Benefit Scenario's

Author
Discussion

Mr POD

Original Poster:

5,153 posts

207 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
Before I start I'm not some Picky scrote Scrounger who wants an easy life(yet)
.
Redundancy Looms. And the internet does not provide the answers completely

The facts.

2 kids at school
Wife with ME who's not that bad now but hasn't claimed anything EVER and is now looking for a part time job that fits in with her illness (ie hours that are totally flexible in the sense that she can just not come in if she can't)
Me - 20 years in full time employment
Mortgage : Paid off in most scenario's (The money I got from my nan's inheritance will pay it off)
Savings : £6k to 10K depending

The question is what can and should we claim and what is it worth?

Scenario 1.

Both Looking for work.

Scenario 2.

Me get a job on £5.73 (min wage) 16 hours a week
She : Looking for work

Scenario 3.

Both of us get a job on £5.73 (min wage) 16 hours a week

Scenario 4

Me: Form a start up business consultancy paying me feck all but working at least 16 hours a week
Her : Looking for work

Scenario 5.

Me get a full time job.
Her looking for work

Scenario 6


Me Lookin for work
Her on Disability allowance and motorbility etc

Scenario 7

Me get a job on £5.73 (min wage) 16 hours a week
Her on Disability allowance and motorbility etc

Scenario 8

Me: Form a start up business consultancy paying me feck all but working at least 16 hours a week
Her on Disability allowance and motorbility etc

Scenario 9

Me get a full time job.
Her on Disability allowance and motorbility etc

V8mate

45,899 posts

204 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
I think you should call your local CAB and ask to make an appointment with a 'professional' benefits advisor.

Stevenj214

4,941 posts

243 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
As above - get professional benefits advice, but also claim any benefits that your wife is entitled to - that's what the system is there for. Why haven't you done so in the past?

Mr POD

Original Poster:

5,153 posts

207 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
Stevenj214 said:
claim any benefits that your wife is entitled to - that's what the system is there for. Why haven't you done so in the past?
She did not want to be labelled or interegaited, she thinks that you should only claim if you need it, not just because you are entitled, plus a local councillor went to prison for benefit fraud when he was claiming he had ME, but was filmed running up stairs in the council offices. Today we could go and play tennis for 2 hours, and tomorrow she'd be unable to move, but if the benefit office filmed her playing tennis - you see the scenario playiong in her mind.


V8mate

45,899 posts

204 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
That's why you need to see an independent adviser (like the CAB I suggested).

Not only are the Benefits Offices all rushed off their feet at the moment, I'd always rather take advice from someone who has no vested interest in the outcome.

Mr POD

Original Poster:

5,153 posts

207 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
Is there no independent Spreadsheet I can down load or even a list of benefits and rules for claiming.

V8mate

45,899 posts

204 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
Mr POD said:
Is there no independent Spreadsheet I can down load or even a list of benefits and rules for claiming.
We have a Labour government - do you really think it'd be that easy? biggrin

GSP

1,965 posts

219 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
ME? that the cant be arsed to do anything illness isnt it?

With regards to redundancy and claiming benefits......if you really want to milk the system then take your money out of the bank ASAP and put it under the bed.....savings reduce your payments significantly so I'm told........also have another child.....3 kids in the money maker when it comes to benefits.

Mr POD

Original Poster:

5,153 posts

207 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
GSP said:
ME? that the cant be arsed to do anything illness isnt it?
.
I think you are confusing it with Clinical depression.

In her case she wants to be up and about and often can't be.

The diagnosis is based on the fact that the victim is usually a high achieving hard working highly motivated person who has Chronic Fatigue and no medical explanation. Often refered to as Post Viral Fatigue, it is very real for genuine sufferers but I think I know enough having lived with someone who has it, to know how to fake it I I wanted to, and also how to spot a faker.

I think the NHS consultant could spot a faker too.

It's oppinions like that, which have made my wife not claim what she's entitled to. She was working full time for a charity who would have paid her salary for at least a year, but as soon as she was diagnosed she decided that she'd resign because the public don't give money to charity to pay for sick employees of that charity.


Can you imagine not being strong enough to walk to the shower without having a rest ? This is why victims are often also depressive.

raw nurve touched with red hot poker !!! Cheers I wanted it off my chest !!!

Mr POD

Original Poster:

5,153 posts

207 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
GSP said:
also have another child.....3 kids in the money maker when it comes to benefits.
Where's the nut cracker !!! NO WAY !!! I'd be 60 before they leave school

Who me ?

7,455 posts

227 months

Sunday 7th June 2009
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Mr POD said:
GSP said:
also have another child.....3 kids in the money maker when it comes to benefits.
Where's the nut cracker !!! NO WAY !!! I'd be 60 before they leave school
You've answered my question -"AGE" -AS between 60-65 there's a different scheme ( got to find out about it as I qualify) and been made redundant recently .Don't know too much about it ,but any info welcome .In your case ,Id be looking at something like a benefits advisory service ( maybe even a local soliciter's benefit service ) to give you some solid advice ( and help you fill in forms ,so that you say the right thing -sort of jobcentre attitude test+)