oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Jan 6, 2023 11:20:08 GMT
Hi gordo sorry for the late reply but received some sad news during the Xmas holidays one of my younger cousins was found dead by his fiancee in their kitchen so as you can imagine I was shocked to say the least so that's a family funeral to attend some point this month not been a great start to the new year for me,
Anyway I agree with you about the courses and that I can't travel to them and I'm going to explain this again to her when I eventually get to speak to her, that should've happened yesterday but she never phoned me at the arranged time so not sure what's going on with them this time, also I'm not hearing from my work coach at the jobcentre until 13th of February in fact haven't heard from him since the end of November start of December last year and they said they have to speak to me every 2 weeks to keep my claim active or something like that,
The wife has spoken to our Housing Association about the month rent free apparently we got that wrong what it means is they give us a month to clear the property not a months rent free, so we misunderstood what they mean't, but they are still expecting us to pay the money in full told them we can't so they said it will probably be handed over to a debt collection agency, which if I'm honest wouldn't be a bad thing as we can arrange to pay so much a month through them,
Still no date for the tribunal hearing but it will happen when it happens I guess hopefully soon so I can get it out of the way and carry on with my life, anyway will update once I know more from the Tribunal Courts and FEDCAP.
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Post by gordo on Jan 6, 2023 14:55:25 GMT
Hi oldrocker.
Thanks for update.
Sorry to hear about your cousin.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Jan 7, 2023 10:54:43 GMT
Hi Gordo no problem and thank you for the condolences very much appreciated,
Anyway still haven't heard from FEDCAP haven't even had a email from them,
And now we have had a letter from the DWP saying that the bereavement grant we applied for and was awarded in December last year isn't actually a grant it's a loan (which was never explained to us during any of the countless phone conversations, or in any of the paperwork from them), well anyway we now have to pay nearly £2000 back by the 15th of January and the wife did phone them and ask about paying so much a month but that fell on deaf ears all they said was is there a form with the letter if so fill that in and send it back so that's what we will have to do,
The wife also spoke to our Housing Association about the rent on her deceased mum's bungalow, and they said that they maybe able to write the debt off as there is no money from the estate to pay it, they will get back to us after they have checked a few things out first,
Anyway that's everything that has happened in the last 24hrs.
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Post by philbadfactor on Jan 16, 2023 10:46:47 GMT
Oh well I suppose it had to happen. I have a phone call coming this afternoon from a so called "Work Coach".
Not sure what to expect TBH but will deal with it as best I can.
I can't do an awful lot at the minute.
How did you get on with that Bereavement payment oldrocker ?
edit; very straightforward 10 min. convo. v. pleasant woman said she'd phone again in 3 months when I should know more about my current quite serious symptoms.
( 1 stone weight loss since August plus extreme bowel changes....investigations ongoing....serious sleep disturbance ongoing for 5 years !).
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Jan 30, 2023 17:14:08 GMT
Hi Philbadfactor sorry for the late reply but been dealing with a few things had my cousins funeral on the 20th of January it was very emotional and had me in tears and laughing at some of the stories being told, anyway the wife spoke to the DWP about the bereavement payment and they said just fill in the form and send it back which we did and haven't heard anything from them as of yet, same with our Housing Association about the rent on mother in laws R.I.P bungalow, the wife spoke to them and said they would chat with the benefit office first and see if they would pay it off or at least some of it,
Also haven't anything from the HMRC as of yet but that happens when it happens, and glad that your chat with the work coach went well as some of them can be right little Hitlers and don't listen to anything you say to them, and it seems at the moment that my work coach is only chatting to me every couple of months instead of every 2 weeks as I haven't spoken to him since December and not chatting to him until February which has been nice,
And sorry to hear about the ongoing medical issues you are having hope it gets sorted out soon for you mate,
Anyway will update when I know more.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Mar 11, 2023 11:32:42 GMT
Hi everyone just a quick update, first off haven't spoken to anyone from either the Jobcentre or FEDCAP since November of last year, I'm supposed to be chatting with someone from FEDCAP on the 16 of March and with my work coach on the 11th of April but will see if that actually happens though,
Anyway back in February we had a letter from the DWP about the bereavement payment we applied for, it stated that because there is no money in the estate to repay it they have changed it to a grant and we don't have to pay any of it back at all which is good,
Also the rent on the bungalow our HA says we owe them we have not as yet heard anymore about that so we are assuming for the moment that they got the money from the benefit office,
And lastly I still haven't heard about a date for the tribunal hearing but I guess that will happen when it does, also me and the wife are both suffering from Covid at the moment, it is horrible wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy, and apparently it can take up to 12 weeks to fully recover from it, which is going to effect us seeing our son as he is in long term foster care,
Anyway will update again when I know more.
