oap's and working tax credits

[old age sushi]

Hello Chris,
What a splendid idea to have a pensioners forum! I'm sure it will be super for exchanging views and ideas, and finding out our entitlements, well done!!

Myself, I am a UK pensioner, on half pension living in France. For 2 1/2 years we have been doing battle with Tax Credits, first paying us, then stopping payments, then can't make up their minds why on either count!! and didn't even send us a formal letter for 9 months!  Anyway we appealed and are coming to England next week to hear our appeal. Yet another shambles by Tax Credits by all accounts. They seem to have no idea of how frustrating this sort of thing is when you are "getting on". and I have to say, no-one you speak to seems to have any notion of what they are doing! 

(grumpy old woman bit now)
When I was a young girl if you didn't know your job you were out, as there would be plenty more to take your place. Today it's like speaking to plastic people, trained to be pleasant, but with no brain 
Anyway, thats my story, hope to be back soon, and keep up the good work!
Old Age Sushi

[Chris]

Hi Sushi,

What gets me is how complex the Tax Credits forms are to fill in. It took me a couple of hours to fill it in, and I'd consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person. Someone who has less confidence wouldn't have a chance and probably wouldn't bother claiming.

Disability Benefit forms are even worse. Pages and pages to fill in. Took me several hours to do that one. And after all that work, we got rejected.

Personally I wouldn't be suprised if it's all part of a cunning plan. Offer the credits and benefits so the government can shout about how generous it is, but know that many people won't claim because it is too complex.

Shame you have to go to appeals to get things sorted out as well. Let us know how it goes.

[holwaybabe]

Hello,

My name is Janet and I am chairwoman of a pensioners forum in Somerset. My forum recently joined forces with another in this area who's vice chairman has come up with a viable alternative to today's grossly unfair system of council tax.
We have shown his very professional proposal to MP's Council Leaders and other Government officials and they have not been able to find fault with it.
In January we held a meeting which 18 Pensioner Forums attended and again his proposal was met with great aclaim.
Since then we have contacted, in all, 83 forums nationwide inviting them to attend a meeting to decide how we can unite and get this new proposal on the manifesto of each party before the next election.
To say that I am dissapointed with the lack of response from other forums would be an understatement as only one new forum has shown interest. Many never even bothered to reply. This is the best chance we have ever had to bring together all grey power in this country under one heading F.A.C.T Forums Against Council Tax. Have the powers that be in the forums forgotten just why they came into being? Shame on you.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs must be turning in their graves!

[John]

'Personally I wouldn't be surprised if it's all part of a cunning plan.' - Chris

Of course it is.

The greater the questions, the opportunities  to reject the claim increases.

It would be interesting to know the proportion of allowed claims per capia
of population in each Country that comprises the United Kingdom.

[Wrinkles]

Now now John I hope you are not fermenting unrest here .

You should know that the FOI act won't get you that information' tis a close guarded secret and you will have to be killed if you should see it.
Personally I don't give much for your chances now if the thought police see what you wrote and realise you've seen through Gordons scheme.
Ho hum another John Doe pulled out of the Thames (delete and add river of choice)