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28
Start: 28/07/2008 13:33
"I've put in for a revision, along with numerous supporting letters from the consultant, G.P etc and the Citizen's Advice legal people have also written in detail to DWP supporting my request. It is just a case of waiting on that now.
And....... ....the DWP fraud department has now written to me saying I was overpaid income support between 2002 - 2007 because my circumstances changed. (They haven't from 1994 until now when DLA was removed), and want me to pay this money back. Just a mere £20294.44, they reckon! All this as a result of losing DLA. CAB As you can imagine it is not too beneficial to my stress levels, especially as my health isn't particularly brilliant at the moment." Start: 28/07/2008 13:40
As is the nature of the Summer. Many people take vacation leave but MP's although they go on Holiday are working in their constituency until Parliament goes back in October. We are taking this oppourtunity to work on the web site & have a few days here and there as a break. We will continue to lobby. Drafting new letters for your MP's and preparing a response to the Welfare Reform Green Paper. John. Start: 28/07/2008 14:20
Last week was an important week politically and for anyone who has an illness and is currently on benefits or may need them in the future should the progression of their illness make them unfit for work. Reflecting on last week. A member of the team forwarded me an article by Polly Toynbee from the Guardian. The article can be found by clicking here. Some points I found interesting. "Purnell could have reminded Mail readers of that strong work ethic among the battalions of cleaners and carers, while scroungers are surprisingly few. Instead he inflamed prejudices drawn from eye-popping cases in shockumentaries about Shameless estates. It was Bill Clinton who said you can never ever be too tough on welfare, they will always cry for more. So do you go on turning the screw for ever? That becomes self-defeating, feeding the appetite for more loathing and less understanding of the poor." Start: 28/07/2008 16:59
In Useful Documents you will find a copy of the Welfare Reform Green Paper and the Impact Assessment. We urge you to respond to this as per details. | 29
Start: 29/07/2008 00:25
Picked up from the www.benefitsandwork.co.uk website and worthy of note here in case you missed it (as I did) initially. From the Daily Mail on 8th July 2008, by Michael Lea.
"Investigating welfare fraud last year cost taxpayers seven times the amount actually clawed back from benefits cheats. | 30
| 31
Start: 31/07/2008 11:34
You may be interested in this research from the Office for Disability Issues (ODI). The Office for Disability issues works across government to ensure equality becomes a reality for disabled people. The Experiences and Expectations of Disabled People.
Start: 31/07/2008 13:00
Clicking on he link below should/will download the appropriate document to you computer, thus enabling you to view at your own leisure. Note we also hold a PSI license for documentation from Government. This page was becoming a large list so I have added more menu options here. I have tried to gather relevant information into categories to make it easier to find.
Start: 31/07/2008 14:40
I deal with people via email quiet often and over many months. I am grateful to them for sharing their experience with me as it builds the picture. I would like to relate to you the following, the person has allowed me to add this to the blog. It demonstrates how with determination you can succeed. This is about a completely new claim and not one subject to review. A friend of mine related to me that they had submitted a first application for DLA. Knowing the medical issues even an objective comparison to the DWP's guidelines would have given this person an entitlement. But no. They declined his application. This is a trend. The DWP seem to do this on new applications. I also have noticed these are usually successful on an appeal. So he submitted an appeal. He asked for written. He kept every document, letter & fax he had sent. It was during the time he was waiting for the decision that he shared his experience with me. From the advice gleaned from others I was able to suggest an Oral appeal would have been a better route and to bear it in mind moving forward. The appeal decision upheld the original decision. Going through it. It was clear this was flawed. On the basis of no full medical evidence requested by the DWP. But also they had looked at each condition in isolation and not the full impact of ALL the conditions daily. Start: 31/07/2008 15:22
Clicking on he link below should/will download the appropriate document to you computer, thus enabling you to view at your own leisure. Note we also hold a PSI license for documentation from Government.
Clicking on he link below should/will download the appropriate document to you computer, thus enabling you to view at your own leisure. Note we also hold a PSI license for documentation from Government.
Start: 31/07/2008 15:34
Start: 31/07/2008 15:49
Clicking on he link below should/will download the appropriate document to you computer, thus enabling you to view at your own leisure. Note we also hold a PSI license for documentation from Government.
Start: 31/07/2008 15:59
Clicking on he link below should/will download the appropriate document to you computer, thus enabling you to view at your own leisure. Note we also hold a PSI license for documentation from Government.
Start: 31/07/2008 16:00
Everyone's experience is different. There are no "hard & fast" rules here. Someone you know may have had an adverse decision/ experience but yours will be different and maybe have a more positive outcome. The information on this site and externally linked sites & information does not constitute legal advice. You should always, if you have difficulty with any BENEFIT and require PROPER LEGAL ADVICE. Engage a suitably Qualified Solicitor / Social Worker / Welfare Rights Worker or the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Start: 31/07/2008 16:21
Here documents and information that doesn't fit anywhere else is listed.
Start: 31/07/2008 16:59
I have re-arranged the Useful Documents Section in to relevant categories. You should notice a drop down menu now. It was just becoming a long list and difficult to navigate. Any comments feel free to email me. Over the coming weeks we will be adding information into this section on the Welfare Reform 2008 Green Paper & updating the letter you can write to your MP on our issues to reflect this.
