benefits change

**Mikey** · 14-04-2011, 12:22 PM

No, but I did learn on Tuesday that I would be losing my family tax credits, as we are now above the new threshold.

I know that this is not on a par, but it is all adding to the pinch.

**SarzWix** · 14-04-2011, 12:24 PM

Jax, you have my sympathies. Thankfully, we aren't having to go through this at the moment as my OH is working, but, as it looks like he'll be made redundant very shortly, I suspect I'll have to go through all of their hoops of fire to explain why I don't work, even though I'm not claiming anything.

Have a look here: Employment Support Allowance. A very, very useful guide to the system.

**Jax** · 14-04-2011, 12:35 PM

Its rubbish isnt it Mikey. Thanks Sarz, to be honest Im just feeling abit deflated by "the system" (and I will keep this breif as I can feel myself going into whingey mode lol) we have just been told the promise of a therapist wont be upheld anymore as there is no funding. So we dont really know what to do.

Rant over

**Jax** · 14-04-2011, 12:38 PM

I do understand cuts have to be made etc but they dont seem to realise how they affect us all

**Ouya Mellsa** · 14-04-2011, 01:24 PM

Thanks Cameron and thanks Clegg. You expect the Tories to be hard on the poorer in society......but the Lib Dems? Shame on you, Clegg. You've runied a once great party forever.

I'll never forget the sight of Clegg cheering and smirking in the Commons when Gideon Osborne was announcing the benefit cuts and that at least 500,000 people will lose their jobs. Does that really deserve a cheer, Clegg?

Of course, New Labour are just as guilty, but still......

These benefit cuts are really going to cause people great stress and even more hardship. The people on Incapacity Benefits- all of them- are to be re-assessed by the govt to see if they really are fit for work. Fine, in principle, but not when you find out that the assessments are to be carried out by a third-party contractor who will be paid �14,000 per person they find 'fit for work'. Would you feel confident of getting a fair hearing in court if you knew the jury were on a bribe to find you guilty regardless of what you tell them?

**SarzWix** · 14-04-2011, 01:33 PM

Whilst I know this is an emotive issue, please lets not turn it into a political ranting thread just as we've lost one of the moderating team...

If anyone has any constructive advice for how to wade through these forms, or any helpful links for Jax, they would be most welcome.

**Florence Fennel** · 14-04-2011, 01:43 PM

It must be a very anxious and worrying time for you Jax, we know how much you've already been through. I think I'd be seeking out some help with understanding and form filling from an Advice Bureau, have you got one nearby? Try not to worry too much, I am sure that genuinely ill people will not have their benefit withdrawn, so you'll be ok.

**BigShot** · 14-04-2011, 01:56 PM

Jax: I don't know your situation, but is there anything your husband could do from home to remove the need to jump through the benefits hoops? There's work out there, some of it possible to do from home... it's just finding something he can do... if he can.
I believe things like Kleeneze can bring a decent income. Dunno if he'd be in a state to deliver and collect or not, but it may be an option.
Good luck either way.

Tough times.

**jackie j** · 14-04-2011, 03:28 PM

Jax try and see someone from cab if you have one in your area. Can your doctor give you any letters etc about your OH's illness that will help with your claim. The forms have always been hard but even more so now.
I used to have a freind whos OH worked in the department that catches people working and claiming, he went through my form for me when I was claiming, very handy at the time.

Try not to worry and get the form done asap.

**Potstubsdustbins** · 14-04-2011, 03:37 PM

Unfortunately it seems it is always the deserving that get the `sh one ty` of the stick.

I do a lot of work in private rented accommodation and see how the system is abused by many on a daily basis. The workshy and feckless never seem to have these problems as they sit watching their 42" flat screen TVs.

Maybe they know how to work the system, they sure have plenty of time to find out.
Maybe they just shout louder for longer and the people who make the decisions find it easier to give them what they want.

Yet again I go into homes where there is obvious need but the people are making every effort themselves to improve their lot and they seem to be the ones that struggle to get the help they so richly deserve.

I don't know the answer but things must change so that help is channeled to those that need it most.

Colin

**Hilary B** · 14-04-2011, 04:04 PM

The problem with any system, is that it can't be sufficiently flexible to be truly fair. We all know that cuts were necessary, and that wherever they fell there would be people hurt by them, unfortunately when a 'system' is put in place for sorting the deserving from the scrounging, the ones it is easiest to take off the 'help' are often those who need it most. Those trying to design the system don't mean it that way, but it always seems to happen.
There is a similar situation with immigration. Cutting 'non-EU immigration' sounds like a good idea, but where will that leave my daughter-in-law (Mexican)?

**Two_Sheds** · 14-04-2011, 04:15 PM

Citizens' Advice Bureau should be your first port of call. Also try to be aware of what the new rules mean, so you know what to expect

**Jax** · 14-04-2011, 05:06 PM

Its so scary, and I really dont want to go down the political route because it can make it all the more scary. The trouble is he is agoraphobic with Generalised Anxiety Disorder with PTSD and monophobia. So its an invisible illness if that makes sense. We have come up against people that believe we are pretending to avoid work which is always a worry. The job centre have at least agreed we can have a medical in our house. Kleeneze etc is a no no but fantastic idea. I have adamantly looked for work from home but without leaving the home aswell like distribution stuff. Nearly all of it requires training in there offices and the rest everyone clambers for. As far as the part (cant remember how to quote) about the posessions. We dont have fancy furniture or anything, we have quite a basic home however we have a nice tv that was a gift and abit of a collection of cars that hubby has had since before he was ill. Not a single one taxed or MOT as he cant use them but we have kept them incase we got into real financial difficulty and we could sell them.

**Jax** · 14-04-2011, 05:08 PM

Oh and this isnt the universal benefit yet, thats yet to come. This is because they are cancelling all income support and changing us all over to employment and support allowance that we have to apply for and then when the universal benefit comes in we get changed over. We do have docs letters but he has no medication and now no therapy

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