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Don't know what to do...

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I applied for income support due to the fact i'm too unwell to work (recovering from a breakdown, as well as other long term conditions). 3 weeks later after doing the form over the phone, and sending back the form signed and with the information they needed i had nothing back from them so i called up.

They told me that my claim had been turned down as i didn't recieve any other benefits (which is wrong because i already get low rate care DLA) and that i should have claimed for ESA. So i called them up and did it over the phone, and they said that i should get a crisis loan as i have no money what so ever, and won't until my claims get sorted. So i called up the crisis loan helpline, and after going through their form i wa told i'm not eligable because again i don't have any benefits, and that i'm a student.

Now, i've been told to appeal and get a sick note from my dr, but i'm recovering from having a laproscopy at my boyfriend's and thats over 100 miles from where i live. the dr won't call me so i have to keep calling them in order to speak to her. I've been told to speak to my local CAB, but have spent the best part of a week in previous times, trying to get hold of them to find that they haven't actually got any advice for me.

i really don't know what i can do now, i have got my social worker on the case but she isn't too sure what she can do as she isn't trained in this area...

help!!!

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    fuck beaurocracy. seriously i cant even imagine how frustrating it must be for you, all these different groups playing pass the parcel.

    tell the crisis loans people you are recovering from a f*cking operation and it's not easy to get a doctors note because if they haven't noticed there's currently a f*cking epidemic going on.

    form fillers boil my blood. i have no real advice for you, after your op you want to be keeping the stress low i would imagine. can your boyfriend help at all i.e. get the doctors note for you?

    you could consider applying for a hardship grant from your university as well, as you are a student and can't apply for jobseekers etc. (though when i applied, i was rejected as they expect healthy students to work if they find themselves in financial hardship - even if they cant find jobs) obviously your medical issues both short term and long term make working difficult for you and your university should be sympathetic.

    hope things pan out for you soon
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You should never have even been able to make a claim for income support. Income support for those unable to work stopped being payable in October 2008 and was replaced by Employment Support Allowance. If you were advised by the DWP to claim IS then you need to complain, that's maladministration.

    As you're a full time student, the rules on ESA are very complicated. You can claim as a full time student, but only under certain circumstances to do with your age and when your reduced capability for work started. If you don't meet these rules then you cannot claim ESA whilst you are a full time student- this includes during the summer vacation.

    You need to go talk to your University/College union welfare officer. They're the ones who can really help here. HE and FE institutions have hardship procedures in place, and they're much easier to apply to than the DWP's crisis loan. CABx are helpful but overrun, and they often don't have the same experience in dealing with student benefit questions.

    Go see your student welfare adviser.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Everything else aside, if you're recovering 100 miles away from where you live, that's not really anyone's fault. You can't reasonably expect any service to make special arrangements for that circumstance.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i'm not expecting anyone to make any special arrangement for me, i just want what i'm entitled to...which turns out to be fuck all because of a misprint in the guidance notes for ESA. i'm talking to my social services and my uni, and they are seeing what they can do, but they said it is likely that between them they will have to try and support me over the summer, because there are thousands of other students who aren't able to work in exactly the same position - and by the time they sort out the money it will be the beginning of term again.

    I'm not sure exactly whats going to happen but i'm hoping someone is going to help me out!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    As a short term quick fix try seeing if you can get your bank to extend your interest free overdraft so you don't incur any penalties for exceeding your overdraft. You could also as a last resort siphon some money off your savings as well?

    Try to minimise any outgoings you have, phones, going out and so on and so forth. Not ideal but better than running out of money for food.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i have no more money in my savings account, i have already talked to the bank and they are unwilling to extend my overdraft, i'm locked into my contract so i have to pay a minimum of £40 a month, other than travel to appointments i have no other outgoings...

    still not sure what i'm going to do long term...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You don't have to pay £40 a month at all, it's just a debt like any others. If you don't pay they can hassle you through debt collection agencies, and eventually try and get a CCJ, but most universities can make an allowance for that through the Access to Learning Fund (ALF, the hardship fund). It depends on your university's ALF allocation as to how much help they can give.

    You have to choose whether you want to pay for your mobile phone or pay for your food.

    The guidance notes for ESA weren't misprinted, it was a policy decision to remove entitlement for full time students. The regulations for income support for student lone parents were screwed up- NASMA and the NUS were misled- but that's a completely different kettle of fish.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    oh so me getting a CCJ is a good idea?

    i have to pay the phone bill, it is an essential item because otherwise i have no contact with the outside world - the internet connection i use is "borrowed" and intermittent

    I'm in the middle of writing a letter to my local MP to see if he can help, but i'm hoping i can get some kind of help from social services or the uni
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It's not the end of the world.

    Your local MP will not be able to do anything.

    You're not allowed to claim ESA unless you qualify for ESA in youth, or you're entitled to DLA. You're not allowed a crisis loan as a full time student unless you're on IS, income based JSA or income based ESA or your crisis is as a result of a disaster.

    And I'm pretty annoyed that you're yelling at me when I'm only trying to help you. I have much better things to do than pore through the CPAG handbook researching the rules for you, trying to find an exemption. I won't bother next time.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    £40 a month is a pretty huge phone bill.

