DWP :- Department Works and Pensions

[geographically*challenged]

 I had a letter from them a few weeks back saying that my benefits were changing and I would get a questionaire re my claim for Disablement Allowance.

A few weeks later I got the form.

It was asking what my disability was. How long had I had this disability. Then would I get better.

They asked loads of questions like could I walk and if so how far.

I asked one of my brothers to hep fill the form in which he did.

He asked me the questions and I answered as best as I could. He put it down as though I was totally disabled (which I am).

Ive waited 5 weeks approx and today I got a telephone call.

It was one of the workers at DWP.

He explained who he was and why he was calling.

He at the start asked me a couple of quetions to verify who I was.

When I passed his questions he told me he was ringing with GOOD news.

He said that from some date in May I am going to claim this new benifit that was taking over from  Disablement Allowance and I'd get the highest rate.as I have been while on Disablement Allowance. 🙂

I guessed Id be getting this new benefit as afew weeks ago I also got a letter saying my Incapacity Benefit was going up along with Long term Incapacity Benefit so my benefits will stay exactly as they were but with a different name.

I wasnt worried they'd change but I hear a lady with same problem as me had her benefits cut and told to look for work.

She's like me. Thees no way she could work so I put it to the man who rang. I said I knew he couldnt discuss other peoples claims.

He accepted that and told me just to tell this person she should write to them to appeal with 'I wish to appeal and theyd see what they could do.

[upthecreekyetagain]

Good news Tim - hope the lady you mentioned gets her benefits sorted as well.

[joe_bloggs*]

Congratulations! I bet thats a worry off your mind,i posted another story about a lady losing her benefits,but somehow it's disapeared,someone will get trigger finger if they're not careful :^O

[al**bear]

Great News of no cuts & a weight off your mind. Tim

But I thought Iain Duncan Smith ( Minister in charge) had promised, People like yourself were going to get MORE money in the new scheme.

[Anonymous]

yrs #3 you are correct, but alas the rise wll be funded by those they knock back.

[al**bear]

Tim

It may be worth phoning the 'citizens advice bureau' &

asking them about this

You can appeal

[geographically*challenged]

 I don't heed to appeal Al

Its cut and dried for me. I'm getting this new benefit at the highest rate.

[geographically*challenged]

yrs #3 you are correct, but alas the rise wll be funded by those they knock back.

I am gettng a rise . £2.90 0 on one benefit aand £2.30 on the other.

[al**bear]

Tim, the Government said People like you would get MORE under the new system

[geographically*challenged]

I wish.

No. I honestly feel I get enough.

No. Im not going to give it back but it's amazing how much we get.

There again one of the benefits help pay towards my mobility scooter.

[blackburn_stevie]

The DWP get it right most of the time but there are a few horror stories that crop up when things go wrong. For instance, one of Aggies Bingo Buddies had a run in with the DWP in about 2006. She had the Mobility Allowance because both of her legs were cut off just above the knee. A pretty valid reason or so you would think. Anyway, one of her sons asked her for a loan of £200 but she refused saying that she would buy what was needed but she wasn't going to hand over any cash 'cos she knew it would get spent on drugs. So he grassed her up to the DWP  saying that he regularly saw her dancing etc. Did the DWP  investigate? Not really. They instantly stopped this woman's Mobility Allowance and then told her to appeal. Six weeks later the appeal went through and all her benefits were paid to her and backdated to the date that the DWP stopped them.

Now, I'm all in favour of hammering benefit cheats but that woman's life was made hell and she had to borrow money from good friends to pay household bills during that time.

[geographically*challenged]

Fully agree Stevie. It was quite wrong for them to hammer her like that.

If they had done their work when she started claiming then when her son rang and told them she was dancing they should have seen exactly what he was trying to do and told him they would get him arrested for malicious rumous when obviously this lady had no chanc of walking let alone dancing but it was great the DWP found it was a lie and restarted her money with a back payment of all she had missed but I bet that didnt help her son.

[salfordmarinade]

I am glad the situation is resolved OP. I am sure it's a worrying time for all those involved

[mustard-tree]

[geographically*challenged]

Actually salfordmarinade  I havent been worried at all abou ths new benefit.

A few years ago people were telling me here on RT I was going to loose all my benefits for some reason or other.

Isaid then my doctor had wrirtten to DWP when they wrote to me every six months asking m to go and see them. There was no way I could go. From that ltter I never heard from them except when they wrote to me to tell me Iwas getting a raise.

Honestly I have never worried as I am a true disabled person for the past 8  - 9 years.

I wished I wasnt but there you go.

[captainbovine]

I'm sure you do wish you were back doing the job you loved Tim. glad your benefits are staying the same though, It must be a terrible worry for people at the moment:|