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Post by philbadfactor on Mar 13, 2023 11:19:57 GMT
Good to hear from you mate and in general sounds positive apart from the Covid obviously. Would also like to hear how that pans out, as most people I know who have had it it hasn't been too bad. As far as I know I've not yet caught it, and in fact have had only one cold since it all started but it wasn't serious enough for me to bother checking whether it was Covid. But i don't think so.
I thought you would get a Grant in the end for the funeral so that's good to hear that.
Re; My health, I have a new diagnosis which is pretty serious but not as bad as I thought. Chronic Pancreatitis. I now have to take Enzymes with food or I can't digest or absorb ! I have a MH appointment this afternoon to discuss my sleep disturbance which I now think is being caused as a complication of the Pancreatitis. It's causing internal pressure and Cardiac issues. 5 plus years I've had of that and finally making some progress. I think I'm getting that in lieu of pain which most get with this disease.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Mar 15, 2023 15:55:47 GMT
Hi philbadfactor sorry to hear about your ongoing illnesses and them getting worse, and thanks it does seem positive at the moment about the mother-in-laws property and funeral but the wife still hasn't picked up her mum's ashes or started paying of the last part of the bill, despite me keep telling her to get it sorted out now as it's been five months since her mum's funeral but it's like she's trying to avoid her responsibilities and just hoping it will go away which it wont,
And still no date for my tribunal but I guess that will happen when it happens though,
As for Covid Jesus I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy it put me in bed for over a week my throat became so sore and swollen to the point I could only take liquids through a straw and any solids had to be turned into baby food, constant coughing sneezing and laboured breathing could only communicate with my wife through note pad and pen for the first week, and although I'm on the mend I'm left with a constant cough that I just can't shift and due to how bad my throat got I have a different tone to my voice now which will need specialist treatment to correct,
So all I can say is either your friends only had a bad cold/flu or they had a mild case of Covid as it's one of the nastiest most life draining things I've ever experienced and I hope to never catch it again mate.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Jun 9, 2023 1:31:46 GMT
Hi Everyone really sorry for not updating sooner but really going through it at the moment, first off my oldest uncle lost his battle with cancer a couple of weeks ago, my cars braking system has failed big time and I'm looking at a bill more than I paid for the car to get it fixed, also still no word from the tribunal people so thinking of throwing in the towel on that one and tell them to forget it,
Also I have a new contact worker at FEDCAP and because I haven't spoken to them since last year not my fault every time they phoned me I was out at my parenting classes, which I did explain this to them but they still kept phoning me on the same day each fortnight, anyway they have said that this is my last chance before they inform the Jobcentre that I get sanctioned, also can't or refuse to grasp the fact I'm not physically able to make it into their offices in Oxford, I've even emailed them medical evidence stating this but they have said it's part of being on the restart scheme so I have no choice but to attend the face to face appointments or they will inform the jobcentre that I'm failing to engage with them,
And talking of the Jobcentre 4 things have happened concerning them the 1st is my wife's side of the UC claim has been closed but mines still active and our UC money hasn't been affected yet, 2nd is I've finally spoken to my work coach after not hearing from him for nearly 4 months, 3rd is they haven't acknowledged or even accepted my latest sick note, and the 4th is due to our electric being cut off the other week because we had run out of credit and couldn't top up until we had borrowed some money later that day, anyway I missed my scheduled phone appointment with my work coach, and they asked me to explain why which I did and now I'm waiting to hear if I'm going to be sanctioned or not,
Anyway that's where I'm at in my life and honestly I'm just so fed up with the whole thing especially the Jobcentre and FEDCAP I wish I didn't need to be on UC to get housing benefit but according to the gov website it's the only way to claim it unless one of us gets a part time job and the wife refuses to as I'm unable to work anymore and I've explained to her several times how much better off we would be but she refuses to see it that way.
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Post by philbadfactor on Jun 9, 2023 9:07:38 GMT
First of all sorry to hear about your uncle. I've lost a supportive friend lately as well. And the car issue about the last thing you need. and getting electric cut off as well. All the stress of that is down to finances and all that is down to the disfunctional system we're stuck with. But don't forget a new government is in sniffing distance and it'll either be more of the same or a bit better. So worth hanging on in there. Have you got a phone number for the tribunal ? Also if you get sanctioned appeal against that as well. sounds totally out of order. The trouble with this forum is all we can do as amateurs when it comes to advice is give support and sympathy because most of us have been in similar circumstances. I ended up getting a charity helping me and I was lucky. Called the peabody trust. They came round and sat here for 2 hours filling in forms etc. Have you heard of this website. I'm half thinking of giving them their £20 a year to join and get proper professional advice. www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/My gut feeling is don't throw in the towel if you know you don't feel able to jump through the hoops. I don't know what technical advice to give, but can only offer moral support and say all the best to you mate. Just hang on in there. It should come good or much better in the end. |
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Post by gordo on Jun 9, 2023 18:11:06 GMT
Hi oldrocker. Sorry about your uncle.
