Why does the DWP make things so hard?

Vidar

Vidar

Vidar

Soldato
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I know I've had my issues with depression etc in the past but I work hard now, I do 4 nights a week working the doors. A job I can't stand in a venue I absolutely detest with the onset of a health condition which could turn out to be serious. Showing signs of chrones Disease but waiting to see the consultant.

My partner moved up to live with me late last year and through no fault of her own the job she had lined up fell through but she had some savings which helped us get by. Eventually she was able to claim contributions based job seekers which although only around £70 a week helped massively. We were able to get some help with council tax and housing benefit. Not much but enough to make a difference on a low income.

Now 6 months have passed and the contributions based JSA have been withdrawn, my partner who is now heavily pregnant was told to claim Income based Job seekers. The DWP though have decided that I earn too much for her to qualify (About £180 a week after tax etc) so now she's got no money coming in. To top things off now she's not getting job seekers we cannot get help with housing or council tax benefit.

Because of the type of work I do I also don't qualify for working tax credits, so I find myself in a position where we are going to be well below the poverty line and I feel like screaming as things where starting to work out quite well for once.

I'm looking for a job where I can claim tax credits but getting interviews seems hard. In the meantime I'm in a position where I can't resign because then you don't qualify for job seekers but if I continue to work we're going to get into deeper and deeper trouble.

Have got an appointment with the Citizens Advice Bureau on Friday so hopefully they can help in someway.

Why in gods name do they do this to people?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!? Anyone been in a similar position and know of any solutions?
 
I can't answer any of your questions but that sounds utterly retarded. You and your partner are in a crap place yet so many seem to be able to.completely milk the system.
 
It is utterly ridiculous. Are they seriously putting me in a position where we are worse off because I'm working?
 
Yes because they seem completely incapable of helping people that seem to be stuck in the middle. Yet there seems to be a certain type of people that game the system for years and they dont care.
 
G J said:
Yes because they seem completely incapable of helping people that seem to be stuck in the middle.
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This unfortunately. If you're "well off" then you don't need their help, if you've never worked a day in your life and have no intention of doing so then they're happy to throw money at you, but if you're a hard worker who's in a low paid job or fallen on hard times then they're not interested!

Out of interest, why can you not get tax credits? You should be eligible for a good chunk on that kind of money!
 
The fiancee falling pregnant wasn't planned at all at first, in fact it happened twice... she got pregnant in November while on the pill and had a miscarriage. And it absolutely devastated us both. She really wanted to be a mum and we where just about managing so figured we would start trying thinking it may take years since she'd been on the pill so long etc. Either way we both couldn't be happier.

Because I don't work 30hrs and can't get more.... That and even if I did because I earn £10 an hour I'd then be earning too much according to them.
 
Am looking for anything and everything I can but out of 30+ job applications made in the past 2 weeks or so since these changes have come into effect I've not had so much as a single response from any of them and I'm not being fussy at all.
 
G J said:
Yes because they seem completely incapable of helping people that seem to be stuck in the middle. Yet there seems to be a certain type of people that game the system for years and they dont care.
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The mistake people make is telling the DWP the truth.
 
Because the DWP doesn't care about people/look at things reasonably. It's like talking to a brick wall that only cares about statistics.

They are utterly aborrhent.

Edit: Sorry nothing usful to add, i've seen your posts in past OP and know you've had your ups and downs. Good luck brah hope you get it sorted.
 
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Your circumstances and eligibility will change once the baby is born, you will only need to work 24 hrs / week between you (instead of 30) the thresholds are higher and you may get the child element as well.

Saying that, it still doesn't take much once you work full time to be over the thresholds.

You are stuck in the benefits trap and gone are the days where people on benefits live the life of luxury according to the Daily Fail (not that they ever did tbh)

A friend of mine had that attitude, he was working a hard, low paid job, 2 kids, misses classed as disabled due to a spinal issue and was always skint. He used to always moan about those people not working, with kids, who smoked, drank, had a 50" tv and games console in every room and went on 3 holidays a year (you know the headlines) So, when he lost his job 5 years ago he gave up and decided not to work again and they stayed on benefits, with him classed as her carer. Fast forward to today, he has kicked the misses and kids out so they get housed and is having to sell his house. Funnily enough, they only had 1 24" tv, 1 PS3 and no holidays in 5 years.

I'm afraid to say most people I know in your situation cope by lying to the DWP that they are no longer a couple (fraud) or suppliment their income (crime)

The benefits system is no longer there to help people, it's there to be intentionally difficult, blocking and obstructive. I recommend anyone who doesn't have to deal with the DWP to watch I, Daniel Blake to get an idea of how bad it has become
 
If you can drive go on the DPD website and get an owner driver franchise. If you can string two sentences together you will walk into it and you'll earn around £30k.

If you can't, go to your local Tuffnells depot and ask about work on mid shift or nights as a loader and you'll walk into that and earn twice as much as you do now.
 
atpbx said:
If you can drive go on the DPD website and get an owner driver franchise. If you can string two sentences together you will walk into it and you'll earn around £30k.

If you can't, go to your local Tuffnells depot and ask about work on mid shift or nights as a loader and you'll walk into that and earn twice as much as you do now.
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Good advice here. :)

@Vidar
What qualifications do you have? It'll help people to come up with ideas of jobs for you. I hope things improve for you flower. It sounds like you're a trier. Sadly the DWP doesn't seem to care about honest people who are clearly trying to improve their situation.
 
I wouldn't normally advise this but you should look into something with better hours that comes with benefits.
I'm thinking supermarkets (urgh...retail, only slightly above any form of cold calling). Working the doors mean you should be fine with nights and it will pay a little more (more hours but slightly lower hourly wage). The staff discount helps too especially with a baby on the way (the cost of nappies, food and clothes).

I did it for about a year when my daughter was born and was in a very similar position to you.
 
Once the baby is born, you'll get access to all the benefits. Go to the forums on moneysavingexpert.com or entitledto.co.uk and watch the $$$ roll in once the sprog arrives.
 
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