Benefit Payments

[Buce]

5 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

To be fair to Deb, she did admit that it’s ultimately her fault for not informing them earlier. Not sure the Tories are necessarily to blame on this occasion.

 

It's her fault that despite working full time she relies on benefits to survive?

 

Not sure how that works, mate.

 

17 hours ago, FoxesDeb said:

I'm posting this really hoping that nobody knows me IRL. 

 

I've recently had to declare to the benefits people that my 17 year old son has left full-time education, and because I should have done it in September all my benefits have been stopped completely. I work full time but my salary alone nowhere near covers my bills as a single parent with 3 children. I can't cover my bills this month, never mind go shopping, and I'm really not sure if there's anything I can do. My salary was topped up by child tax credits, housing benefit and child benefit, all of which have stopped. 

 

I would have let them know sooner but I was not being paid due to being off sick, and I never imagined that they would stop everything. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 10 February 2018 by Buce

[Izzy]

35 minutes ago, Buce said:

 

It's her fault that despite working full time she relies on benefits to survive?

 

Not sure how that works, mate.

 

 

Well I hope Labour have got some miracle alternative lined up for when they get in power 

 

P.S. I really should know better than to get into political debate with you 

[Guest]

52 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Well I hope Labour have got some miracle alternative lined up for when they get in power 

 

P.S. I really should know better than to get into political debate with you 

If discussing this point goes further take it into the politics thread. Both parties are to blame for a situation where we've gone from one household income being enough to support a family to two working adults not being able to cope without employers being subsidised for low wages through in work benefits and tax credits. It's why we need a fundamental change in how our economy works, and who it works for.

[Buce]

1 hour ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Well I hope Labour have got some miracle alternative lined up for when they get in power 

 

So do I, mate, cause the system is broken right now.

 

What was the mantra - 'Ensuring that work always pays'?

 

1 hour ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

 

P.S. I really should know better than to get into political debate with you 

 

Nothing personal, bro, you know that.

 

I reserve my contempt for the despicable forelock-tuggers that vote to keep their own kind subjugated.

[FoxesDeb]

Thanks people, loads of that has been really helpful. Just wanted to clarify a few points, I wasn't being paid because I've come to the end of paid time off from my employer, but I am going back to work next month so obviously will start earning again. My son is in employment, so I do need to have a conversation with him about paying board, but I'm not doing it today because it's his 18th birthday today . 

 

I've had a letter from CB today, obviously it's been reduced and there is an over payment outstanding, but I can pay it off by direct debit. 

 

Once I receive the letter from CTC about my revised claim I'm hoping HB will reevaluate my claim with them, whilst my claim is suspended I'm unfortunately ineligible for a crisis payment though, which does seem a bit daft. 

 

So ultimately I've got to try and get through the next 2 months until my CTC are reinstated, and hope that I can pay the rent. I will also speak to the CAB when they open on Monday. 

 

Oh and re the fraud comment, it would hardly be a lengthy investigation, given that I rang them and told them! I do take the point though, I should have told them sooner. But to the people who have commented that my situation in general is pretty rubbish, it is. I have what would be classed as a half decent job, yet still can't afford to support my family without help from the government. 

[oxford blue]

5 hours ago, StanSP said:

Deb can ask for reinstatement and a backdate to September (this is unlikely it'll be backdated all that way as Councils have become stricter on this).

Deb can also appeal and ask for a tribunal if necessary if he can prove to the Council that it was a genuine mistake of him not informing them back then that his son had left full-time education. 

 

And if I read correctly, Deb isn't working at the moment due to being off sick and not getting sick pay. As the income has dropped (to just CTC and CB) she should be entitled to high or full Housing Benefit. 

 

They stop the benefits to stop you being over-charged over time because they would just deduct that money off any future payments. I've worked with customers who haven't realised (through their own fault or not) that they were getting more benefits that they're entitled to and rack up £3000+ worth of overpayments. This is then taken back off their future HB entitlement and they're left with £0.50/w entitlement for years. Obviously if it's the Council's fault then that'll be determined in the tribunal. 

