I can’t have a phone or the Internet so I’ve got no money my argument is am owed  benefits from September 23 to March 2025. They’re saying they’ll only backdate it one month but how is that fair when they’ve kept turning me down because I’ve not got to have a phone number if they gave me the money over the  last 18 months I believe it would be about £15,000 which would get me back to normal get me back into work but they won’t give me anything. They said that the best they would backdate one month how is that right or even fair?

You say that, up until September 2023, you had worked for 50+ years.  
I assume you were at full time education (school) until at least age 14.
Plus another 18 months since you stopped working.
That makes you now 65 1/2 years old. 
Maybe a bit older if you left school after age 14 and / or the "50+ years" means "51 years" or more.

Current State Pension Age is 66 years.

How old are you?

I am not asking to pry, but because the available benefits change at above or below State Pension Age.

Scuba007

Brie said:

Have you tried talking to citizen's advice?  they are the most likely to be able to assist.  Sounds like you are not saying the right things to get DWP to help you out and CA will know how to phrase things.  And they may be able to get some benefits in place retrospectively back to when you originally applied.  Well worth a try.

You obviously have found an alternative today given that you've posted here.  The usual place to look for free internet and a pc is the library.

I am 63 now. CAB cannot  help because you’ve got to have a phone and the Internet and DWP made it very clear in writing that you have to have the phone they can contact you at any time so now it’s actually 19 months tomorrow with no income numerous times in hospital et cetera et cetera it is crazy. I try and get a computer in the library but that many people want it. I managed to get it twice in over six week period. And literally I’ve got over 1000 emails. I can’t even read because I don’t have enough time. DWP made it clear that you cannot backdate more than one month. My argument is I’m owed 19 months and they refused point blank and say it would be a month maximum. That’s the rules regardless. Trust me, 19 months, I’ve been fighting this

Scuba007

Grumpy_chap said:

Scuba007 said:

I injured my leg in September 2023 and up losing my job worked all my life for 50+ years never claimed the benefit run out of money went to the job centre wouldn’t help me Told had to wait six months cut  a long story short we’re now in March 2025. Had no heating since 2023 I’ve had no income since September 2023. I’ve been in hospital multiple times had to have operation gone from 12 stone to 7 1/2 stone. Any money that’s put in my account the council took for rent when I told them people put it in for food. Because I don’t have the phone or the Internet. The DWP won’t help me so you’ve got to have a phone but I can’t have a phone or the Internet so I’ve got no money my argument is am owed  benefits from September 23 to March 2025. They’re saying they’ll only backdate it one month but how is that fair when they’ve kept turning me down because I’ve not got to have a phone number if they gave me the money over the  last 18 months I believe it would be about £15,000 which would get me back to normal get me back into work but they won’t give me anything. They said that the best they would backdate one month how is that right or even fair?

You say that, up until September 2023, you had worked for 50+ years.  
I assume you were at full time education (school) until at least age 14.
Plus another 18 months since you stopped working.
That makes you now 65 1/2 years old. 
Maybe a bit older if you left school after age 14 and / or the "50+ years" means "51 years" or more.

Current State Pension Age is 66 years.

How old are you?

I am not asking to pry, but because the available benefits change at above or below State Pension Age.

I am 63. Yes I was in full-time medication and left school basically on my 15th birthday just the way it’s worked I think I meant I’ve been working since I was 12 in a paper round and everything else that’s the point. It was making. Sorry about that. I think my maths messed it up a bit.

Muttleythefrog

You clearly need someone to help you administratively...and seem to be struggling to engage anyone... is there anyone you know who can bridge the gap to help you get help... a friend, neighbour, relative (I note people seem to be giving you money for food but that's not solving your longer term issues)? Troublingly your situation is only going to get worse... without money you can't afford a basic phone etc to manage your affairs... a basic smartphone could cost very little (.. and you can get broadband out and about, especially if you live in urban areas, for free while I've just gotten an unlimited calls and text package with 10GB data for £4.49 a month and no credit check.. some people will sit in a Wetherspoons drinking unlimited hot beverages for around £1.50 while doing admin with free wifi). Some key sensible decisions or help to overcome this paralysed situation is necessary... you talk about fighting for 19 months but I fear you're throwing your punches in the wrong direction and will burn out. 
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/    try them for any local support.

Grumpy_chap

I agree that it would be helpful if the OP could have some administrative assistance to help them with IT.  The OP says they have difficulty getting access to the PCs at the local library.  Could that be easier if the OP changed the time they visit?
Are there other places with public access PC's?  Our local Job Centre has PCs available and so does the local college (adult education college, not mixing with the teenagers).  Failing that, are there any internet cafes?  I know they charge, but if the access is possible that might be worth paying for.

If the OP has been working from the age of 15 after leaving school through to 62 ish, the OP may be able to claim nJSA even if not eligible for UC.
Another possible source of income now, given the OP's current age (63), would be to consider pension access.  That should be properly considered as having pension income / drawdown may impact eligibility for any means tested benefits and also impact future retirement income.  Just putting it as an option to consider.