I am so confused

[loopinlouie]

At the moment I am on income support, single parent and receive dla high rate care low rate mobility. I also get full housing and council tax award.

 

I am told by the job centre that they want whilst on my first work focused interview to change me from income support to esa and this will not affect my money.

 

I have been on the welfare rights site and cant see how this can be true. I am told I have to fill in the forms due to the age of my children, youngest nearly 12.

 

I am incapable of work due to mental health problems and another issue and am concerned I will walk in sign what I dont understand and then panic at what is happening.

 

I know I could ask welfare rights or mind to go with me and intend to ask them to put off interview for two weeks to sort this, its just I find this confusing. The man who rang me from job centre is very very keen for me to sign these forms. Last time I signed forms welfare rights did them for me.

 

Is it possible for me to ask them to do the work focussed bit and allow me to go to welfare rights for filling in forms. I cant handle much in one go.

[loopinlouie]

Just to add does anyone know the official rates for esa, at the moment I get the dissability premium on income support and as said have two kids. Esa seems lower to me.

[Jan4a]

The benefits system is so complicated I think you would be very sensible in taking the forms to Welfare Rights for them to check before you signed them. I don't see how Job Centre can stop you from doing this if you are ill and don't really understand them.

[Bazooka Boo]

JCP can want you to sign the forms all they like, but it is your right to have someone who is able to understand these documents to read them first, then explain to you in simple language that you understand, what they mean, and only then should you sign them, if at all.

 

I have a severe brain injury, which means that on legal forms or documents I have to have someone else present to ensure I know what it is I am signing. JCP are no different, I simply will not sign anything that I am not sure about, if they don't like it then that's there look out.

 

I don't know whether the ESA rates are any different at all to the IB rates?

As I am on the old style Incapacity Benefit (IB), which goes up to a maximum rate dependant on how long you have been receiving it.

Have you had a look at the Direct.gov website?

 

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal

/page/portal/ba/lp

[loopinlouie]

Ive been on income support and dla for about 9 years now and was sure I was told they could leave me on it. I know they have changes, but i got the impression they wern't too concerned I didnt understand it.

 

I have severe problems with my memory and can switch off at any time, if you know what I mean and am worried its more a case of just trying to get me to sign off income support bit.

 

I think I will have a little more confidence to ask them to purspone appointment and state I am not refusing work focused interview, but will not sign forms on my own.

 

Was told last time after he spoke to my doctor that it was obvious I needed support element. Just after when gone through riggors of accepted reknew dla claims which are no mean feat to get accepted on, I feel they should liase a little more and not put extra stress on those who are ill.

Edited August 14, 2009 by loopinlouie

[Bazooka Boo]

Can you get someone to go along with you to these interviews, preferably someone who has some knowledge of these forms?

Or even ask you local welfare officer for some assistance on the matter.

[ErikaPNP]

I'm afraid they are correct. Income Support stops when your youngest child reaches the age of 12. This reduces to age 10 in October. The alternative is JSA - You are being offered ESA because they are aware that you are incapable of work. If a person on Income Support on the grounds of being a lone parent refuses to claim another benefit, the Income Support will still stop regardless once the child reaches the age limit. If you are receiving Income Support on the grounds of being a lone parent, then they can stop it. If you are receiving it on the grounds of incapacity then it can continue for the moment but eventually all IB and IS (Incapacity) claimants will be transferred onto ESA.

 

I would strongly encourage you to enlist the help of Welfare Rights with this to ensure that you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.

[loopinlouie]

Thanks for the info. I will ask job centre to puspone appt till I can see welfare rights and be accompanied.

 

At least I know not to panic, I just cant seem to deal with change very well and got into quite a pickle when payments changed from weekly, though thats sorted now.

 

I claim on basis of illness, but have not been put on incapacity due to it was easier being a single parent to be on income support.

 

Could you just reassure me that they will not overall lower the ammount compared to that of income support, I thought it was the minimum ammount any how and hopefully would be about the same:). Will contact welfare rights on monday.

[loopinlouie]

Just wanted to say thanks to those who in their own time give advice, I so need to destress and just see what happens:D

[Bazooka Boo]

This is the best place to destress!

Whinge moan and complain to high heaven, if anyone can help they will do, after a while it will be you giving others helpful advice on here...

 

 

 

Boo;)

[MIKEY DABODEE]

it must be hard for you having to change over from one benefit to the other and its a shame nobidy told you to claim Incapacity Benefit some years ago

 

but try to get help to get the forms filled out

has your Lone Parent Obligation advisor not helped you, they usually try to get the switch over from one benefit to the other as smooth as possible.

At the moment you might be getting paid Income Support weekly but when you get over to ESA it will be fortnigtly and the first few weeks may be a struglle for you

 

You will be offered a loan called a transititional loan to help you through,

this may help you, I know you have to pay it back but it will cover the gap inbetween your last Income Support payment and first ESA

dont forget to ask for one if you dont get offered

good luck with it all

[loopinlouie]

Hi, thanks for the info.

