Diary of a benefit claimant.

The person assessing me asked when I last cooked a meal "from scratch", by the way.

I have £1.04 in my bank account.

Update time.
I have had an over the phone pip assessment. (Totally separate from the universal credit one, which I'll need, in order not to be sent for training or work related activities)

1 hour 39 minutes of being asked questions such as "what hand are you holding your phone in?"

"Did you have a lovely jubilee party in your area?" (Presumably so I will forget myself and regale the person with tales about how I danced the night away)

It will take 8+ weeks to hear back, and all I can say is that for people with anxiety problems, this must be hell on earth.

Nonetheless, I was treated with courtesy and respect by the assessor, so that is a good thing.

I keep thinking that I probably did myself no favours by being quite upbeat (in between crying)

I get email newsletters from several newspapers.

This is one item in today's from The Daily Mirror.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/universal-credit-free-cash-you-27070971

I don't know if it is relevant in this thread, but I am posting the link just in case it might help.

MissA
If you want a tapper "thingy", please PM me!?

What a complete load of crap for you to deal with MissA.
Do make sure to find out your appointment date, tho.
Wishing you strength.

If you read the thread you will see that MissA has no money to spend on anything but absolute necessities, unfortunately, so that’s a singularly unhelpful suggestion.

and fingers feel line they've been boiled.

I have large fingers, and I found that using the onscreen alphabet keyboard on a smartphone was very difficult for me to do.

So I got a stylus.

This is a passive device that is in its overall shape much like a basic ballpoint pen, but instead of the nib there is a soft rubber hemisphere on the end. There is also metal between the rubber hemisphere and the plastic body of the pen.

In use, the stylus is held like a pen and acts like a very thin finger when using the onscreen keyboard. I found it very effective.

I got mine from Currys by mail order, I don't know how available they are in shops.

The one I got is light blue, but they don't seem to have that one now.

This tablet froze earlier.

Very odd, the temperature's not that low now ?

Too small for me at the moment, too.
It's quite an,old phone too.
It's just not up to dealing with complicated stuff.

It's like me; turns off.

Glad you've had something positive at last

Keep on keeping on. Your thread is definitely not boring us - we're all holding your hand

It's my only means of doing online stuff

I know people use their phones to do online banking, in fact all their online stuff but I couldn't either.
The screen is far too small for me to cope with so I can understand.

Thank you all.
It really means a lot.

We know what you mean there and it makes things so difficult. Bloody technology always plays up when you need it most. We’re all here to help in whatever way we can.

Callistemon21

^I also need to arrange 2 blood tests as gp thinks I may need a transfusion^
If you need a blood transfusion you could feel so much better afterwards ?

I have had to get photocopies from the bank to reclaim
Can you get your bank statements online?
The bank have to provide them to the Ombudsman I think.

My reluctance to use online means has come to bite me in the bum.
Plus, my phone and my eyes, and my fingers are all playing up.
Phone keeps sticking and turning off, eyes are sore again, and fingers feel line they've been boiled.
It's my only means of doing online stuff.
Can get to the library in a taxi, but no money to pay the fare.
Plus.... shhh.. I'm a bit "loose" (if you get my drift)
Cirrhosis; the gift that keeps on giving.

Good luck, MissA. We're all behind you. ?

I also need to arrange 2 blood tests as gp thinks I may need a transfusion
If you need a blood transfusion you could feel so much better afterwards ?

I have had to get photocopies from the bank to reclaim
Can you get your bank statements online?
The bank have to provide them to the Ombudsman I think.

Oh no - you're definitely wrong there?

Thank you all.
This must win "most boring thread ever" award.

Stay strong and look after yourself too, as you need all the strength you can muster to handle this.
Don't forget your backing group here!
Thinking of you?

But apart from all that, it's positive that things are underway.
I had a charity come in and help me with some of the paperwork
The lady has gone on a 2 week holiday now, though.

Keep plodding. We’re all with you. Getting some money is a start. Sorry it’s like wading through treacle, but you will get there.

Yes, it all seems to have been wiped out.
I have had to get photocopies from the bank to reclaim.
I got a lift, because I just cant do it under my own steam anymore.
I even had to hold the persons arm to get from car to bank.

I also need to arrange 2 blood tests as gp thinks I may need a transfusion.

It seems everything has been cancelled - child benefit, too.

Oh, that is totally unfair! Child Benefit is separate from any other claims and not means-tested.

I had to phone the helpline number today and wait and wait, answer the security questions, then tell them I hadnt got a next appointment date.

They did tell me, and I meant to write it down, but I didn't, and now I've forgotten!

The whole of my dining table is covered in forms, paperwork, scraps of paper.

That's why I'm on here, trying to ignore it!

All swallowed up by my bank charges, but it's a start

Reclaim them and, if you get nowhere, refer it to the Financial Ombudsman. It could take some time but may well be worth it.
The banks are still being made to refund unfair charges.