Tag Archives: Benefits
Widow left to rely on food banks after benefit bosses cut payments
Debbie Hopley’s husband, John, was just 49, when he died from cancer last month
A widow said she was left reliant on food banks after benefits bosses cut payments and held up funeral bills two days after her husband’s death.
Debbie Hopley’s husband, John, was just 49 when he died on February 11, following a nine-year battle with cancer.
But, in the week between his death and the funeral, Mrs Hopley said she was told the money they and their two children had survived off through his illness was suddenly being stopped.
Carers missing out on £1.6m in support
Hidden carers are failing to claim the support they are entitled to.
CARERS across Redditch are missing out on more than £1.6million of support because they do not know they are entitled to it.
A total of 522 people in the borough are failing to claim carers allowance according to figures released to mark Carers Rights Day.
The benefit is worth £59.75 a week – or £3,107 a year – and is available to people aged 16 and over who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for their loved one.
There are 8,889 carers in Redditch looking after a loved one with the numbers having increased by over 1,000 in the last decade.
But charities say there are many more so-called hidden carers who are failing to claim the support they are entitled to either through a lack of advice or because they do not class themselves as a carer and instead consider it their responsibility or part of family duty.
Benefits changes: Universal Credit system warning
Seventy organisations involved in the benefits system have raised concerns about a government overhaul.
9 September 2012 Last updated at 09:06
The Universal Credit aims to make the system simpler by replacing five work-based benefits with one benefit.
The groups are worried about moving to monthly payments, access to an online system and whether a new IT system will be ready by an October 2013 deadline.
The government says managing the system online will save money, and that the new benefit is set to come in on time.
Ministers have said they are determined to reform the system, so it pays people to work rather than claim benefits.
Written evidence, seen by BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend, was submitted to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee by organisations representing councils, charities, trades unions, business groups and housing organisations.