 

I already get paid fortnightly, so maybe the urgency is they have already transfered me and just need me to sign forms. So I will find out soon.

[MIKEY DABODEE]

no, they would have given you a date your Income Support would have finished and your ESA claim will start

 

also you will need medical certificates for your ESA claim, try to get some help like welare rights or CAB or get back to your advisor in the jobcentre

 

have you got another appointment booked soon ?

[loopinlouie]

i dont think I could be any lower if I could try.

 

The man from the job centre was okay, at first he stated why hadnt I claimed the benefits he had apparantly told me about last time he called. Firstly he didnt tell me to do that, he wanted to talk to my mental health doctor and they tried to contact him I was told.

 

I knew they were looking at changing me to esa but that was to be left untill they contacted me next.

 

Any how he was polite and asked me questions and there it went downhill. Now hes not mentioning esa, but tax credits and I am lost now. He asked me about what monies I had comming in and I told him income support, dla and monies from csa and I knew straight away something was wrong.

 

Back in nov last year the csa started paying me money and at first into an old account, so I knew nowt about it. Income support had my new details because someone kept ringing asking for my details to get to my money and income support along with coop aided me to change benefits to new account.

 

I told income support that the csa were paying me money and they told me it was mine. I asked why as it was a lot and if so why was it not mine untill now as my ex had regulary paid the csa prior to that.

 

I was told things had changed and now it was mine on three occassions and not by the same person.

 

Today the job centre man said I should have been only getting 20.00 a week, I was getting over 500.00 pounds a month.

 

In february I got a letter from the csa telling me how much money had been paid to me and I again rang the income support people to be told, it did not count in calculating my benefits unless paid direct from ex and via csa was not counted. I said the ammount of money was a large change from normal and they said again it did not matter and in their own words to go and enjoy. That quote was from the last call which I recorded for record as I have severe memory problems. On this same call it was mentioned by them that I had asked the same question before and not to worry it was mine.

 

Today told the income support file for me, apparantly the job centre man could access it, did not mention monies from the csa and he said all had to be declared. I said thats okay as I have done it and he said well there is no record and I said well I recorded it as I considered this needed recording for record as I have problems trusting people and memory etc.

 

I did say would this affect my money comming in in just under two weeks and was told no, he wants a doctors note from me, fine as I am seeing doctor tommorow.

 

Now I have an anxiety disorder and ptsd along with another serious issue but get on with life like everyone else as best I can. My son is away with young carers abroard for nearly two weeks and I am told my benefit names are changing and now the csa money is an error.

 

I am freaking out as I am so careful trying to trust the people who apparantly are there to help me and careful to record important information for my memory. I may be mentally ill but I am not stupid, we are not talking about one person giving the wrong information but three calls to income support and at least two or three to csa.

 

I am worried they are going to penalise me for their errors, he said my money will still come, but can I believe that?

Edited August 17, 2009 by loopinlouie
smiley not appropriate

[loopinlouie]

ps. This is serious I have worked out 10 payments at over 500 is obviously 5000 and if I am supposed only to have had 20 a week what do I do?

 

Cry at the moment.

[loopinlouie]

Any advice from here appreciated, for now I am going for a large cuppa and the biggest choccy bar I can stuff in my face for solace.

 

Ps. The go and enjoy, we certainly did. I caught up with essential bills to some extent as in paid regular and guess what paid for sons laptop for school and his tonnes of clothes for trip abroad. So banks definately broken and so is my old heart, the violins will be out soon, so dissapearing off quickly for a while.

 

Seriously though I am peeing myself with grief:( I shouldnt trust anyone from dwp again.

[Bazooka Boo]

Right, if this seems a bit disjointed then I apologise, but I shall work backwards through your concerns.

 

Firstly, thank god you have been recording your calls:D

I also began recording mine some months back due to the nature of my brain injury, and now with the purchase of true call, I can forget about it, and just download the relevant important conversation each month..

 

Anyhow, if the error that they 'MAY' have made is due to them or is deemed to be an 'admin' error, then the amount they have overpaid you (if at all) will be written off. Although at first they may say they are going to recover the overpayment, but on the three previous occasions this has happened to me, I have been able to succesfully argue that I could not have known of the overpayment at the time.

And in your defence you did ask them and question the amount you were receiving, and they confirmed it was correct:|

 

As for the legalities of recording your own 'personal' telephone calls, there is no requirement for you to have to inform the other person on the end of the line that you are recording the call.

 

I have out of courtesy told all my friends and family that I record 100% of my phone calls, and they are fine with it, it's when banks and Government organisations claim not to have any evidence of certain information or records of the phone call, that it really does come into it's own having your own recording!

 

 

Hold tight, it is pointless worrying over something that you have no control over, and besides, they haven't even stated that they paid you money that they shouldn't have..

