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Oct 04
2008
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I have just heard from the jobcentre people. I don't know why they didn't just tell me this in the first place and not waste my time. Apparently I don't qualify for incapacity benefit, not because I am not unwell (I am) but because I haven't paid enough NI contributions in any one of the three tax years that count - 6 April 2004 to 5 April 2007. Since I told them I had come back to the UK on 4th December last year and had worked from the beginning of January for six months before I gave up, you would have thought they could have checked that first.
So now, no incapacity, no income support unless you are already receiving some other benefit (like what?), and more than likely there will be some reason I can't qualify for council tax benefit either. What next, while my unreasonable spouse continues to refuse to support me while I am in the UK recovering from the stress-induced illness that he caused? I am running out of capital and living on an overdraft. I am going to have to go out to work again, once again it will be before I am ready and I only have to come across another bully in the workplace and I will have to stop again.
I'm not dead yet. I have some money in a pension plan, and I may be able to release some early and get myself out of hot water. Ho hum. It's absolutely true what my sister said. You are better off financially to just put up with it and stay married, and if you can't do that then expect a bitter fight for what's your due. Unless by some miracle the other half realises this was inevitable and decides to be reasonable for once.
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Sandgrowngal
said:
| October 04, 2008 | ||
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Hi Mnene, sorry to hear your frustration about the Jobcentre, advising customers about benefit entitlements is a little frowned upon now...its drummed into staff to spread the corporate message that work, regardless of circumstances, is the holy grail to all of societys problems. Hence this is where the Jobcentres priorities now lie, getting people into ever diminshing jobs, unfortunately this means correct advice is not always given  You may still have entitlement to IS as a sick person, if you live alone, can provide sick notes from your GP and your capital is no more than 16k. Ask the CAB for advice. I would suggest doing this before Oct 27th as ESA is being introduced from then and this "benefit" will undoubtedly tie you up in allsorts of knots! Alternatively you could apply for JSA, which may at least provide you with a passport to Council Tax benefit, free prescriptions ect. It can also provide you with a little breathing space, at least. Good luck with whatever you choose. Regards SG. |
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