ESA suspension and told to call compliance officer

Georgia36

@janer1967 I got a callback from CAB in morning but I'm not sure what they will say because I already been told by Food bank and crisis network that they can't give me food parcel as I don't meet their criteria. I'm not sure what criteria that is but it sounds ridiculous. Whatever I try I keep hitting a brick wall it's like nobody wants to help me...Im teetering on the edge right and i scared to even try take my tabs as they won't work without a food source 

poppy123456

I’m another comment you said “we” do you live with a partner? If so do they have family you could ask for help? 
You also said you “virtually “ have no food, do you have anything at all that you could eat? 

If you have no money, your gas and electric is on emergency, you have virtually no food but your food bank told you that you don’t meet their criteria. Very odd! 

emancherry33

Hi @Georgia36 , I work at a food bank janner is right , you can't just turn up at a food bank and expect food, you do need to be referred. You can do it with your local council , the citizens advice centre, a social worker and even your local doctor , you can do it over the phone with your doctor it will take some time as there is a lot of questions you will need to answer and yes it does get a bit frustrating but you hopefully do get a voucher or voucher code sent through to your mobile phone, then you can go down to your local food bank. Just a reminder the parcel you would get is enough food for 2/ 3 days and you will have to repeat the whole secernario again, there are different types of food parcels, cold packs for people with nothing on the streets, kettle packs for people who only have a kettle  to eat with or standard adult packs which are for people with cooking facilities, there is a vegetarian pack as well and cat and dog food can be available if in stock . Don't be afraid to ask for help the staff at the food bank should have knowledge about various local support agencies. There is a health bus round my way you can book in to see a GP and the food bank should to be able to provide you with a local Hot Food Community Support leaflet which shows local churches and centres which provides hot meals, take away dinners , soups , sandwiches, clothing, showers, toiletries, conversation's and support so even if you don't manage to get a food voucher tomorrow there should be somewhere you could go to get some food and drink, oh make sure you know what time the centres are open and get there early there can be some times be enough food for the first 30 people. Most are open 10 _ 1pm but don't take my word for it it all depends on your local area. One last thing if you are feeling very ill there are volunteers service that can collect and deliver the food parcel but it not well known and they prefer you to come in or a family member but I did not tell you that . Hope that helps a bit . stay strong there are others who have gone through what you are going through you are not alone, keep your head up.

emancherry33

Ring all the above first thing in the morning don't leave it till afternoon.

Georgia36

@emancherry33 and @poppy123456 I share parental responsibility with ex for our two daughters,but they stay with him more due to my illnesses and mental health problems and I even tried to ask for help from him too but he said I can F off and that I a **** mum who can't afford to feed the kids and they should stay with him... I got in touch with local council after I called them to say what food bank said and they did a referral over the phone but they still insisted I don't meet the criteria!! I'm not sure on what criteria I should have to meet to get food parcel but that's what the woman said to the person I begged for help off....At this rate I will have to resort in stealing to get food for me and my girls and that's the last thing I want so ex can throw that in face too....Its feels like nobody wants to help me out at all...

Georgia36

@Tori_Scope I have looked in the cupboards and found a couple slices bread and some beans but I gave that my girls for their tea...I would rather be the one to go without and put my girls first. 

emancherry33

@Georgia36 you said you share responsibility with your ex . And the kids live with the ex not you , you won't be able to get a voucher for the kids as there under your ex responsibility not yours and don't officially live with you so that's one of the criteria. But don't get why council are saying about criteria . Something not right there. Where you rude/ abusive to them when you called them, might be a reason to say no at the food bank you can refuse to give a food parcel and be sent back to the council?  Chat to your doctor first thing your health problems might meet a criteria? Strange question where do you live might be able to find a local Hot food support possibly ?

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Georgia36 and thanks for explaining that for us, it's really helpful. We'd really like to support you as much as we are able to with this.

I'm sorry to hear the way your ex has spoken to you. From what you've said, you are someone who really cares for her children and wants the best for them. And I'm sure in the same way, they'd want you to look after yourself as well. Tori contacted you yesterday with some advice on food banks, and some you may be able to access without a referral.

I'm not sure if you've received @Tori_Scope's email, so please do have a look at it if you can, and let us know if we can offer additional support, or make a referral on your behalf. I'll also be sending it to you today in a private message, if that's easier. 

Please reach out for help if you need it, remember we are here to support you. 

Alex

sunflower2

I don't get this thread at all , ESA do not end a claim because you missed a call especially if you never even got the call somthing is a miss here their must be another reason why your claim was cancelled. 

Surely this is not possible. 

I agree with @poppy123456 very odd. 

Also you said you were on ESA for four years so you were put in a group would she be entitled @poppy123456 to be in the same group she was in on ESA or would this be classed as a new claim ect? 

I know some people are being moved to UC are you sure that's not what's happened? Suspended is different to closing or canceling the claim

poppy123456

sunflower2 said:

Also you said you were on ESA for four years so you were put in a group would she be entitled @poppy123456 to be in the same group she was in on ESA or would this be classed as a new claim ect? 

Providing that UC was claimed within 1 month of the end date of the ESA claim then if they were in the Support Group they'll be entitled to the LCWRA from the start of the claim.

I agree, the whole thing is very odd and doesn't really make sense.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

Providing that UC was claimed within 1 month of the end date of the ESA claim then if they were in the Support Group they'll be entitled to the LCWRA from the start of the claim. . 

The UC has to be claimed while ESA is in place or the day after an ESA award ended in order for LCWRA to be payable from the start of the claim. Even a one day gap will mean that the waiting period will apply.

poppy123456

calcotti said:

poppy123456 said:

Providing that UC was claimed within 1 month of the end date of the ESA claim then if they were in the Support Group they'll be entitled to the LCWRA from the start of the claim. . 

The UC has to be claimed while ESA is in place or the day after an ESA award ended in order for LCWRA to be payable from the start of the claim. Even a one day gap will mean that the waiting period will apply.

Thanks calcotti, i don't know why i thought 1 month. Maybe i was thinking of the SDP TP.

Phoenix24

poppy123456 said:

I don’t understand why your ESA just ended because you missed the appointment. As I advised it should have just been suspended. Who told you they closed your claim? 

Did you even find out what the compliance call was regarding? 

I was unable to answer a call either because I was not expecting one and my minicom had broken a while back. I hadn't got round to replacing it

I got 2 days notice spent 2 days trying to email DWP...(have screenshot proof I tried to email correspondence@DWP email address with date 2 DAYS BEFORE the call was due to take place)...auto answer said it would be passed on for someone to get back to me but no-one did

so I'm also really anxious as it's ridiculous as I now don't know if I can afford to be spending £400 on a new minicom textphone just to find out if they did suspend my payment fri afternoon!  ...as will now need that to pay my rent...I'm assuming housing benefit would also be frozen ..they pay my rent I'm in an HA adapted property.

Can someone explain what they do exactly when they suspend your money?  This has never happened to me before... Will I get a letter in the post??? 

I'm just having to act as if it was and trying to see if I can get enough together to cover my rent incase that got suspended too.  I have multiple disabilities and mental health conditions I can't cope with the thought of eviction notices and living on the streets.

I live alone too ..(well no other people just an elderly dog to take care of).