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Appeal ESA

January 16, 2016, 5:31 pm
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How long does it take the DWP to alknowledge receipt of a appeal with cab reputation. Mandatory consideration has already been sort but decision was upheld. Didn't want it to go over the month. I'm asking on behalf of my mother not myself. I myself am now sorted and very happy with my support group decision.

Many Thanks
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Help Needed! PIP Claim and Studying Full-Time

January 16, 2016, 6:07 pm
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Hi all,

This is a bit of a confusing one, but I could really do with some advise!

I'm married with two young children, and we currently claim Housing Benefit, Child Tax, Working Tax and Child Benefit as a family. Up till November 2015, I was working full time and, after a significant promotion I received at work, we were very slowly working our way towards being 'benefit free'. My wife and I are foster parents to our eldest child who is 4, and my youngest was born a month ago.

Unfortunately, things took a nose dive when I had to leave my job 2 months ago, and I was diagnosed with two significant mental health conditions. Consequently I've been signed off work and, whilst our benefits are keeping us in a moderately stable position financially, my wife and I don't really like claiming benefits, but are forced to to allow us to be financially solvent. I'm sort of old fashioned with benefits as a dad; I believe if we have a second child I should be working harder to provide for both our children rather than just claiming extra benefit- you get the idea. Sadly neither of us can work at the moment, which is frustrating for us both- I used to be the 'breadwinner' for the family, but now I can't earn a penny.

I'm on the cusp of applying for PIP, but am scared about doing so. It seems that all I read about PIP is negative, and it seems it's great when you finally get it, but I don't want our family dragged through the mud in applying for it. Can anyone give me some advice about what it's like to apply with a mental health condition? I have Bipolar Disorder, and it is serious enough that I'm bed bound and unable to leave the house for about 2-3 months of the year. Whilst I am on medication which makes it more bearable, most days I struggle to do anything more than play with my son after school and help my wife with our newborn. Stories of mental health PIP claims are welcomed.

Also, I'm thinking of studying full time at University later this year if I'm well enough and more stable- does anyone know what benefits we can and can't get as a full time student with a family? It's been suggested to me by my doctor that doing a degree would be considerably less stressful for me during my recovery, and would mean greater earning capacity when I'm better a few years down the line. It's become a goal of mine to go back to Uni, but I am worried it might financially cripple us!

Thanks everyone!
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ESA Savings - transfer money to someone else's bank account

January 16, 2016, 9:21 pm
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Hi all :)

I receive DLA and ESA (Support Group, income-related). I have few outlays because I live at home with my parents. Due to the nature of my illness I can't really do anything which means I save most of the money I receive. I'm now approaching the £6,000 limit.

I wanted to know, am I allowed to put any extra money I save into a bank account in my mum's name? I don't want to do anything illegal, but neither do I want to be penalised for not spending money.

Is this okay?
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Urgent advice please

January 17, 2016, 2:03 am
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Hi I am desperate for some advice and it's needed very quickly please. I am a Bi-Lateral Amputee and I have been claiming ESA, DLA & Working Tax Credits since June 2010, everything was going smoothly until late last year when I had notification that I could draw some funds from two very small pension pots ( less than £3K) I decided that as Christmas was coming and I was nearing the end of my mortgage I would take these tax freesums and pay off the mortgage and have a good Christmas with my Grandchildren.
I called the DWP & HMRC to make sure my Benefits would not be affected and was assured both times because of the amount involved my Benefits should not be affected Just before Christmas I received a form from the DWP saying thet HMRC had informed them that I had taken these funds and that they wanted to make sure I was getting the right amount of Benefit ( in other words snooping to see if I was committing fraud). I duly sent copies of everything I had received and though no more about it.
On Saturday 17-01 I received amother letter from ther DWP a FEPSL7, again entitled Are you getting Enough ESA, It goes on to say We are looking at information about your partners weekly income given to HMRC by or emploteryou ,your partner your partners employers ot your partners pension providers.
My wife is self-employed when we claimed Working Tax Credits we sent of her Certified Accounts. she has no pension provider or employer. The letter goes on to say that can we suppply the following information, current statements of any saving ( we can) . Investments or Capital you ior you partner have ( we haven't any) akthough I do have two other pensions that I do not intend to take until retirement age.Then bizzarely it asks " If you have spent any of your lump sum pensions you will need to supply evidence: ie Reciepts.
As an amputee I do most of my Gift shopping on line I only have my Paypal & Amazon Statements, are they acceptable? I also intendt to pay my small mortgage off this week but they want all the info back by the 25th January. Hardly enough time to try and sort things out. Please can someone help me with this as I feel I am being treated like a crimnal here although I believe I have done nothing wrong and have not slept for worrying abouit this How do I proceed with things please ?????Thank You
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Re applying to ESA: Supporting evidence advice needed?

