Hardship payment.

[hairyfairy]

I recently mentioned that I`d had 3 months benefit stoppage, Iv`e managed to get hardship payments to tide me over for the next 3 months. It`s only £43 a week, so I`ll try even harder to find a job. I`d even take some work off the books, illegal I know, but if I get sent to prison, at least I won`t have to worry about bills, & buying food.

[Hidden]

HI Hairy x Thats awful to think that the government can do this to people x How are you expected to get heat and electric and feed yourself on that pittance x I dont blame you for looking for any kind of work x its the government that push people into doing this sort of thing by making stupid rules like this x In an ironic way you can understand why people prefer prison x heating 24/7 good meals every day x Tv progs on tap etc etc xx Can you not appeal against this ?? I would tell them its going against your human rights xx Sorry to rant but it annoys me that people can be tret like this in this day and age xx Donver x

[Hidden]

Hi hairyfairy

That is ridiculous , how can anyone expect someone to live of that amount of money a week !!!!

Maybe contact your gas & electricity companies etc & explain your circumstances & see if they will accept reduced payments until you are on full pay again , some can be very understanding & be willing to help & its better than having red reminders coming through the letter box adding more pressure on you !

Take Care

Love

whywhy

xxx

[hairyfairy]

I`m on prepayment meters, so at least I won`t get any huge bills, but I should be paying rates, about £22 a month, I`m afraid that I`ll just have to get into debt there, not my fault. I just hope that they`ll be patient about the repayments.

[Hidden in reply to hairyfairy]

Hi

I always find they are a lot more helpful if you let them no your situation & arrange something with them , so hopefully they will be patient

I really do feel for you , this is terrible to expect someone to survive on what they have given you

xxx

[hairyfairy]

I asked my doctor to put me on the sick, but she said that the rules are so complicated these days that I`d have to be at death`s door for it to be worthwhile. I get what she means, because you have to be almost dead under the new rules to qualify for sickness benefit. I watched " a Christmas Carol " on tv the other night, & I can`t help but compare the present prime minister with Scrooge. I can imagine him telling charities to let the poor starve to death, & cut the surplus population!

[Jeffju]

That is ridiculous, expecting someone to survive on that amount. I would do any work |I could find ... illegal or not. So many people work off the books and you have such a low income it's probably not taxed anyway... give it a go.

Wish I could help more, Julie xx

[Carolinee71]

Hi, I am really sorry you are going through this. I was on JSA for w while, but I used to turn up every 2 weeks full of all the jobs I had applied to, I wrote on a spare bit of paper every job search I did which was daliy and every job I saw. So every two weeks I had page upon page to show them. I did all of this and in the 6 months I signed on for no one looked at it. Towards the end I just used to write in the booklet 3 searches a week and that again was never looked at. My job centre just wanted you out of the door as quick as they could. Maybe they were overworked !

I was so pleased that my GP was happy to give me a sick note when I became unwell and once when I was complaining to him that the notes never seemed to get they and they were questioning them his answer was to start giving me 3 month sick notes at a time and told me " they can stick that in there pipe and smoke it "

I was by then on ESA but until I had mt medical I still had to send in notes. Thank god I don't have to do that anymore.

I don't think it should be so easy for a jobs worth to be able to stop your benefits. If you have missed a search they should talk to you about it,you may of been unwell, have no internet due to no money . You should be allowed to give your reasons and as long as u had a reason NO SANCTIONS should be given so freely.

I am so sorry you a re having to live on should a small amount which wouldn't feed a pet dog let alone a person who has bills to pay. I know to keep my house warm enough for me from 4 o'clock onwards ( I get up with my daughter to see her before school but once she leaves, I try and get any jobs done but then go back into bed to watch telly or read as then I can get away without putting on the heating. If i do get up I get my mum to come and get me and I sit round hers and stay warm with her heating as she gets the heating payment as she is 75 )each day costs me around £100 per month. As I said I am on ESA, work related / income related group. I wouldn't however be able to make ends meet without the tax credit I get for my daughter.

I hope things improve for you and your money goes back up. Can you not appeal the sanction?

Love and hugs Caroline

[Lillylill]

Hi lovey I had the same thing happen to me it's disgusting they jus stopped mine and didn't even tell me I got hardship it was £35 pound a week the government have a lot to answer for x x

[Hidden]

Hi hairy fairy, We live in very difficult times and I can relate to your plight. May I suggest that you seek help from citizen advice bureau also go to your MP or MlA thats what they are there for ..these are the guys who bring ideas to the house of Lords in Parliament where these stupid rules are made. GIVE THEM FEED BACK THAT THEIR RULES ARE CAUSING YOU UNTOLD SUFFERING. Make your voice heard. Do not give in to depression or curl up and give up otherwise, you will be forgotten and nothing will change. We the people can change things if we support one another.. Get up and fight back. May I suggest that you set up an internet connection for others ( and there are millions) spear head a voice for the community in need. Get each person to sign a petition. They must not sign Mr & Mrs ...but sign their own name individually. Other wise it complicates the petition.. This is the only way to play their game by their rules so we can all be heard and make a difference.

All the very best HF.

[hairyfairy]

I`m already subscribing to a facebook page called benefit claimants fight back, & I wish that I had a sympathetic gp like carolinee, who said let them stick it in their pipe & smoke it, that made me laugh! If only this government would look further into the future & see what their policies are going to do to this country.Crime will go through the roof as people break the law to find enough money to live on.