General Chat

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Some time ago I put up a thread about people applying for varoius benefits.
Since then I have been doing some voluntary work at the Citizens Advice Bureau.
If anyone has any queries about D.L.A or other social benefits and would like some advice please feel free to PM me.

The reason I am doing this is that there are so many people who are entitled to some benefits but do not claim as they are put off by the length etc of the forms that they have to fill in.

So, if in doubt get in touch .

Lin.

Thank you Lin, that is very generous of you. I may indeed PM you.
Tina x

Thank you Lin.

A general question, if I may?
Roughly how long does it take to process a claim once the paperwork has been submitted?
We recently helped a relative with their form.

Gwyn

Another question. Not sure if you can answer this.

If I wanted to retire early on a private pension, but wanted to safeguard my state pension how much would a stamp be?

(If Mac is looking in I am not on about a 1st or 2nd class postage stamp - I notice he is on form this evening on other threads lol).

Many thanks
Tina x

Just want to add that I'm not always about in the evenings but if you leave me a message I check every morning and promise to get back to everyone that needs any advice.

Lin.

Hi
Everyone reading this this thread will be interested in claiming DLA or Carers Allowance.

I went through this process about 12 years ago ( I guess things are no better) and even as an ex-civil servant I found the forms a pain in the rear end.

My advice to anyone going through this process IS GET THE BEST ADVICE AND HELP THAT IS AVAILABLE. CAB, Citizens Advice etc.

Please, please claim all the benefits you are entitled to receive. If you don't apply no one is going to hand them to you.

Thank you Lin,
i had to fill in the forms for DLA last year for myself, luckly my friend helped me, then it took us all afternoon, If only they made the forms simple to fill out that would be half the battle, more people would claim.
lynn

nice to see someone trying to help with those dreaded forms. my nan had to claim higher rate DLA a few years ago and the forms where baffling for me as i was helping her fill them in, i used to be a housing benefit officer so was used to helping people fill forms in, it must be really hard for some people like my nan who has senile dementia.

Cant emphasise this enough but please,please if you think you have a rellie, or a friend who may be eligable then please get in touch.
Also you DO NOT have to be elderly to apply, and mental as well as physical conditions are considered.

Lin.

Nudging for Lin.

I wouldn't have got DLA if it wasn't for dear Lin :o)) , luckily for me Lin only lives 9 miles from me so I popped to hers for her help and not to forget, enjoyed watching her froggy pond lol.

Gillie XX

For Harpstrings,

If you are retiring early, the best thing to do first is get a pension forecast (HMRC 0845 915 5996) They will tell you how many years you have paid in full towards your state pension, how many years are incomplete and how many more years need to be paid. Depending how close you are to retirement age, you may not need to pay anything.

There have been news articles about paying class 3 voluntary contributions recently due to changes from 2010 when you will need less years than now for your state pension so that is something to consider too.

Read about it in full here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/PensionsAndRetirement/FinancialPlanningForRetirement/DG_10021384

It is likely that you will not retire exactly at the end of a tax year, so depending how much NIC you have paid when you finish, that year may only need a balancing payment anyway to make that year count.

Also bear in mind that if you are sick for a week or more at any time up to your state pension age, get a sick certificate from the doctor and send it in as that will ensure you are credited with NIC for whole weeks when you are sick which reduces what you need to pay in that tax year.

Hope this is useful to you and 'happy retirement'

Nudge

Nudge

DET
To apply for sickness benefit he would need a medical certificate from his doctor and would have needed to have paid full national insurance contributions for two tax years out of the last three. He claims sickness benefit through the same call centre as he would jobseekers allowance and if he qualifies he no longer has to sign on but would need to keep submitting sick notes as and when required.
Please note that if he dosen't qualifiy then he needs to keep claiming jobseekers allowance just to get his NI paid even if he dosen't get any benefit as that goes go towards his state pension. Those on sickness benefit will automatically get them paid.
It would also be a good idea to get a pension forecast (on line or with a form from jobcentre) if he is near pension age.
Good luck Jenny

Since 27/10/08 it seems Incapacity Benenfit no longer exists for new claimants and where there is no SSP entitlement as in this case, then the new ESA benefit (Employment Support Allowance) may apply for anyone who is sick. See the website below for details how to apply etc. To make a claim Telephone 0800 055 6688

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_171891

There appears to be an NIC based version of it which you may qualify for as well as there being an alternative income based version.

Lin, in case your looking in,
Theres a lady called "another Ann in Glos" looking for you!
I,ve e-mail you, to let you know!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

n

Its a shame this thread cannot be stickied and more benefit help added where peeps can find it.

Tina xxx