January 17, 2016, 3:45 am
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Hi All

Basically, I had to drop out of Uni permanently due to my health being in a rapid state of decline (on the uni's advice as was missing lessons thanks to hospital appointments) so have put in a claim for ESA again, however I have not got a "fit note" but letters from one specialist detailing my condition, the other from my GP going into detail about my medical issues in order to support my mitigating circumstances claim for student finance... would these two be enough ? many thanks in advance :)
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how do working tax credits get processed. thanks

January 17, 2016, 4:14 am
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With Working Tax Credits, what's the processing procedure? I wrote to them in October because my hours reduced and I requested another application pack (if it was going to be needed) and they eventually sent me one but in the middle of December. And apparently because my hours had been under 30 hours for 4 weeks or more, I would have been required to reapply. I seem to remember applying once before by post* and being advised to phone and request a pack. Do you just have to abide by what the current way of processing things is at the time and it is just literally once they've got the form, that things will happen...

*I think this was just over a year ago.

Thanks
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Council Tax & Council Tax Support Confusion

January 17, 2016, 9:47 am
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Hi,

I wonder if anyone has experience of Council Tax Support when a child goes off to University as a full time student.

I have received letters and an amended bill from my council to remove the 25% single persons discount (as DD is now over 18). I know that I will be able to get this reinstated by providing evidence of her FTE from her University. This is in hand.

The letter that followed the c.tax bill then laid out what Council Tax Support I am entitled to, and this is where I am confused.

The amount that I am eligible for has been set out i.e. it says from 01 Sep 14 to 27 Oct 14 you have been awarded an amount of £xxx. It then lists for different dates the amount I am awarded and it varies as much as £5 in that period. The period are not all the same which I dont understand.

Anyway, at the moment I have a bill for over £1k to pay them.
I am still in receipt of WTC and CTC and have kept the Inland Revenue informed when I have had a change to my income. This has automatically triggered a letter from the Council to say that Im still entitled to council tax support and how much that will be.

However this huge bill and letter seems to suggest that because DD3 has gone to Uni, and therefore the child benefit for her has ended, that I become eligible for a larger part of my council tax bill.

Is this correct? Im still a single parent to 2 school age children and work full time. My income is still low (approx £15k) before any benefits such as CTC/WTC.

Im really concerned as I have always told IR when changes have happened and the fact that I've received letters from the Council about my Council tax support have led me to believe that I am paying the correct amount.

When I phoned the Council Tax offices they said I needed to bring in proof of DD's study and then the bill would be adjusted. But am I right in thinking that this will only be the 25% single persons discount that they will adjust back onto my bill? That leaves me with £750 left to pay!!

Anyone know how having one less child claim for child benefit reflects on council tax support. It does say in the letter that once I provide the evidence the council tax disregard and non dependant deduction will be looked at again. Does THIS mean they'll consider my case and income again?
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Over £6000 limit - who to call and rules?

January 17, 2016, 10:01 am
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Hello, I posted about this over a year ago, because I had received backdated benefits that totalled over £6000. I understand that for the first year this is disregrded from capital calculations.

I have spent money on things, replaced worn out items with quality ones etc, paid for private psychological therapy as I'm written off by the NHS. I even paid for an Open University course, which I'm finding helpful for my mental health to be working on/achieveing something at my own pace.

However, I'm still a bit over the savings limit. About £700 as we speak, but between £700 - £1200 depending on time of month, over the last month since the 52 week disregard ran out.

I know I need to tell council HB dept, but who at DWP do I speak to? And what happens? I'm scared it's going to involves lots of organising and suspicion/investigations, which doesn't seem fair when I'm only over the limit because I was struggling by on so little for months and months while they decided what I was entitled to!

So - what doe it involve? Sending off bank statements? Anything else?
Also I was hoping to have a holiday and start another Open University course in October. I know benefits aren't for education, but it seems silly to get a loan if I've got the money upfront! I'm happy fot them to treat it as me still having the capital though. Will this be complicated?

As for the holiday, I've not had one for three years and now I'm scared in case they decide I'm not ill if I can go abroad... even though my mental health has been appalling and holiday is the one thing keeping me going (this is not an exaggeration, I came close to suicide a week ago, sadly support and/or treatment just isn't happening, just nasty scenes with police dragging me off to be assessed, but never any actual help. I'm trying to do the right things to feel better myself.) On holiday I can go at my own pace and do things as I need, very different from coping with work or interacting with others etc. Again, I'm happy for the money to be counted as if I've still got it, but I'm scared they'll be suspicious.