 

I'd encourage Deb to be forthcoming with HB to eliminate all doubt that it was done on purpose - be open with giving in any documents required and ensure it's done on time from now on so that it can be processed quickly. And still go to CAB to get the DHP - as long as the council can see financial hardship and struggle she's gone through (CAB can help with getting the story to have full effect), it's likely they'll help out with the finances back to September with the rent and maybe any future help til the end of the financial year). 

If HB have ended entitlement, the maximum period for a backdate is 1 month, but I rather think it has just been suspended.

Regarding overpayments - if you are not working the maximum weekly deduction is £11.10, more if you are working

If you still have an entitlement to HB, you can apply for a DHP - directly to the local authority, not the CAB. A DHP is a short term payment & will often hace conditiions attached eg find cheaper accommodation

If there is an overpayment, underlying entitlement should be used to reduce the overpayment. Therefore, your actual (reduced) income for the period of the overpayment will be taken into account for purposes of o/p calculation.

 

You must let the LA know when your child reaches 18, depending on his circumstances there will be a "non-dependant" deduction

[Jon the Hat]

6 hours ago, ozleicester said:

Feel for you Deb, what a society we have that some one can be working and still unable to take care of their family.

 

I unfortunately have nothing to offer, but my best wishes and hopes that things will improve for you.

Agreed.  Gordon Brown has a lot the answer for with his sodding mountain of in work benefits.  Companies can and do get away with not paying people enough to live on as a result.

[ozleicester]

2 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

Agreed.  Gordon Brown has a lot the answer for with his sodding mountain of in work benefits.  Companies can and do get away with not paying people enough to live on as a result.

Im not well enough informed to state who created this appalling situation.... but as far as i can see NO_ONE is doing anything to fix it and i read recently that the Tories are suggesting a reduction in workers rights as a result of brexit.

 

I dont care who does it, but someone has to start looking after the working poor.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, ozleicester said:

Im not well enough informed to state who created this appalling situation.... but as far as i can see NO_ONE is doing anything to fix it and i read recently that the Tories are suggesting a reduction in workers rights as a result of brexit.

 

I dont care who does it, but someone has to start looking after the working poor.

You know not to vote tory next time then.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Jon the Hat said:

Agreed.  Gordon Brown has a lot the answer for with his sodding mountain of in work benefits.  Companies can and do get away with not paying people enough to live on as a result.

That's a tad unfair.

Both parties are to blame for allowing employers to get away with it.

Brown was trying to make up for the low wages. by increasing benefits. It won't have helped the low wages but they were already there.

The tories have done nothing to raise wages but have reduced the benefits. For all their bluster about JAMs they have intentionally made working people poorer. 

[m4DD0gg]

19 hours ago, DB11 said:

I guess at least you're lucky that you're not being investigated for fraud

First time i have ever agreed with this guy. Actually thought he was one of those automated forum bots you see.

Edited 10 February 2018 by m4DD0gg

[Jon the Hat]

1 hour ago, toddybad said:

That's a tad unfair.

Both parties are to blame for allowing employers to get away with it.

Brown was trying to make up for the low wages. by increasing benefits. It won't have helped the low wages but they were already there.

The tories have done nothing to raise wages but have reduced the benefits. For all their bluster about JAMs they have intentionally made working people poorer. 

It’s like the increases in the tax free allowance never happened.. have you been on the moon??

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

It’s like the increases in the tax free allowance never happened.. have you been on the moon??

All of the impartial analysis has concluded that benefit/tax credit cuts by far outweigh the tax band increase. 

 

This government is as dishonest as it gets. It claims it's putting an extra £400m into policing yet that is dependant on councils putting up council tax for police by £280m and ignores that they've required an additional £100m in cuts from the police this year. The cuts from the Metropolitan police alone has been over £400m in recent years.

 

People like Deb are working full time yet can't afford to really live.

The NHS is crumbling (and I can definitely state this as fact given I sit in on top level meetings).

Schools are closing early because they can't afford to pay the teachers (it's affected my daughter's school so I can confirm this is true also).

