Thought of something else this morning. The company should also have a code of conduct policy for its staff when dealing with service users. Get a copy of that if your mum hasnt got it to hand. Read it through again before the meeting. Good luck:) Dettie

Hi jinxxx, Not an employment expert but do commission services for vulnerable adults for an LA so some points you might find useful. Has your mum got a copy of her terms and conditions, plus a copy of the companies whistleblowing policy. It has to have one if it is providing services to vulnerable people. The whistleblowing policy and complaints policy should also be provided to the service users upon request so there should be plenty available. Before the disciplinary hearing (make sure she has a union rep or colleague with her) 1. Whats the basis of the hearing ? The original whistleblowing or the counter claims ? 2. Find out when the false counter claim was made, and ask why she wasnt informed immediately. 3. Has anyone investigated her letter (including speaking to the service users appropriately) and whats the results 4. Is the other person involved remaining in same job ? If so as your mum felt strongly enough to report this behaviour, she should ask the organisation if they have reported this to the Local authority under the POVA regulations. This is an essential part of any contract for the provision of services to vulnerable people. Any complaints should be communicated to the LA even if they are resolved. If they havent informed the LA what are they playing at ? 5. Try to get as much information as possible before the hearing 6. Get advice from union and or LA which will also have a whistleblowing policy, go into the hearing knowing what she wants out of it ie, rid of the false claims, her original job back and safeguarding her service users. Hope that helps, knowledge is power ! Dettie

Hi, Been away for a while but will definitely be responding to this tomorrow. OH had rare neurological problem and was called back within a year for a second medical, even though was in hospital dying at the time. So it will be my priviledge and absolute pleasure to provide evidence for this enquiry. Dettie x

Hi Bluestar, Speaking from personal experience, my late husband had to attend an Atos medical for EAS, last year and he was terrified, had physical and psychological problems and was convinced they were looking to disqualify him. I went with him, and made sure that he didn't forget anything. Please take someone to support you. The medical lasted 45 mins which was very hard for him, and I had to prompt him on certain things. Did you keep a copy of your completed form, that will also help you to remember. If not take your own notes in to help you remember. Tell them what happens when you feel at your worst, DO NOT MAKE LIGHT OF YOUR CONDITION because you feel it is expected of you, I say them but its actually one person, either a doctor or a relevant qualified professional , whatever that means. Make a note of the name of the person conducting the medical. The same questions are asked of everyone. He or She will input the information onto a computer and seems to rarely make eye contact. The assessment is based on a points system, and details about it can be found on the direct gov website. Also have a look through this site as there is very good advice on dealing with ATOS and the Dwp. Good luck, I wont say dont worry but its impossible not to, just try to prepare for the parts that cause you the most stress before you go there, and take someone with you. And remember there is an appeals procedure if the worst comes to the worst, there is excellent advice on how to appeal on this site. Take care Dettie

Now getting harrassed by Student loan company for goodness sake, have already sent off the death cert and now getting phone calls and letters demanding an original. Its like talking to a brick wall and they are harrassing me because of their inefficiency. Sent a snotty email and told them to fork out for their own from the registrar, and still get a letter with a stamped addressed envelope. Any use complaining to my MP, or does anyone know who is responsible for this inept org. Thanks:mad:

Hi brigjac, Just thought I would share info gained from Tax office recently. My daughter is 13 and is receiving a very very very small monthly pension until she is 18 through my late husbands work pension. Income tax was taken off this under the code BR cumulative and when I queried it, I was informed that all of us attract the Basic rate of tax subject to personal allowances, and the only way to get this back is to ask for a temporary tax code for her. ??? So they get the money first and you have to do all the work to get it back ! Regards Dettie

Sorry for delay in replying, sunday was always going to be a rough day, so took my daughter away for a few days. Anyway thanks for the info regarding the life assurance, Elsa, I will check the policy to see what it says. I will also send out the letter asking for proof of debt and statement of account as suggested. Dettie x

Hi DD & Sillygirl1 Thanks for your messages, good ideas about the CAB and further advice about the life assurance, hadn't occured to me, was just flapping about the debt letters. My first instinct was that to tell them to take a running jump, but I want to make sure I deal with it properly for him. Dettie:)

Thank you for your prompt and helpful response, it made me very cross when I received their letters. Its hard enough dealing with his loss, without having this kind of hassle. I'll keep checking the site.

Thanks thats great. I would be very happy to make them work for it. How much info does the statement of account cover. Can I ask for a complete list of the payments or is there a time limit ?

Hi, I wonder if you can provide advice for my situation please. My husband passed away in May, he was 44, did not leave a will, had been on ESA for over a year (wont go into the horrible time he had with Atos and DWP, or I will rant and rave ! ) and DLA, after being unemployed for most of the last 5 years. He left exactly 75pence in his cash isa for which I have received a cheque from the bank, and I received a death grant of approx £300 from a very small pension he had as a temp when he could work. This death grant and the bereavement payment from the Government is paying for the larger part of his funeral costs, but I still have to find another couple of hundred to clear it. The mortgate and car (16 years old !)are in my sole name, and we had/have joint and seperate debts in the hands of credit collection agencies. I wrote to inform those CCA's which had my husband sole debts that there would be no further payments with a copy of his death certificate. I have received condolences and a demand for repayment from the estate! In particular an Amex debt my husband has been repaying since 1996 and which was passed to Steven Drake Solicitors. I received a letter from Steven Drake informing me the account was closed and then 2 weeks later a letter from Fairfax Solicitors with a lovely little booklet about the fairfax probate administration service, and a demand to complete a questionniare giving them details of bank accounts, car registration,value,liabilities etc etc, the completion of which would allow them to assess my ability to pay and close the account if there was no money or forward a cheque for the full amount. I have read the direct gov info about probate and after speaking to CAB, I have not applied for probate as my husband did not leave a will, not letters of administration because there is no estate, and I was going to send a letter to them to that effect but not filling in that cheeky questionnaire as that is my personal data. But as we have a 13 yr old who is devasted by his loss, they were bottom of my list to deal with so I had not yet replied. In the meantime, I was dealing with mortgage life assurance in both our names (from the heady days when he was healthy enough to work and we had a joint mortgage), the value of the claim is more than I realised and needless to say it has gone to the assessor to review as I am sure the insurer will find some way of not paying it. A couple of days ago I received another letter from Fairfax to say that they were in receipt of the information to close the account, ( how ??)and to send a cheque. Or ring them if there is a problem. As if ! To cut a long and sad story short, before I respond to this organisation I would be grateful for advice. A. My husband received a letter at the start of the year from Steven Drake with an offer to pay off the debt in one sum of about £700. Would they do that if they didn't own the debt ? If they did own the debt can Amex still try to claim it after Steven Drake has closed the account ? B. The life assurance policy is in both our names with no other beneficiaries. Basically I have paid for this as the only one working. Do I have to pay off this debt from this policy, if I do receive the money uncontested. C. Can I demand a breakdown of his debt as I refuse to believe 14 years of paying this off has only reduced an orginal debt of £2000 by £800, and I know he had issues with Amex applying interest after they had agreed not to. I can't bear the idea that they are profiting from his death when they caused him such stress. D. Is there a template of a holding letter to stop these people writing to me until I know whats happening with the life assurance ? There is so much to cope with at the moment, I need to stop them contacting me before I lose it big time. E. If there is any insurance payment and I pay his debts, there will not be enough to pay off the whole amount. Can I pro-rata the payments and how do I do that ? Sorry its such a long post, but wanted to give you as much info as possible Thanks in advance for your help Dettie