Any advice appreciated, thanks
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Pip

January 17, 2016, 5:02 pm
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Hi,

Does the criteria for PIP need to apply for the majority of the day like DLA? Thanks
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Ivw been denied PIP. Photo evidence?

January 31, 2016, 1:28 am
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Im doing a mandatory reconsideration now. Ive git a mind mental health support worker whos doing a support letter with it. Can I take photos how my disabity and mental state etc. Photos of how im not coping etc in daily living cleaning etc
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PIP managing toilet needs

January 31, 2016, 2:05 am
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I put that I can but my husband has just pointed out that I sometimes use pads when I have a flare up(coughing fits) because I get a bit of leakage .:o I'm so embarrassed bringing this up. Would it be worth mentioning in my mandatory reconsideration as I didn't put it on the original form and it isn't all the time.
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Employer over paid tax while paying correct wage, story inside.

January 31, 2016, 2:57 am
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Hi!

First time poster so go easy on me. Wasn't quite sure where to post this, but here looked the best fit.

18 months ago i started a new job with the joys that comes with it, longer hours but more money. A weekly sum of money was agreed for payment and honored by my employer.

September 2015 (last year) it was bought to my attention by my employer that he had been paying far to much tax for me while still paying me the agreed wage. I contacted the tax office and true enough, i was on the incorrect tax code (538T or something similar and it should should of been 1060L) i obviously asked them to correct my tax code and notify my employer and/or his accountant.

Shortly after i received a cheque for a sum of money made out in my name. A phone call to the tax office confirmed it was a cheque for my over payed tax. I tried to explain as best i could what had happened regarding my employer still paying my full wage while paying too much tax due to my tax code being wrong. I asked who's the money was and was told by the tax office that in no uncertain terms the money was mine. Obviously with this in mind and seeing as it was my name on the cheque, i placed the money in the bank and moved it to a savings account not really knowing how i stood legally and morally. To this day the money is still in that savings account and accessible.

Four months have passed with nothing said about the money or my tax code. I figured it was sorted and that i had no more to worry about. Obviously i had that cash in my savings and i still dont really know where i stand with that, for that reason i have not spent any of it.
Last Friday after work i get a call from my employer telling me that he is STILL paying too much tax for me. I can hear his accountant wittering on in the background that my tax code is 538t and should be 1060l. I explain that i have already spoken to the tax office in September and that this should of all been sorted out.

So i once again phone the tax office and ask what my tax code is. Sure enough, i am still on the incorrect tax code and i am informed that it should be 1060l. I question if they have record of me questioning it previously and sure enough, on the 30th of September 2015 i made a call to them for this very same reason. The guy on the phone cant explain why my new tax code isn't being used and tells me he will get the system to once again issue my new tax code to my employer and/or his seemingly inept accountant. The guy at the tax office informs me that i will be receiving ANOTHER cheque for over paid tax and that it should be with me shortly. "Great" i think, another cheque made out to me for money i dont even know is morally or legally mine.

So a very awkward week then follows at work, with my employer seemingly wanting to avoid any kind of contact with me and basically blanking me. Friday comes and i am immediately called into the office "for a chat" where i am basically screamed and shouted at, told i am lazy, questioned as to what i have done all week, have my girlfriends serious illness (cancer) belittled by using the phrase "my heart bleeds for you" while i try justifying why i might be texting said girlfriend from time to time while she is recovering from chemo etc etc. Luckily i managed to keep my cool....

"So how is the last paragraph relevant" i hear you ask? Well i suspect that little outburst is due to the fact that my tax code is still incorrect for god knows what reason and he is going to now be out of pocket to the tune of £1000 because my agreed wage was continually paid by him and he has over paid tax for me, which i will then get back when my tax code is finally corrected in the form of another cheque.

TL;DR version;

Employer agreed wage.
Employer paid agreed wage even though tax code was incorrect.
Employer out of pocket (?) due to over paid tax.
Employee (me) gets cheque for over paid tax.
Employee (me) does not know where to stand morally or legally.

My question is this. Can my employer claim that money back off the tax office or is it claimed off me? Should i just give my employer the money from the tax return, should that be his anyway? Should i spend the money on hookers and blackjack and say screw the world?

My gut says i should give it back but my head questions whether i am just giving away money. My heart says i should withdraw the money from the bank in cash form and burn it in front of him for belittling my girlfriends illness....

Where do i stand?
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ESA, what is likely to happen next?