Start: 31/07/2008 18:00
You can subscribe to the email news letter from the www.benefitsandwork.co.uk website. You will get information for general consumption (non-members) and for (members only). See the story on "Appeals president slams DWP and ATOS" - you will find the full report in Useful Documents \ DWP or click here . | 1
| 2
Start: 02/08/2008 13:00
We have added a new Sample Letter for you to send to your MP. This letter picks up on the previous issues of the DLA, the Right Payment Programme & Special Rules Review. What is new is that is mentioned the current Welfare Reform Green Paper. This will also have an impact on us all especially if you are currently in receipt of Incapacity Benefit. We would urge you to submit a response to the Welfare Reform Green Paper but if at the very least you would send a letter to your MP we would be grateful. Thank you. Start: 02/08/2008 14:23
Welcome to the social care and welfare benefits side of the tcell.org.uk website.
Latest : DWP The Work Capability Assessment - A Call for Evidence closes 10th September 2010 Consultation on changes to the allocation formulae for AIDS Support Grant amongst others ... DOH
Government news and related items are listed as we continue to campaign, lobby, consult and discuss upon issues relating to benefits, social care, service provision, rights and responsabilities from those, like us, who live with or are affected by HIV/AIDS. Through clicking on the option Forums or links provided, we have covered different area's for you to use, read and participate in, please let us know if a new category is required, if this is not covered. Please also use the blog for your comments, stories and experiences. 2010 brings additional changes ranging from Welfare Benefit most notable from October 2010, this will be the start of the migration for existing Incapacity Benefits (IB) claimants to the new Employment & Support Allowance (ESA), a process to take several years and will no doubt raise additional concerns and issues that will be needed to be addressed. You can also find additional information about Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. We don't yet know how this will impact upon existing HIV claimants but will work as always; with other agencies to get the information out to you. If you are currently in receipt of Incapacity Benefit please click here to read some important information released by the Dept. of Works and Pensions in error. Welfare benefits, entitlements, law and criteria changes regularly. Community and Social Care Services provision provided by the state, the NHS, your local council or Primary Care Trust (PCT) or the voluntary (Third) sector has and will continue to change. In 2009 we developed a forum for information on Community and Social Care issues, this looks at an individual rights, entitlements and responsibilities; you may find further assistance and information with other day-to-day issues here, even help or support you were not aware of. In 2009 and 2010, we analysed the AIDS Support Grant (ASG) which is available to English local councils, we sought information from the 32 London Borough's and the City of London which provides support and services to people living with HIV/AIDS, regrettably this information provides us with the evidence of the disparity that exists within London, also incorporated within this forum are reports and publications on issues such as social, health and income inequalities, deprivation, social exclusion and much more for reference. Additional to the ASG allowance, a capital grant of £3million pounds is available to help support people with HIV related housing issues per annum. We would like to extend this information to cover the rest of the United Kingdom and need your help. Government work and legalisation has already been set in place to help support and assist our lives through the Disabled Equality Duty, Gender Equality, Equality Act, Community Care (Direct Payment) Act and much more. The "Roadmap 2025" document recently published will help with our campaign. The publication last year by Sigma Research's "Framework for better living with HIV in England" are amongst other reports and issues raised, which we hope will be used to set a National Framework of support and assistance for all. If you live within Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or the European Union, you will find additional information here specifically to you. Are you HIV+ in work or seeking work here is some additional information for you. We continue to rely on YOU to let us know about YOUR experiences, through sharing our experiences and information, can we all better deal with the issues at hand and face them collectively, as we continue to support each other. You can read about the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS policy advisor and write about this by clicking here. We will continue, as best we can, to keep you up-to-date upon matters around welfare and social care issues as well as consultations or surveys you can take part in or you yourself can write to them. We cannot deal with individual issues directly; as we are not qualified welfare advisors. Where you have a particular issue we always recommend that you should seek proper or legal advice from a Welfare Rights Worker, Social Services, a Solicitor or a suitably qualified person.
Any comments, issues etc. feel free to post a comment , email or For help and support on how to use the Forums. This information contained within this site is published, "as is" and TCell accepts no liability for how you use it. Comments/Content are the responsibility of the originating author. They are not to be taken as the view of TCell. Accordingly TCell accepts no liability. TCell is not responsible for the content of external websites. Navigation and use of information on external websites is at the users own risk. TCell is a wholly independent organisation. You should not consider any externally linked organisation or website as endorsed or recommended by TCell. Links are provided, in good faith, to information you may find useful. | 3
Start: 03/08/2008 21:34
Found on the BBC The original story can be found here. Press release from the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) can be found by clicking here. This highlights the need for anyone with HIV and able to work to have the protection of a trade union or other such body to protect their rights in the work place. Not often successful most cases of this type typically, result in those with HIV leaving there job having struck a deal with their employer. Bound to silence by a "Compromise Agreement". Of course this makes it extremely difficult for those to get another job for the reasons highlighted also in this case. Information on the Employment Tribunal System can be found at www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk . |
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