Insulting the Crack Monkeys
That's what I'd be doing if I compared the imbeciles at the DWP Income Support department to Crack Monkeys.
So, they finally act on the second payslip which shows the monthly amount Amanda is getting as sick pay.
They then send us a letter saying we're not getting any benefit because:
1) We should be able to live on 125.05 presumably per week, it doesn't actually say. But fair enough.
2) That I'm still getting 95.00 Incapacity Benefit (this figure would be correct for per week). But I'm not, that's in the appeals process.
3) That Amanda is getting TWICE her actual monthly amount PER WEEK. Oh my god, we wish.
4) That this adds up to us being able to receive 1094.14 per week. Er, yes, that's right, they didn't bother to put a negation on the final line.
So, I phone the number on the letter, getting through after 3+ minutes of rapid redialling against the busy tone. I get asked for my postcode and get forwarded on ... to a busy tone.
So, rather than play double-roulette by repeating that I dig out the number I had from phoning direct before.
Amazingly I get through on the 2nd or 3rd dial, and even more amazingly don't spew forth a stream of bile at the person on the other end. After stating exactly what they've gotten wrong I get asked for a contact number and get told I'll have a phone call back by 5pm today.
If that phone call doesn't happen there is going to be SUCH a shit storm heading their way.
And, as the letter mutters something about "I am sorry to tell you that you have not satisfied all the qualifying conditions for getting the Council Tax Benefit / Housing Benefit Run-On." I have to wonder if Income Support has now and gone told the Greenwich Housing/Council Tax Benefit people total lies about Amanda's income and they'll not be giving us anything either until I set the record straight.
So, they finally act on the second payslip which shows the monthly amount Amanda is getting as sick pay.
They then send us a letter saying we're not getting any benefit because:
1) We should be able to live on 125.05 presumably per week, it doesn't actually say. But fair enough.
2) That I'm still getting 95.00 Incapacity Benefit (this figure would be correct for per week). But I'm not, that's in the appeals process.
3) That Amanda is getting TWICE her actual monthly amount PER WEEK. Oh my god, we wish.
4) That this adds up to us being able to receive 1094.14 per week. Er, yes, that's right, they didn't bother to put a negation on the final line.
So, I phone the number on the letter, getting through after 3+ minutes of rapid redialling against the busy tone. I get asked for my postcode and get forwarded on ... to a busy tone.
So, rather than play double-roulette by repeating that I dig out the number I had from phoning direct before.
Amazingly I get through on the 2nd or 3rd dial, and even more amazingly don't spew forth a stream of bile at the person on the other end. After stating exactly what they've gotten wrong I get asked for a contact number and get told I'll have a phone call back by 5pm today.
If that phone call doesn't happen there is going to be SUCH a shit storm heading their way.
And, as the letter mutters something about "I am sorry to tell you that you have not satisfied all the qualifying conditions for getting the Council Tax Benefit / Housing Benefit Run-On." I have to wonder if Income Support has now and gone told the Greenwich Housing/Council Tax Benefit people total lies about Amanda's income and they'll not be giving us anything either until I set the record straight.