TC956 form and disability element of WTC

Coral61
Coral61 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
edited August 2020 in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA
I joined last week so nice to meet you all.  
I am in desperate need of help and advice in regards to a benefit I was on that has just stopped and I feel like I'm getting nowhere.
Hope someone can point me in the right direction.  Thank you

Comments

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,783 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hi @Coral61. We'll do our best. What's the problem you've been having?
  • Coral61
    Coral61 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    It's quite long winded and rather complex Adrian but I'll do my best to explain.
    I'm 59 yrs old, work 21 hours a week and have suffered with Fibromygalgia for many years which is getting worse with the chronic pain and fatigue and many other things that goes with it.
    I was on Long Term Incpacity Benefit for roughly 18 years.  I was in an abusive marriage for 22 yrs and in the end got involved with a domestic abuse organisation.  After being with them for approx 2 years they asked me if I'd like to volunteer for a few hours a week.  I checked with the DWP and told it was fine.  Then a few years later back in July 2013 they asked me if I'd like to work with them on a part time basis as they knew I couldn't work full time.  Anyway I notified the Jobcentre that I would like to stop the Incapacity Benefit claim and they told me that I could apply for the disability element of working tax credits and told me what I would be entitled to.  So I sent off for the form which I believe is TC956 and I fitted the 3 criterias of A. Working more than 16 hrs a week. B. I couldn't work an 8 hr day or 5 days a week and C. That I had been in receipt of long term Incap Benefit 182 days before the claim.  There were no other questions on there about my health etc. They said I was entitled to the claim and having been paying me ever since.  Last week I found out that they had stopped my claim and when I rang them they said that it was because DLA had notified them that I wasn't entitled to it any more.  I did explain that I had never claimed DLA  before and wasn't registered as disabled only that I had filled the TC956 form in and had been in receipt of long term Incap Benefits.  
    I've had to do a Mandatory Reconsideration letter and am waiting to hear from them but I'm so worried and stressed which is making my condition much worse.  
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,783 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hello @Coral61
    I'm really sorry that I hadn't spotted your reply until now and that no one else has been able to offer advice.

    Have you heard any more from the mandatory reconsideration you did? I hope that the issue is now resolved. If not, it may be worth you getting in touch with a Welfare Rights, Citizens Advice or similar organisation to see if they can give you any guidance. You can find what's available in your area here: advicelocal.uk
  • steve51
    steve51 Online Community Member Posts: 7,121 Championing
    Hi @Carol61

    Good Morning I do hope that you are having a good day??

    @steve51
  • Coral61
    Coral61 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Thanks for getting back to me Adrian. It got resolved in the end, took about 6 weeks. Eventually spoke to someone who knew that 7 years ago when I started my part time job was because I was on long term incapacity benefit and was unable to work a full time job. It was a mistake on their behalf and I got reinstated with a back payment from them.
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,783 Online Community Programme Lead
    Brilliant news @Coral61! Thanks for the update. :)