Generally fed up with benefit and crisis loan system!

punkgirlyuk

I am getting really peed off with IS and Crisis loans.
Firstly I am on IB and split from my partner in Nov 07 so applied for IS. My ex-partner stayed the house as he needed to save up money for deposit etc. Explained all of this and got my forms to sign and send back, sent back 8th Dec, due to xmas and strikes etc I rang in January to chase it up. Told that my forms were never received, after a little chasing up found they were received by Jobcentre on 12/12 and sent to decision makers on 18/12 but not received by them. Sent new forms to fill out and these were received by them on 22/01. My claim has still not been sorted. My ex is still living here as he has had a couple of places fall through and i need his money/support while claim going through (not that he gives much!). Also when i ring up it sounds like i'm going to have to fight them to back date to Nov!
Secondly I have had to get £20 Crisis loan for food last month and again this month. They told me that I wont be allowed another if is spend all my money like that (I told them my last IB had gone on rent/food/council tax/bt/tv!) And my claim form for a loan asa I have no cocker has been lost, this has now been a month with no cooker!

punkgirlyuk

If you read the first line of my post you will see that I am on IB, this is due to depression and a muscle disorder. I have applied for dla and twice been turned down. I have looked for a 15hr job that I can do as permitted work but as soon as they read my patchy work history I don't hear from people that I give my CV to. Also I can only apply for jobs that don't involve a lot of walking/lifting/mornings.

ALIBOBSY

If your partner is staying with you and paying rent you may well find this claim will have been reffered to the dec makers to look at if you are to be treated as "living together" or not. They usually ask for a visiting officer to come out to see you if there is any doubt at all. Given the situation you describe, with him paying you money and your previous relationship they may class you as having a financial link and disallow your claim. Is he working or on benefits himself? If working you will probably not get any IS if unemployed you would probably have to claim JSA as a couple. If the JC can confirm they rec the claim on 12/12 you should at least be able to apply for backdating to this date. With your new set of forms did you claim for backdating?
Claims only go to dec makers if they have an issue on them that needs looking at. If they are straight forward they usually get processed on the sections by the processors without refferal to the office dec makers. For the purposes of that claim the processor is the legal "dec maker". The office dec makers are the next grade of staff up and look at more complex cases.
ali x

jetcat

to the op, i do hope you get all this sorted, as i know how annoying/worrying it can be! i also hope that you get maybe a tad more support on this site in future!

from my experience, i have found that a trip to see the local MP (when they have their open surgery) with all the info usually is worthwhile. ask the MP why you have to wait so long, as it is affecting your health. also, do you have anyone supporting you re your health issues - maybe they could chase it up for you - it is sooooo wrong but when a professional gets involved - 'lost' forms can get 'found'!!!

like i say, i hope you get it sorted soon

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi punkygirluk

I've removed a few posts for obvious reasons. Hopefully you'll get some useful help for your situation now.

Take care

Andrea

healy

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Hi punkygirluk

I've removed a few posts for obvious reasons. Hopefully you'll get some useful help for your situation now.

Take care

Andrea

I dont think there was anything wrong with my post. I was not being critical, I just could not see why the OP would receive IS now when she was receiving IB before she seperated from her partner. I was assuming there was an age addition in her IB.

punkgirlyuk

I'm confused myself about whether I could claim, some people at the Jobcentre have said I would and some said I wouldnt be able to, so I just put the claim in to find out.
The house is mortgaged in my name, this is why the claim is going through as i couldn't claim HB. I'm probly going to lose the house as I am now behind on payments and this has just taken so long, if i couldn't claim anything I wish they would just tell me.

lil_me

My post suggested application for a CCG Community Care Grant,then if declined a budgetting loan once you have been on IS long enough. If you search on www.direct.gov.uk there will be more info on there. Unsure why this was deleted. If you are buying items to replace due to hardship caused by the seperation and he has taken items such as a cooker it may be worth applying as Crisis Loans are small and only for things like food, emergency clothing etc and frequently given as vouchers.

With the mortgage do you not have payment protection you can claim from?

If your ex continues to support you financially this will be considered as income until his support stops therefore whatever you declare he's given will be deducted from your entitlement for any income support.

If they decide you are not entitled to IS you would not be entitled to the loans/grants so until they make that decision on your claim you would not be entitled to apply.

I would suggest looking at https://www.adtrader.co.uk one of the free ads or possibly https://www.freecycle.org.uk in your area (but of course cookers don't come up very often) cooker prices tend to be reasonable on ebay because the items are for collection only.

punkgirlyuk

I have re-sent my application for crisis loan re cooker but they are just so slow in sorting it.
I did have insurance on mortgage but claimed for depression a couple of years ago, returned to work, lasted 7months and had a setback. Couldn't claim this time round!
Going to look at applying for DLA again but going to get help with my forms this time! I wouldn't be lying in saying that my depression has gotten a lot worse due to all recent going ons.

spidyem_frued

howdy....community care grants are my speciality....ok i may have missed what benifit you are on...DLA and incompacity you get zip....Jobseekrs and income support,,,bobs your chicken...there is a knack to filling out your community care grant which the council fail to tell you. you can PM me and i will go through your form and you will have your cooker and the rest you may need. I have a track record of £1600 for each grant i have help fill out! Spidsx

Gillianh2

spidyem_frued wrote: »

howdy....community care grants are my speciality....ok i may have missed what benifit you are on...DLA and incompacity you get zip....Jobseekrs and income support,,,bobs your chicken...there is a knack to filling out your community care grant which the council fail to tell you. you can PM me and i will go through your form and you will have your cooker and the rest you may need. I have a track record of £1600 for each grant i have help fill out! Spidsx

I am sorry but are you boasting that your genius in filling out these forms which are supposed to be for people in genuine need or hardship has resulted in various people that you have Helped recieving £1600 a time. These grants do not have to be paid back as I understand and I am astounded that you are boasting about a track record.:cool:
I think that maybe one of the reasons the forms are a little more difficult is to try to insure that the Grants are only awarded to the genuine claimant.:cool:

(BTW I am not sticking up for the system. I have had a nightmare applying for DLA and have been refused.)

I just find your braggging disgusting.