help in writing a letter

Replies

By morello

Re: help in writing a letter
Wed 30 Jul 2008 16:07

I wish you luck with your claim, but from past experience of this you find they always turn you down and offer a pittance. I requested money for a bed as the one my caree slept on was broken, I told them she would have to sleep on a mattress on the floor and was told that was acceptable. Even prisoners get a bed . As for waterproof sheeting, this ceased being available from the nursing area or the OT and was told to go and buy one from a supermarket !!! Have you ever seen one in a supermarket. Also nobody offered to fund any of this. My caree slept for 8 months on a wrecked mattress on the floor, which had been sodden wet many times and I ran out of polythene sheets. She had ripped sheets and these were because the ss failed to refer her to a chiropodist , her feet were very rough etc and I couldnt do them as I have severe arthritis. As for curtains they tell you to hang a SHEET OVER THE RAIL.WE REALLY DO LIVE IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. iF i WAS YOU i WOULD WRITE FIRST TO MY MP, WHICH IS WHAT i HAD TO DO IN THE END. tHAT OR PUT HER IN A FLEA BITTEN CARE PLACE. This country gets worse and worse, while the rich (MPS) get richer and us poor get poorer. More and more like a communist state.
I wish you luck you need it believe me.
Mo

By meg mackenzie

Re: help in writing a letter
Wed 30 Jul 2008 19:32

Firstly............ in my vast experience helping folk with forms for the benefits agency I always tell them to expect to be offered very little, then appeal and go to tribuneral if necessary. The fact that they have made an award of anything, no matter how small is a point in your favour, and when the case is reviewed the full award should be made.

The more information you can give the better, and do not believe that they have your whole history in front of them, so tell them everything, no matter how repetitive you feel you are being.

A suitable bed is essential. In an ideal world you would need three or four sets of bedlinen and two duvets and sets of pillows. This is so you can keep a set ready should the bed need to be changed in a hurry or through the night following an accident. This is not unreasonable. If linen is changed and washed daily naturally it will last less time than if it is only laundered once a week, and they need to be told this. The reason your weekly money doesn`t stretch to buying these things yourself is that it is spent on all the extra soap powder and fabric conditioner you need. Tell them that too.

Here in scotland the benefits agency for community care grants is centralised and you never get the same review officer twice, hence the need to become a parrot! Here when we appeal a decision we can give a phone number and a review officer will call and have a chat about the claim. The last one I had said I should have claimed more for a family following a bed being ruined by a blood clot bursting, and he was the one who put me wise about the extra duvet and pillows.

The carpet was declined on appeal as they said if there were likely to be accidents then it was not a suitable type of floor covering to have, but when they were given extimate for laminated flooring being laid plus a letter from the council refusing permission to lay laminate flooring in their houses as the pipework is under the floorboards and access is required by their workmen the benefits agency then awarded a contribution for carpeting.

Make your MP aware of your strife as one of their letters usually helps your case.

If all else fails try for a crisis loan or budgeting loan. Both are interest free and paid back from your weekly benefits directly at a very low rate.

Hope this has been helpful. Let us all know how you get on.

Take care
Meg

By Tricia

Re: help in writing a letter
Wed 30 Jul 2008 23:00

Hello Bev and Connor

I would write first before appealing and ask if they can explain where you can purchase the items you have requested for £30 and why they came to the decision of allocating you the £30 grant.

You may be able to apply for a Community Loan which you have to pay back interest free. The loan is paid off weekly out of your benefits but it will only be as much as you can afford to pay.

Also if you are on a low income you will be able to apply to the family fund if your child is under the age of 16 years. You are able to print off their application forms from the following web site or if you are unable to print an application form you can ring them or write asking for an application form.

www.familyfund.org.uk

Take care

tricia

By katew

Re: help in writing a letter
Thu 31 Jul 2008 15:19

well thanks for all that!

my social worker has just applied for a community care grant for us - doesnt look like we will get anything tho! but then again a young single mother with 3 kids by 3 different dads and of mixed race got 2K to move into a council house -
perhaps cus me and hubby have always worked they think we should still be doing so - oooh well im gona get ready to sell my body ! :) ( wont make much) :) :) :)

take care all and get that appeal in asap.

kate

By lee

Re: help in writing a letter
Sun 3 Aug 2008 01:02

they never give you anything near what you ask for, its a crap offer first in the hope that you wont appeal.

not sure of site but i was on this site as have had help from them before.

the help by giving grants for things like bedding clothing not carrpets i dont think, but you may also be able to get a grat for a holiday. i learnt to drive through this they paid for my lessons and tests and as a carer with very little cash i would never have done it without them.

www.familyfund.org.uk

hope this link works.

but also good luck with the other grant hun xxx

By mel

Re: help in writing a letter
Sun 3 Aug 2008 13:02

bev&connor,
I work with carers and know how difficult the whole system is, i hope these suggestions help a little.

first check if there is a particular appeal form you need to complete, as you may write a letter and they may just ignore it and tell you to fill the form in and that will waste your time.
-Make sure you have your childs name and any reference numbers clearly on anythign you send them
-Start the letter by saying thank you for their decision on your loan/grant application which advised they would grant you £30. (they get millions of letters complaining, it wont hurt to start nice!)
-Advise that the £30 simply will not cover the equipment that is needed, refer them to an attached page which you will have printed off the internet or attatched items out of argos etc which shows the item needed and the price. Adivse that you have chosen a low price or a middle range equipment price and that you have chosen wisely with the cost in mind.
Detail you childs diagnosis, date the child was diagnosed, and how this diagnosis affects their daily life, e.g. how the incontinence effects them how the incontinence pads priovided by nhs or bought by yourself simply are not adequate and as a result the carpet (which you have had for years and years etc) is sodden with urine. Mention the health implications of not having this carpet replaced, do you have other children /carers that have to use that room, is it affecting your health, is the smell impossible to get rid of unless the carpet is replaced, is it having a negative affect on the whole household.

If you are on benefit/low income state the income you receive, and advise that you simply cannot purchase the items your child needs.

All I can say is give as much information as possible. they are reading millions of applications that just say 'give me money for this' and don't have the detail of why you need it.

otherwise search the net for supporting organisations for your childs disability, as many charities have small funds they can provide.

best of luck! x