Man forced to borrow cash after DWP cuts Benefits for 6 wks
Nov 17, 2021 10:02:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2021 10:02:40 GMT
Man forced to borrow cash and use overdraft after DWP cuts benefits for 6 weeks
A man who has just reached state pension age had his existing benefits cut off - but was denied a state pension to replace them, leaving him adrift and having to borrow cash to get by
Jonathan Benyunes
A state pensioner was forced to borrow money after the government cut off his benefits and state pension at the same time, leaving him with no income for six weeks.
Jonathan Benyunes turned 66 in late August, when he became eligible for the state pension .
He was getting housing benefit and Employment and Support Allowance due to mental health issues, but it got switched off when he reached state pension age.
But to his surprise he had no contact from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about his state pension.
With no money coming in, Benyunes was forced to go £1,050 into his overdraft, racking up interest.
He also had to borrow money to get by, including £500 from his sister.
Benyunes said he has called the DWP four times asking them to fix the problem and telling them he had been forced to borrow money to survive.
London-based Benyunes contacted his local Labour MP, Meg Hillier, who also chased the DWP.
Have you been denied your state pension? Message mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
Jonathan Benyunes
Jonathan Benyunes' other benefits were cut off - leaving him adrift (
Image:
Jonathan Benyunes)
Last week he contacted The Mirror, saying: "l can't help thinking this is a cynical, and, to be honest, quite typical Tory trick to save a few million pounds, the idea being a good few will die of starvation, hypothermia or just sheer despair."
He gets no private pension so has no other source of income other than the state pension.
"It is a particularly grim situation for people who are so reliant on it," Benyunes said.
Days after The Mirror stepped in the DWP apologised, repaid Benyunes the past state pension it owed and set up full weekly payments for the future.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We are very sorry that Mr Benyunes’ claim was not processed when it should have been and we have quickly paid him what he is owed, totalling £2,283.49, with his weekly payments now in place.”
He now gets £179.60 a week.
However, thousands of other retirees who are still waiting for their first state pension payments will not be compensated, the DWP has said.
The DWP last week ruled out blanket compensation for those who were left without an income because of administrative delays – despite thousands still waiting for their money .
In a letter to Stephen Timms, chairman of the Work and Pensions committee, on November 8, pensions minister Guy Opperman said the government could consider making special payments where pensioners have been left financially worse off.
But it said these would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and would not be paid to everyone affected.
On October 31, the DWP had 424 claims where payment was due, all of which have been progressed 'as far as possible'.
As of November 4, there were 3,220 claims which needed further information before payments could be made.
A source close to DWP suggested that Benyunes' case was isolated and not part of the wider administrative delay.
Read More www.mirror.co.uk/money/retired-man-left-without-money-25468553
A man who has just reached state pension age had his existing benefits cut off - but was denied a state pension to replace them, leaving him adrift and having to borrow cash to get by
Jonathan Benyunes
A state pensioner was forced to borrow money after the government cut off his benefits and state pension at the same time, leaving him with no income for six weeks.
Jonathan Benyunes turned 66 in late August, when he became eligible for the state pension .
He was getting housing benefit and Employment and Support Allowance due to mental health issues, but it got switched off when he reached state pension age.
But to his surprise he had no contact from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about his state pension.
With no money coming in, Benyunes was forced to go £1,050 into his overdraft, racking up interest.
He also had to borrow money to get by, including £500 from his sister.
Benyunes said he has called the DWP four times asking them to fix the problem and telling them he had been forced to borrow money to survive.
London-based Benyunes contacted his local Labour MP, Meg Hillier, who also chased the DWP.
Have you been denied your state pension? Message mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
Jonathan Benyunes
Jonathan Benyunes' other benefits were cut off - leaving him adrift (
Image:
Jonathan Benyunes)
Last week he contacted The Mirror, saying: "l can't help thinking this is a cynical, and, to be honest, quite typical Tory trick to save a few million pounds, the idea being a good few will die of starvation, hypothermia or just sheer despair."
He gets no private pension so has no other source of income other than the state pension.
"It is a particularly grim situation for people who are so reliant on it," Benyunes said.
Days after The Mirror stepped in the DWP apologised, repaid Benyunes the past state pension it owed and set up full weekly payments for the future.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We are very sorry that Mr Benyunes’ claim was not processed when it should have been and we have quickly paid him what he is owed, totalling £2,283.49, with his weekly payments now in place.”
He now gets £179.60 a week.
However, thousands of other retirees who are still waiting for their first state pension payments will not be compensated, the DWP has said.
The DWP last week ruled out blanket compensation for those who were left without an income because of administrative delays – despite thousands still waiting for their money .
In a letter to Stephen Timms, chairman of the Work and Pensions committee, on November 8, pensions minister Guy Opperman said the government could consider making special payments where pensioners have been left financially worse off.
But it said these would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and would not be paid to everyone affected.
On October 31, the DWP had 424 claims where payment was due, all of which have been progressed 'as far as possible'.
As of November 4, there were 3,220 claims which needed further information before payments could be made.
A source close to DWP suggested that Benyunes' case was isolated and not part of the wider administrative delay.
Read More www.mirror.co.uk/money/retired-man-left-without-money-25468553