Councils have seen cuts of hundreds of millions yet are expected to carry on. 

 

What planet are you living on?

[Jon the Hat]

I agree tbh austerity has gone too far, the NHS should have a probably a 25% budget increase.  I have **** all sympathy  for councils though.

[Strokes]

Probably not the best place for a pissing contest, either offer some advice or piss off to another thread with your shit quarrel.

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

I agree tbh austerity has gone too far, the NHS should have a probably a 25% budget increase.  I have **** all sympathy  for councils though.

The issue with council's is that they are responsible for social care. Council's have lost 3/4 of their funding in some cases (and those cases are always in labour areas where the need is greatest) and central funding for social care has dropped by over 5%. Yet more and more people need social care.

 

 

Edited 10 February 2018 by Guest

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Strokes said:

Probably not the best place for a pissing contest, either offer some advice or piss off to another thread with your shit quarrel.

Yes, let's go into politics of we're going to continue john

[FoxesDeb]

2 hours ago, m4DD0gg said:

First time i have ever agreed with this guy. Actually thought he was one of those automated forum bots you see.

Like I've already said, it would be a pretty shit investigation 

 

Council : Hello, we understand you've been claiming benefits for a few months that you weren't entitled to. You need to pay any difference back. 

Me: Yes, I rang you and told you that. 

 

[Innovindil]

Does make you wonder how we manage to attract migrants to this country with the wages being so shit. Must be the British beef I've been hearing songs about.

[NorthfieldsFox]

On 10/02/2018 at 15:38, FoxesDeb said:

Thanks people, loads of that has been really helpful. Just wanted to clarify a few points, I wasn't being paid because I've come to the end of paid time off from my employer, but I am going back to work next month so obviously will start earning again. My son is in employment, so I do need to have a conversation with him about paying board, but I'm not doing it today because it's his 18th birthday today . 

 

I've had a letter from CB today, obviously it's been reduced and there is an over payment outstanding, but I can pay it off by direct debit. 

 

Once I receive the letter from CTC about my revised claim I'm hoping HB will reevaluate my claim with them, whilst my claim is suspended I'm unfortunately ineligible for a crisis payment though, which does seem a bit daft. 

 

So ultimately I've got to try and get through the next 2 months until my CTC are reinstated, and hope that I can pay the rent. I will also speak to the CAB when they open on Monday. 

 

Oh and re the fraud comment, it would hardly be a lengthy investigation, given that I rang them and told them! I do take the point though, I should have told them sooner. But to the people who have commented that my situation in general is pretty rubbish, it is. I have what would be classed as a half decent job, yet still can't afford to support my family without help from the government. 

Your a credit to yourself and your family 

 

I admire your attempts to keep so many plates spinning 

 

I’m sure it will work out fine 

[Turbogre]

imho only have yourself to blame.

 

Hate benefit cheats. 

[kyleolly]

Have another kid quick

[Drew Peacock]

Ironic that we are on this forum because of our adoration for (most) of the players at the football club we follow, who get paid a ridiculous amount of money for doing something that gives us great enjoyment, but in the scheme of things doesn’t really matter. You realise that when you read posts like this. I hope it all works out for you.

Edited 11 February 2018 by Drew Peacock

[Parafox]

@Turbogre

@kyleolly

 

Why is she a benefits cheat?

 

She simply didn't tell the agencies concerned AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY, how do you know her reasons? Subsequently she  informed them. I expect foxesdeb fully expected to have an overpayment to repay and has been honest, if a little late. The fact is that when the situation changes for those people claiming benefits, benefit payments are suspended pending the provision of information from the claimant. Once all is sorted, the correct level of benefits resumes, with a back payment of anything owed to the claimant or the repayment by the claimant of any benefit they shouldn't have received.

 

Stop trolling. 

Edited 11 February 2018 by Parafox

[Buce]

1 hour ago, Turbogre said:

imho only have yourself to blame.

 

Hate benefit cheats. 

 

Everybody hates something.

 

I hate liars and fantasists.