PIP is given for you to spend on whatever will help YOU. You may need to replace your car so that you can get out and about, or spend money on taxi's. You may want to get some help in to clean your house for you or look after your garden. Have a new bathroom fitted to make your life easier. You may need to buy a new bed, TV, cooker, washing machine etc. I would take out £500 each time you are getting near the £6,000 so that you have cash available to be able to treat yourself whenever you want to.

I would request it all to be confirmed in writing to you so they can't backtrack and deny the telephone call took place.

I have been suffering due to illness thanks, which has been made much worse by the actions taken by the DWP, JCP staff and the evil assessment process! I would like each one of them follow a claimant through the whole process to really see how badly people are treated.

What about the people have no access to public transport and can't afford to run a car? Will the DWP cover the cost of a taxi?

Am I alone in hoping that many of the staff are laid off and so have to sign on!

I was told that when anyone puts in a request for a mandatory reconsideration the decision makers are instructed to uphold the original result BUT you need to go through this insulting rubbish before being allowed to appeal. It is only at appeal will your evidence even be looked at! You will then have a chance to put your case face to face to an independent panel. I have done this now twice with success. I put together a file of evidence. All my doctors, hospital notes, appointment details etc along with personal letters from friends to support my case. I took with me a second file just in case the original had been 'misplaced'. I am glad that I did because 50% of the file was missing! I was then able to pass over my file to the panel so they had all my evidence for them to consider. From the moment you send the letter to say that you want to appeal the decision, you will then be put onto a lower rate of ESA until your appeal has taken place. Please consider jumping through the hoops that they put in our way to get the result you need, the result you paid your NI for, and are entitled to!

I am so sorry that you are being treated so badly by the DWP, this seems to be happening to everyone. Did you put in a Mandatory Reconsideration on the assessment?

Opps! sorry I meant the DWP Housing Dept who handle help with mortgage interest.

I have just been told by the DWP that all mail is scanned onto the system within 9 days of being delivered and then goes to the Decision Makers. They have no deadline by which they have to respond. If you ask for them to confirm anything in writing to you they don't have to do so! All departments seem to have been combined into either PIP or ESA or JSA. There is no separate Housing Benefit dept. etc any more. Where has the care gone?

Hi BurleyBoy7, I hope you don't mind but trying to gather information on all options in case I can't afford to buy another house after my house is sold because of this evil 'loan' situation. Can you tell me how you manage with services to your motorhome. Do you use PV panels to charge batteries to run your electric supply? How do you get rid of your waste from sink, shower and toilet? Do you have a TV? What does the licence cost? How long can you stay in one place before being moved on? Many thanks for any advice you can give me.

I have been told that letters sent into the DWP without a clear heading like ESA Mandatory Reconsideration Request will be deemed to be 'white mail' and so will not be looked at by anyone until the writer telephones to find out what is happening about their letter. I ask because my ESA MR request dated and sent on 25th Nov 2017 has only just, yesterday 13th Feb 2018 arrived at the correct department! I did telephone about it on 7th Dec and was told it can take a few weeks before you will hear from them. Over 11 weeks to get there! It will now take 7-10 days for them to make their decision. As we all know that it is only when you tell them that you will be appealing the decision that your ESA (at a lower rate) will be paid. So is this a new ploy by the DWP to delay payment of ESA?

BBC Money Box this morning talked about the new 'help' with mortgage interest payments which is changing to a loan from next April. He stated that rents would still be covered even though in a roundabout way it would paying the mortgage of the owner of the property and that many rents are far more expensive than mortgage payments! So what to do? Set up the loan and end up owning less of your property or sell up, downsize if you can or rent? People in need being punished again!

The loan will be registered on your deeds at the land registry so in the future when you sell your home the loan will be repaid in full. This may leave you unable to afford another home. If you die It will be paid from your estate. Either way the DWP will get their money back with interest!

Can anyone recommend a telephone recorder. I am so fed up with being given information by DWP advisors which I am then told by another is incorrect that I want to record their messages. One that is easy to set up and use please. Many thanks

I still think that this 'loan' could mean that the long term sick could end up not being able to sell and downsize as they may not in a few years time have the funds to do so. If they are given more time to consider their options it could be better for them to make to move sooner rather than later. This is all going to happen to quick for many to have any other choice but to take the 'loan'. I can't see how the DWP can bring this in for those in need who have a mortgage and not include those that rent. I do think this will be the next evil step of picking on the disabled and jobless. We would all be better off in prison!