January 31, 2016, 8:11 am
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Hi all,

I was claiming incapacity benefit from 1999 to 2013 after a brain injury. In Feb 2013 I went for a work capability assessment which I failed, scoring 0 points. The DWP called a month later and said I'd scored 0 and didn't qualify for ESA. I appealed and won my appeal (March 2014) and was put into the WRAG. I decided to wait until my review to try and get transferred to the support group. My tribunal notice recommended that the DWP leave me alone for 24 months which they kind of did. I was told on this forum that my reassessment would not take place for 6 - 12 months after this was due, due to a huge backlog. However on Friday, I got a letter from the Health Assessment Advisory Service containing a Capability for Work Questionnaire. The letter is dated 26th Jan 2016 and I've got until 26th Feb to return it. I expect I'll have to go for another work capability assessment soon. Could it happen that at the assessment that I score 0 points again and have to spend a year appealing again?
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confirming actual income for TC

January 31, 2016, 11:05 am
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Hi,
we are self employed and gave an estimate in July of our earnings on which our award was based.
We did our tax returns today online and since we had received literature suggesting we could access our TC online, we tried to give correct figures today online. It allows us to login and see our latest payment and what the payment will be next week, but no way to update the estimate we gave in July.
(In fact the estimate was pretty close - but I am worried that if we haven't confirmed them as accurate today, it will mean big problems.)
Did try the helpline but since it's Sunday, the helpline is closed.
Anyone know if they will just go by our July 2014 estimate - or will say we didn't confirm and they now want all payments back ??? :(
any help appreciated.
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Housing benefit/council tax query

January 31, 2016, 3:36 pm
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Hi there

I'm currently working as an RN and I get some housing benefit and I pay council tax.

As of October, I'm going to be a student midwife, seconded by the trust, on pretty much the same salary I'm on now. Basically, I enrol at university and go full-time, and will do blocks of placements. When I was a student nurse, I was entitled to HB on the grounds that I got DSA for being deaf, however I'm not entitled to DSA this time round, because I'm seconded.

The questions I have are:
1. Would I still be entitled to Housing Benefit?
2. Would I be classed as a student for council tax exemption?

I'm struggling to interpret the law! Thanks in advance for any answers :)
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Guaranteed Pension Credit (Joint) and Council Tax

February 1, 2016, 5:06 am
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Hi… does anyone know if, when a couple have joint guaranteed pension credit, whether they still have to pay council tax, or whether there is a reduction for the 2nd person, please? D45
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How does being an on call emergency service staff affect jsa and council tax support

February 1, 2016, 5:36 am
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Hello,

I'm thinking about joining the on call emergency services.

It is 63 hours a week on call, 10ph when called out and 1600 pound a year.

Can I still claim jsa or council tax support? Or will it get very messy if I'm called out one or two hours a week?
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Question reqgarding Working Tax Credits

February 1, 2016, 7:34 am
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I am a single parent with one dependent child. I am currently working and receive Working Tax Credit. I have been offered a new position with a better salary but am worried that it will loose all my Tax Credit allowance and therefore I would be no better off. I would be moving from a term-time contract to a full-time one so I have to factor in that as well. The new position is a career move up the ladder after having to start again after returning from overseas.

I wanted to know what is the maximum I can earn and still be entitled to some benefit?

Thank you
Debster3004
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DWP Complaints

February 1, 2016, 9:52 am
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Hi. I suffer from mental illness etc and their are fully aware of it. I recently made a complaint over the phone, over the last few weeks ive had nothing but poor services. I've had advisors promising call backs what never happed. Ive been lied too and mis informend on several occasions. All their faults over the last few weeks has had massive impact on me finicially eg my telehone costs,(pay and go) and mentally draining etc.

Has anybody had a DWP complaint experience and how it it worked for you?

I ask because I even mis informend about the timescale of a response 2 advisors saying different things

Thanks (im new here) be nice dont put head down toilet..
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Tax credit glitch -NEED SERIOUS ADVICE

February 1, 2016, 10:53 am
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Hi, this is complicated so I'll try to keep it succinct. Tax credits told me on the phone today that they have been calculating every years tax credits award on our salary in 2013/14, which was £23000 approx, even though we earnt £6000 in 2014/15 and about £10000 in 2015/16 (reason for this is because I went back to uni to get my PGCE). So, I've checked our award notices and it states the accurate figures for each year but then adds the 2013/14 amount as the total for 2013/14. I didnt think it was actually taking the 2013/14 amount as accountable in the calculations, that is why I have ever disputed it. The calculation for tax credits is so confusing I've never known how it's worked out to know that is wasn't enough. According to the operator at tax credit they've been calculating our tax credits last year and this year on an income of 2013/14 and ignoring our actual year's earnings. So, they owe us but how do I find out exactly how much? And how can we make sure we get the money? This has all come about because they wanted to stop our claim completely due to apparent overpayments of childcare. We don't have much and life is hard enough without them takin away money we rely on. Can anyone give us advice, please? Thank you:)
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