[loopinlouie]

Thanks, your right, I havnt yet even been told I have been overpaid. He just kept repeating how important all changes to circumstances were and I replied I know, thats why I record them for memory.

 

I told him I was recording his call also and he was okay with that and that he would contact income support.

 

Say it turns out I am overpaid, they are not quick to mention the years of 10.00 and 20.00 payments I apparantly according to csa should have been chasing income support for, not forgetting how long it took them to sort out me on disability premium.

 

Back grounded for now anyhow. Just that when I said any error was not down to me and please sort it out, he said he would, so Ive done my bit.

 

I have no idea why esa suddenly changes to him mentioning tax credits though, not a foggiest, so will ask to see welfare rights asap.

 

He did say he would count our conversation as the work focussed interview and I replied I had no prob with having another meeting, just I needed to have confidnece what would be told was true and in my interest as in no more confusion please:).

Edited August 17, 2009 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

ps, Importantly I forgot to say he did state he had filled in tax credit form online and I would here from them soon. So I hope I am wrong but I thought that meant any income support claim would stop.

 

He did promise it would not effect my income support money comming in 26th, so we will see:eek: Got to give him a chance.

[MIKEY DABODEE]

hi

tax credits have been mentioned to you because when you go over to ESA then tax credits will pay for your child as ESA will only pay money for yourself

 

You should have the same amount off tax credits for your child as you have been receiving for him off Income Support

so hopefully your advisor would have completed the forms

 

when you get your tax credits inform IS straight away as you cant have money off tax credits and IS for your child

 

remember in my earlier post I told you about a loan what the advisor was doing was asking you what income you had coming in to assess you for the switchover

you said maintenance obviously when he viewed the IS screens then he seen there was none on your claim

 

I have no doubt you have phoned them to declare this, you need to get some advice on this as soon as you can

CSA normally tell IS when they start paying maintenance so things have gone wrong badly

Edited August 17, 2009 by MIKEY DABODEE

[loopinlouie]

Thanks for advice. The comments of income support telling me to go and enjoy, prove how hard I worked to verify the money was mine. They had to tell me to spend it without worrying. I can understand one making a mistake, but not three calls. I could almost over the phone feel my advisor reeling at what I said. Did enjoy politely pointing out I make recordings, Ive felt guilty for so long recording people, but now think I am stupid if I dont.

[MIKEY DABODEE]

maintenance was a night mare before October last year

there were two types

1 the non resident parent paid it direct to the customer then I.S should have taken it fully into account after giving a ten pound disregard

2 the NRP paid it to the goverment, CSA gave the customer the ten pound disregard.

 

After October its been all paid direct to the customer and I.S gives twenty pound disregard and takes the rest of the amount into account pound for pound... They do this even if you are claiming tax credits for your children and they are not paying for them. Its classed as an income

 

thats where I think your problem has arisen and where it has gotten mixed

up

but it should have been taken nto account if you have been receiving it and perhaps you need to see CAB or someone about this

Edited August 17, 2009 by MIKEY DABODEE

[Jack Daniels]

From next week there has been a u turn on lone parents under the lone parent obligation scheme

 

If you are unfit for work then they cannot force you to claim ESA ask your advisor when you see them, this should be confirmed for you

dont know if it will effect you, but it may help if you dont want to go off Income Support but when your child reaches sixteen you would still need to come off as per the old rules

Edited August 18, 2009 by Jack Daniels

[loopinlouie]

All your advice is brilliant every one of you, I have gone from birsting out in tears and feeling a fool to my doctors, to feeling a little more empowered.

 

Funny enough the job centre advisor told me yesterday something about a backward step in regarding single parents who are unwell. Today he asked me to send the doctors note to him and tommorow I will do that.

 

He has applied for tax credits on line for my children and I am not sure what this then means for me, the call couldnt have been briefer today. I hope this means I will be left on income support as I have requested previously though told then it was not allowed, untill yesterday the hope of a backward step.

 

He has clearly to be fair yesterday told me to inform income support as soon as tax credits make any award for my kids, so I know to do that and will of course record that call for record.

 

I just hope I now will be left on income support even though he wants the doctors note, I have asked before why do I have to change to esa and hope this apparant backward step refered to will help me.

 

He has to be fair been obviously making an effort to help me understand what tax credits are, I just get confused.

 

Welfare rights rang me yesterday and went through what happened over the csa money. They were pleased I had a reference as in recording and asked me to make a note of names and also told me not to worry untill I hear in writing and then that they would step in. She seemed to understand where the confusion on their part may have come from and at least on this occassion I can say it was not me getting confused thank god.

 

So Ive calmed down and will wait and see and then update, thanks.

[loopinlouie]

Well have to admit I am nawing at my nails again. He said he would ring and explain what this backward step was and let me know where I stand. I didnt get another call. This means I have no idea what benefit I am to be on.