'It's your main home and you own a minimum of 20% of the property debt-free (meaning your current loan-to-value of your existing mortgage is 80% or less). You need to be at least three months in arrears and have tried, but been unable, to reach a repayment arrangement with your lender. Mortgage Arrears Help - Money Saving Expert' I have also read somewhere else about mortgage companies who have high risk customers being able to fast track repossessions. I will try to find it again. I had a BTL mortgage and after missing 2 payments through illness and no tenant, I contacted the company only to be told that if I missed the next payment they could take the house. I missed the next payment through illness and over the following weekend the company repossessed the house, changed the locks and stuck a warning notice on the front door! It took me 9 -12 months to get my house back and cost me over £3,000 in solicitor fees. I don't know if it was different as it was a BTL but the lesson was learnt by me to ALWAYS pay ALL my bills even if I can't afford to eat or heat. I would hate for anyone else to be put in this position and feel that I'm not the only one who think that if you have been paying your mortgage for years on time then the lender will help if you become ill. My concern is that if people don't get more notice, they will be unable to meet the payments due and will not have the time to sort out anything else.

If this is allowed to go ahead, next will be everyone who has help with their rent. I have been warned that the whole system has been speeded up so that If you miss just 3 payments on your mortgage the mortgage company can fast track and take your house within the following month! If this system must go ahead everyone should be given more notice. I would suggest a 12 month period be allowed, giving people a chance to take a breath and consider their position and get independent advice. Not being pushed into something they will regret. Has anyone yet received the paper work to set up this loan thats being offered?

How can this be allowed to happen? If you rent, your rent will be paid but you will get NO help to cover your mortgage (interest) payments! Thousands of people who expected to have retired, but now have to wait an extra 6 years are having to claim JSA or ESA (if they have bad health) will be worried sick about this removal of help! This is a change to far and we the public need to make it STOP!

Hi diddled, I've never heard of 'law centres' but I will get on it today. Many thanks, P

Hi Caro, there is no way I could talk to my MP or the Press about the mess I find myself in. I can't even manage to discuss things with my friends and neighbours. I find it difficult to drive past the house - which I do twice a day, every day - The whole situation is very distressing. I'm just not strong enough. Thanks for your input. Regards, P

Thanks for your help. I will keep my fingers crossed. P

Hi Diddled, can I diy it or does it have to be my solicitor? Everytime I go near her it costs me a packet! Many thanks for your help, P

Hi Chillinlong, thanks for the link to the post. I have been following the post for a while and can't see any light at the end of the tunnel. I am totally confused as to how these lenders are being allowed to treat people this way! My BTL lender will not take into consideration the 5 years of never missing a payment. They refused to take payment from me on two occasions - a deliberate act I think to get their grubby little hands on my house! It was difficult, but on the date of the LPA receivers appointment I was not in arrears. I have spent a considerable amount of money on renovations to improve the standard of the house but due to financial problems these have yet to be finished. Now they have changed the locks and refuse to allow me to maintain the house or continue with the renovations! My little BTL house is in our village, fronting onto the road so the whole issue of notices on the front door is causing me extreme distress. To read of windows being covered in metal sheets completely freaks me out! I have considered changing the locks and moving in the house myself but I don't think my nerves could stand it. I am a law abiding person and so I can't believe that the law can't help me. I had to instruct a solicitor as I was getting nowhere with the lender and fees were (and still are) being added onto my account at an alarming rate and they just ignored her! Now she's talking of instructing a barrister! There has to be another way. Has anyone got the lender to instruct the LPA to stand down? P

Hi all, been away again looking after my elderly, disabled mother. Saw solicitor straight from train. Lender not responding to letters! At a loss as to what to do next. Fees being added on all the time. Trying to raise the money to pay off mortgage but now in this hole I can't raise the funds! Has anyone contacted the Land Reg and registered a dispute to stop any sale? Regards, P

Hi all, sorry for being inactive for a while. Getting so that I can't think of anything else. Not sleeping, not eating, stressed out all the time, I can't go on like this. Dispite not being in arrears when LPA instructed, (I have receipts to show all payments) and back on track paying mortgage the lender will not disinstruct the LPA! The lender is not responding to my solicitors letters, or telephone calls, costs are being added on constantly. The lender will not allow me to pay by DD so having to pay in cash direct through the bank - keeping receipts for everything. The lender, LPA and Lettings agent have been informed in writing by my solicitor that the property is empty and this account is in dispute yet they have now changed the locks! They will not give me keys so that I can carry on with the renovations and maintain my property. They have now instructed an agent to carry out a condition report ! I told them I can give them all details on what work is required to complete the renovation, but they just don't want to know. More costs! Sorry for the rant but this is ruining my life. Where do I go from here? P