Housing benefit

Perhaps we ought to see the ones who made up these rules without essential items or money to buy food, heating and accommodation for two weeks.

Some news on our caring, sharing DWP :

"THE Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has published guidelines to jobcentres acknowledging that social security sanctions actively damage the health of claimants.

The guidelines state that imposing benefit sanctions for two weeks or more will “usually” damage the health of a claimant. As has been widely reported, many social security sanctions last significantly longer than this, and are sometimes indefinite.

In a section on dealing with vulnerable members of society, official decision makers (DMs) were advised to consider whether the health and wellbeing of a vulnerable person would be damaged more than the average person.

The guideline states: "It would be usual for a normal healthy adult to suffer some deterioration in their health if they were without: 1. Essential items such as food, clothing, heating and accommodation, or 2. Sufficient money to buy essential items for a period of two weeks."

It goes on to state:"The DM must decided if the health of the person with the medical condition would decline more than a normal healthy adult.""

www.commonspace.scot/articles/2190/dwp-concedes-that-social-security-sanctions-harm-people-s-health

Karma.

Important to keep copies of everything and possibly a log of calls etc.

How would it help Vampirequeen exactly?

Forget phoning the people at HB office. Send detailed letter with dates, amounts etc and include copies of any previous correspondence between them and you. Send recorded delivery or get a receipt if handed in personally. Give them a deadline by which you want the matter resolved. If this fails go to your customer services dept at your local authority and say you want to make a formal complaint.

Or go straight to your local CAB. They might tell you to do the above or if it is more complicated than you have indicated above they might suggest you go in and see them for help.

really? About the CIPD looking into it?

That was on the news last night, nothing new. How it would help Vampirequeen I have no idea...

Vampire, justice may be served after all.

www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/19/public-relations-body-cipr-investigating-dwp-fake-welfare-claimants-leaflet

Keep your fingers and toes crossed.

fullfact.org/blog/2015/aug/dwp_fake_benefits_claimants_leaflet_freedom_information-47306

Make sure they do not make anything up about you, vampire.

That's appalling but sadly doesn't surprise me.

No experience of housing benefit but do have of HMRC and CSA both of whom can be very disorganised/inefficient. Son always paid maintenance on time and without question so they should never have been involved but a 'third party' kept telling them he was earning a lot more than he is and so they automatically increased the amount due. When he (twice) proved his earnings they said that as it was not more than 25% wrong he should pay it. So their mistake but he has to pay!

Yes. It arrived yesterday as promised. We took it into the local office straight away and they faxed it over to Housing Benefit. Now we just have to wait for their next bizarre demand or, who knows, they may actually decide to pay what they owe us.

We definitely agree on that, vampire.
Has the info from your pension provider arrived yet?

I'm always nice to the housing benefit people I talk to. After all it's not their fault the system stinks.

FarNorth Nonnie Government policy is to be as obstructive as possible towards benefit claimants. please show me this 'policy' and when it was brought in.

www.google.com/url?q=https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/rebecca-omoniraoyekanmi/how-to-lose-your-home-why-are-so-many-people-being-evicted-in-coa&sa=U&ved=0CBEQFjAEOApqFQoTCLnowu_ns8cCFWn0cgodBy4M8g&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNEgN19Ki7u9rhng6K9FApMpl1-EJw

Don't read it, vampire, although I am sure you know about it already. Be nice to the housing benefits people.

Nonnie Government policy is to be as obstructive as possible towards benefit claimants. Hence the many cases of sanctions (money being stopped for weeks at a time) at the slightest excuse.

No way will my landlord understand. Although I've been an exemplary tenant and never missed or been late with my rent either before or after I became 'poor', he isn't exactly happy that I rely on housing benefit for part of the rent.

He's had a very privileged life and I don't think he's ever met anyone on benefits before. I can't help thinking he's worried that at some point I will change into the sort of person he saw when he watched Benefit Street .

VQ - there's another person in this scenario, your landlord. You might find that if you approach him/her they will understand the situation and make allowances.

FarNorth This type of treatment by government depts is a result of government policy and not just the attitude of individual employees in those depts Please explain. I think it is simple incompetence.

Just hope the fax machine is working, vampire.

I can understand why people who work in the department have to be protected. Everyone I have spoken to has been very sympathetic but their hands are tied. My rent isn't due until the end of the month and my benefit doesn't cover all of it but if you relied totally on the benefit and were at risk of losing your home I can understand why people react badly and aim it at the only person they can take it out on even though it's wrong.

I didn't see anyone in person...just over the phone. There is no point going all the way to County Hall (10 miles) because I wouldn't be able to talk to a decision maker. Hopefully the information from my pension provider will arrive today and I can take it across the road to the local council office who will fax it to County Hall.

I'm obviously out of touch, but not surprised.
When I was in UK last week I had to go and collect a parcel from a Royal Mail depot and there were several notices saying the polce would be called at any sign of threatening behaviour.