Category Archives: benefits
Pensioners miss out on £3 billion by failing to claim their benefits
PENSIONERS who fail to claim all the benefits they are entitled to are missing out on almost £3billion.
Campaigners say pensioners should check to see if they are missing out on payments ranging from the state pension to the warm home discount scheme.
Other missed benefits are pension credit, attendance allowance, disability, council tax
, health, and winter fuel allowances and free TV licences.
Low awareness of what is available, combined with a fear of talking to strangers about money problems, explain why many pensioners are struggling to cope with their finances, they say.
Dead Darlington woman asked why she has not attended DWP appointments
Dead Darlington woman asked why she has not attended DWP appointments
6:00am Thursday 27th June 2013 in News By Joanna Morris
UNWANTED MAIL: Malcolm Pearse THE partner of a woman who died in April has slammed officials for repeatedly asking to explain why she has not shown up for appointments with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Darlington woman Patricia Howe, 48, died after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage in April.
Despite her partner immediately informing them of her death, the DWP continued to send Ms Howe letters.
Since her death, Ms Howe has been invited to attend appointments to discuss her claim for Employment and Support Allowance.
When she failed to attend, she received more letters demanding to know why she had not been present.
Malcolm Pearse, her partner of 14 years, slammed the actions of the DWP and said he had been left devastated by their incompetence
He said: “I told them the day after she died and they stopped her money straight away but they are still sending letters.
Disability benefit assessments 'unfair', says ex-worker
16 May 2013 Last updated at 17:27
Disability benefit assessments ‘unfair’, says ex-worker
Greg Wood, a former Royal Navy doctor, resigned from Atos earlier this month, after working as an assessor for two-and-a-half years.
He told the BBC the system was “skewed against the claimant”.
But Atos Healthcare says it submits “clinically justified reports” and completely rejects Dr Wood’s claims.
Atos, which has been criticised in the past by disability campaigners and MPs, carries out work capability assessments (WCAs) on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
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