Regards other concerns, is it possible to make a complaint against FEDCAP?
After all, you did explain to them you had to be somewhere else when they phoned you, so they should have taken that into consideration.
The fact they simply ignored you, is a disgrace.
It seems this particular organisation is not up to anything, other than being another tory scam group!
Wonder if its also worthwhile to make an official complaint against them with DWP?
I get your wife's concerns. She is trying to protect your health. But the money side of things is also a great concern at same time.
As PhiL says above, hang on in there. I know that's easier said than done, however.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Jun 11, 2023 19:20:51 GMT
Hi philbadfactor and gordo thank you for the condolences about my uncle I missed his funeral because of the issues with the car and I'm still pissed off about that, I live nearly an hour away from the rest of my family so none of them could come and collect me and the wife and we didn't have the money for a taxi either, because if I had the money I'd have had electric on the day my work coach phoned and the car fixed,
Anyway I've heard from the support worker at FEDCAP and it's a friendly but threatening email what I mean is hes trying to befriend me but also at the same time threatening me with the jobcentre and sanctions all very strange,
And yes I've thought about making an official complaint but not sure how much of a difference it would make, and last year I spoke to a legal adviser at my local Citizens Advice about my situation with the office appointments and he spoke to the manager of the jobcentre I'm registered with and they said that because of my situation and the sick notes I'm sending in they are not looking to sanction me at the moment,
But that was last year and my latest sick note hasn't even been acknowledged by them so not sure what's going on or what's going to happen this time around,
And yes I've heard of the Peabody Trust just never contacted them, and you are right about the current system we have from Bodgit and Scarper it will probably be replaced by Bodgit and Leggit, as The Who would say "meet the new boss same as the old boss",
And seriously guys just being able to vent on here is good enough as I know that so many of you have faced similar situations so understand where I'm coming from so the moral support is very much appreciated along with any advice you give,
Anyway will update as soon as I know what's going on with my claim which hopefully will be soon, and one last thing I'm now out of my 2 year broadband contract with Plusnet and the bill went from 21 pounds a month to 59 pounds a month so I'm trying to find another provider at the moment, the problem is I have to look at digital phone lines as Openreach are turning of the old copper lines by 2025, so they have said everyone needs to be digital by the time they switch them off and remove the cabling, so what I'm saying is if you have any recommendations that would be greatly appreciated guys.
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Post by gordo on Jun 12, 2023 0:57:55 GMT
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Post by philbadfactor on Jun 13, 2023 7:07:43 GMT
Hi oldrocker, yes that's what Vodaphone said to me. I'm to get a digital landline and as far as I know, I should be getting my old number back. I've been without broadband for a year or so after I cancelled my TalkTalk contract for similar reasons to your train of thinking.
I'm getting switched on now on 20th I think. So will let you know how it goes. £12 per month. Takes about half an hour on the phone getting it set up. In my case it wasn't done properly so I had to redo it via online chat. I also have SMARTY on my mobile. £10 per month. I've been connecting to the internet via that for the past year. And that is a way of doing things if strapped for £ a bit. If you get a decent 4g phone it can be done.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Jun 17, 2023 5:55:36 GMT
Hi gordo and philbadfactor,
An update about the sanction I had an email on Wednesday from the DWP about whether they were going to sanction me or not due to the electric being cut off, and the long story short is no they are not which is good, but they also said that if I get sanctioned in the future that will not be the reason fot it, and honestly I thought that was a bit odd to say as they made that point twice in the email they also said my work coach will be phoning me on Monday afternoon not sure if he will mention it he might,
Anyway didn't think anymore of it until yesterday when I received another email from them saying there was a post on my to-do-list, so I signed in and the post was them asking me to explain why I hadn't engaged with the restart scheme, I have until Friday the 23rd to respond and give my reasons which I will do next week, I will be honest with them and take it from there the email also stated that it's mandatory for me to be on the course and it's also my responsibility to contact them to arrange a new appointment anyway that's where I'm up to with the Jobcentre and FEDCAP so watch this space to find what happens next,
Also been looking at different broadband providers and honestly I'm probably going to go with Vodafone mine and the wife's mobiles are on their network anyway so it just seems to make sense to us, but thanks to both of you for the suggestions tho it was very much appreciated guys.
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