Pregnancy Forums

Posted: 27 May 2008 at 3:31pm | IP Logged

well i'm more confused than ever. I'm only getting stat sick pay at work, I rang numerous benefit lines this morning, have been on phone all day. They have passed my from one advice line to another. Eventually was on to workin tax credit they said i was only elligable for child tax credit,£10 a week. she was really snotty on the phone said i would have to on disablity living allowance to be classed as disabled, disability living allowance said I need to be claiming working tax credit before i can claim dla, wtc credit said i don't qualify for tax credit even though i'm ssp. Can anyone make any sense as i have been in tears all afternoon, in absolute agony cos i did to much yesterday. I felt energetic and felt ok till after tea. I'm at my wits end sick of crying.

sorry for moaning yet again

Posted: 27 May 2008 at 5:11pm | IP Logged

Awww hunny did which helplines did you ring the benefits helpline or job centre plus?

I rang the latter one and found they where more use.

I'll see what i can find out hunny and i'll let you know.

Hugs hun x

Posted: 27 May 2008 at 5:23pm | IP Logged

thanks all, spoke to tax credits, rubbish.. spoke to disabilty info and advice line, dla mobility.someone else can't even remember who now. they just kept giving me different numbers to ring in the end i got so worked up and confused i ended up in tears. But i will take your advice and get in touch with jobcentre plus

thanks for advice

xx

Posted: 29 May 2008 at 2:41pm | IP Logged

Hiya hun,

I haven't been on for a while so I don;t know your background or anything.. Have you thought about claiming DLA? I believe the 'qualifying criterea' is that you have had the condition for 6mths and it's expected to last for at least another 6.. I got it 6mths into my second pregnancy and, depending on how severe your symptoms are you could get around £400 pm extra (this would also kick in extra's like a disablity bonus on income support, council tax etc etc) so it well worth claiming.  There is a website called 'Benifits and Work' this is the link: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ The info they give you is invaluable.. (they train the citizens advice etc).

I'm sorry to go against the grain here but I really don't have much faith in phoning the DSS or jobcentre as it really does depend on who you get at the end of the phone.. I spent two months at the end of last year fighting my corner on a benefit issue (I knew I was right) and I was constantly passed from pillar to post with comments of "I've never heard of that" and "sorry , you've got it wrong".  Eventually, I got someone willing to listen who actually asked me "where did you find out about this as I didn't know?" - come on, these are the people who're meant to be advising US and not the other way around.. Anyway, turns out I was right and the payments were backdated.  Any info I need, I go to CAB or use the site I mentioned above..

If you try that site and got get what you need without registering, PM me and I'll give you my log on details - no point in paying if you don;t have to!