    If you're struggling on finances, which you seem to be, like many students then getting your phone bill down would make a signficant difference.

    I appreciate you're probably tied into a contract, but it's worth trying to get it down signficantly.

    £40 would cover the best part of 3 months of my mobile bill, and I don't have a land line either.

    Long term, it sounds like you need a serious sit down with someone to sort out your finances and budgeting. It's a case of somehow dealing with reality, regardless of what you may or may not be entitled to you've got to find some way of making things work for you from now on.

    Get in touch with the students union, both about the urgent and the long term. They should have someone who does case work, the welfare officer is usually a good starting point.

    As a student you are automatically exempt from most benefits, so the next time you have a problem that means you can't work, or simply just can't find a job you're going to be in the same situation again. This means that you need to get a better handle on your finances and budgeting and build yourself a buffer.

    Good luck with it/
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm surprised that you're this hard up, yet you want to spend up to £50 on a screen for your flat...:confused:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote: »
    You're not allowed to claim ESA unless you qualify for ESA in youth, or you're entitled to DLA.

    She said above that she gets low rate care DLA, does that then mean she can claim?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Isn't the student loan meant to cover the holidays too?:confused:
    i have to pay the phone bill, it is an essential item because otherwise i have no contact with the outside world

    Can't you just go out and talk to people or something? (am aware you're recovering from an operation) A phone isn't essential - mine is only used in emergencies. (not because I can't afford it, but because I'm trying to save as much money as possible)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    katralla wrote: »
    She said above that she gets low rate care DLA, does that then mean she can claim?

    I didn't see that bit. The DLA route is open to someone receiving DLA of either component at any rate, so she should be able to claim.

    The student loan and grant only count as income between September and June, so in July and August she should have an income of nil, so she should qualify for income-based ESA. She may still be entitled to some ESA during term time, depending on whether she received the maintenance grant or the special support grant.

    An entitlement to IB-ESA passports to other benefits, such as housing benefit (if she pays an eligible rent), free prescriptions and (if I remember rightly) a reduced rate Oyster card.

    The initial application can be based on a sicknote from a GP, but within 12 weeks she will have to attend a medical. Whether she continues to get ESA will depend on whether the medical report shows she has 'limited capability for work'.

    There are so many variables on this that I don't think advice from a message board is the most appropriate thing. I do this for a living but I'm not happy about people relying on my advice from a message board.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote: »
    I didn't see that bit. The DLA route is open to someone receiving DLA of either component at any rate, so she should be able to claim.

    The student loan and grant only count as income between September and June, so in July and August she should have an income of nil, so she should qualify for income-based ESA. She may still be entitled to some ESA during term time, depending on whether she received the maintenance grant or the special support grant.

    An entitlement to IB-ESA passports to other benefits, such as housing benefit (if she pays an eligible rent), free passports and (if I remember rightly) a reduced rate Oyster card.

    The initial application can be based on a sicknote from a GP, but within 12 weeks she will have to attend a medical. Whether she continues to get ESA will depend on whether the medical report shows she has 'limited capability for work'.

    There are so many variables on this that I don't think advice from a message board is the most appropriate thing. I do this for a living but I'm not happy about people relying on my advice from a message board.

    You so know your stuff! Impressive!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    sorry kermit, i'm having a really hard time and i didn't mean to have a go life is just crazy atm. My boyfriend now has all the symptoms of swine flu, as does his brother, so we're all a bit stressed, not to meantion feeling awful.

    the reason my phone bill is so high is that i have to call my mother in spain, and i don't have any friends in the area over the summer. i have also been told that i can't reduce my bill or terminate my contract without paying the remaining ammount in full. i could do without a CCJ, my credit history is shit enough as it is right now...

    i'm not really too sure what to do about the whole situation but it will get sorted some how i'm sure...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    GhostGirl wrote: »
    You so know your stuff! Impressive!

    :blush:

    I'm paid to. And I have the CPAG Welfare Benefits Handbook open in front of me. That's my excuse anyway...

    Joking aside, I'm happy to give generalist advice on here, when I know the answer. But I'm wary that people take my word as gospel, especially as if you forget to mention a tiny thing it can change all the advice. Go see a specialist adviser, mostly cos you can sue them if they screw up ;)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    the reason my phone bill is so high is that i have to call my mother in spain,

    Are there not bundles that you can add to your contract so that you get x amount of minutes for a certain amount of money per month? I know O2 PAYG do (or did) this. And can she not call you instead? (whether you'll be charged I don't know)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype.

    Even if it has to be on the borrowed internet connection.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    my mum doesn't have a net connection, she lives in rural spain. I also have to act as a PA for her often before she comes over and does work in the UK - and no i don't get paid for it, even though i probably should, so thats why my phone bill is so high - not to meantion having to call benefit offices and such on a mobile that have 0845 numbers. I hav checked and i can't get out of my contract without causing myself huge problems.

    the uni have given me a loan of £150, and my social worker is still trying to sort something out, but i'm hoping that i'll be able to claim ESA
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    - not to meantion having to call benefit offices and such on a mobile that have 0845 numbers.

    Either use phones in job centre or go on to www.saynoto0870.com and find alternative numbers.
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