The DHSS

BERNADETTE · 19-12-2007, 18:11

Do the DHSS make it their mission in life to be as unhelpful as possible? Let me explain why I ask. The funeral director told me that as Ian hadn't reached sixty five when he died I was entitled to a funeral grant. I applied but was told that I wasn't.
Went to the welfare rights for help filling out another form and they tell me that I am entitled to said grant. Reason I am entitled to it is I can claim cares allowance for eight weeks after Ian's death. Why are we not told what we are entitled to? They must have known when my claim stopped that it could indeed carry on for the eight weeks.
It is bad enough trying to get things sorted and back on an even keel. Surely being told where you stand with regards to benefits is not to much to ask? I was under the impression that these people were there to help not hinder where claims are involved!!

beechy · 19-12-2007, 18:33

im sure youll get yourself sorted bernie
but dont expext to much from the dhss
they only tell you what you ask
i believe its policy not to inform you of anything your entitled to
unless you know and ask
but thats my opinion

blazey · 19-12-2007, 18:42

Go see citizens advice, their number is in the lovely xmas card that labour sent around, and they'll be able to give you a straight answer about what you are entitled to instead of waiting for you to ask the right question.

lancsdave · 19-12-2007, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by beechy

im sure youll get yourself sorted bernie
but dont expext to much from the dhss
they only tell you what you ask
i believe its policy not to inform you of anything your entitled to
unless you know and ask
but thats my opinion

I think it's actually because those who work there pay all the money out of their own pockets, or at least they think they do.

MargaretR · 19-12-2007, 18:54

I left 14 years ago, so know nowt. Rules get changed so often that I'm not suprised that the staff know nowt too

When I bump into old comrades nowadays they all say it is a crap place to work now.
I recommend this site
entitledto

BERNADETTE · 19-12-2007, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I left 14 years ago, so know nowt. Rules get changed so often that I'm not suprised that the staff know nowt too

When I bump into old comrades nowadays they all say it is a crap place to work now.
I recommend this site
entitledto

I know now but thanks to the staff at Welfare Rights

harwood red · 19-12-2007, 21:16

Are you also aware that you are entitled to bereavement allowance Bernie??

WillowTheWhisp · 19-12-2007, 21:26

Welfare Rights are very helpful. It does often seem like the DSS don't want you to know what you are entitled to but maybe it is simply because they don't know themselves, in which case that's inexcusable because they should know. The system is failing us somewhere along the way.

James1234 · 19-12-2007, 23:57

Whichever government dept you deal with the left hand doesnt know what the right hand is doing, you work hard, pay a load of taxes and thats the return you get.

It's sad but that simple unfortunately.

BERNADETTE · 20-12-2007, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by harwood red

Are you also aware that you are entitled to bereavement allowance Bernie??

Yes I know just what I'm entitled to now thanks to Welfare Rights but find it so sad that other people might never know just what their rights are. As for DHSS staff not knowing have found that when I mentioned things they knew about it i.e. my getting carers allowance for the extra eight weeks. Therefore I come to the conclusion that they aren't paid to help the general public but to save as much money as they can. But where are all the savings going???

Bonnyboy · 20-12-2007, 01:19

The in’s and out’s of what a person can claim for should be in the school curriculum. Geography, History…they help in everyday life don’t they.
Every foreigner that finds these shores seems to be well versed in what they can or cannot claim for, they know exactly what their entitlements are.

Most of us don’t, our kids don’t

Seems to me that if a white person, with a reasonable grasp of the English language, walks into the DHSS the staff see them as a sponger/layabout. The mentality being “ they wont get one over on us”

If an obvious foreigner walks into the same DHSS they will do backflips to help said person....Stinks if you ask me