Incapacity Benefit stopped

Batty_3

Please bear with me as I'm posting this on behalf of a friend who has limited net access and she is asking on behalf of someone who has NO net access, so I am getting this third-hand (so to speak)

This is what my friend sent me, knowing I was registered on this forum:

I have a question if anyone can help. My friend claims Incapacity Benefit, and she has just found out it has been stopped following some malious phone call to say she has been working which I know for difinate she hasnt. They have told her they wont pay her until they have investigated it throughly and that could be weeks and weeks, in the mean time she has no money coming in and nothing to live on.
She asked them if she can get a crisis loan and they said no because her benefits have been stopped.
She is freaking out because as I said she has no money. And according to them she isnt entitled to any. Surely she must be some how does anyone have any idea ? because I have looked and cant find anything. "

Has anyone any ideas please? Is this a job for CAB?

Thanks

Batty x

Mojisola

Are you sure that there isn't more to this? I didn't think that the benefit would be stopped before an investigation.

If she has no money coming in, she must be entitled to claim Income Support. If the IB is reinstated, it will be backdated minus any IS which has been paid.

stazi

Your friend needs to contact the JCP Benefit Centre ASAP and ask for the written reasons why the IB has been suspended.

As Mojisola says, it would not normally just be stopped like that until/unless the Fraud section had investigated it first. However, to correct Mojisola, 'she must be entitled to claim Income Support', this may not be entirely correct.

allen35

I don't know how other people feel but IMO after filling in a GL24 appeal paper you will then be entitled to a reduced payment of Income Support and be backdated if appeal is successful or you may sign on for Jobseekers Allowance without it affecting appeal.

It seems peculiar without strong evidence that benefits will be suspended without having an interview with the fraud team.

I think your friend should appeal and call up for reasons but be aware you only have a month to appeal without good reason, from the date at the top of the initial decision.

stazi

allen35

You cannot appeal using a GL24 until a Decision Maker has made a decision.

If a decision has been made it would have been posted to the customer, who would know why what has happened. The OP has not mentioned that a decision has been made and notified to the friend.

If benefit has only been suspended, there is no right of appeal.

As I said, the OP needs to find out why the IB has been suspended.

allen35

Thanks Stazi

I was thinking as the info is third hand and maybe not as clear as thought a GL24 wouldn't harm but obviously asking for reasons, if not already posted to claimant, should be asked for but I still feel a suspension of benefit is very harsh without good evidence and asking client to an interview. I understand an appeal can't be made against a suspension and would have to be a refusal.

Sugarfree_Babe

I thought in this country one was innocent until proven guilty. Has that changed?

maytaurus

I can definately state that all it takes is a phone call,
this happened to me twice some years ago when I was on Inc Ben and lived next door to the neighbour from hell !
(A long list of officials will act on a phone call, I was even visited by the police and environmental office for a barking dog complaint when I never had a dog)