AIBU to thank David Cameron and the other one for buying me a cooker

[CreamolaFoamless]

My cooker oven exploded about 3 weeks ago.

and thanks to the great british system .......which everyone berates at times

I have been given £280 to buy a new cooker.

(I have paid my taxes) but seriously £280 for a new cooker , the month before christmas , thank you

I would never have known this was possible unless a really clued up person advised me about it

Rational: Unfortunately with things like this you have to know how to play the system, it tends to be those who can play it best that get all the breaks, and they're possibly not going to be the most deserving cases. agree.

zukie: is there someone who can support your application, help you with it all?

errm thanks i think Halleyswaitress

the form wasnt product specific so I'm not sure what you are referring to ?

I just wanted to reply ,although the coversation has taken different turn so I'll shut up now

zukiecat ...bloody hell..I'm not sure what to say

zukiecat

i would get onto the doctors to see if you can get any help. also my local sure start runs classes on budgets, have you got one near you? have you tried the cab?

zukie in a strange (and intrusive) way she is asking about your budgeting. This is what they do. I'm sorry you didn't get help. It's sounds unfair from what you've said.

Agree with Rational. It is usually the same people making repeated claims for CL's and they know just what to say. It can make you a bit jaded. Go to CAB they give free budgeting and money advise - your GP can refer you to mental health services in your area. People do want to help if they can but you have to make the first move by asking for help.

Zukie Do try again :( you need someone to help you. Can you ask your GP to point you in the right direction?

Bollocks, it's not playing the system, it's knowing how the system works and getting help with it.

I've done that, and have the Welfare Rights Officer, the Debt Advisor and a Social worker to help me.

Yes, I am entitled to this. Shoot me now.

Zukie, that sounds awful. Does your council have a Welfare Officer?

Netto

You are not the type of person I was referring to. If you are seeking help from these organisations and they agree that you need help then you're a million miles away from the people I'm talking about so don't be so defensive.

All the best to you zukie, I really hope you can get some help.

Yes Cream - we still haven't got to the bottom of your mysterious payment ! Please tell all.

For those in London and the SE who feel they have had an unfair decision from DWP,try these guys. Although they deal primarily with debt,they do take on DWP cases.
They are top notch lawyers giving their time for free.

www.z2k.org/

"The meeting this week will be a start "

'zukie: is there someone who can support your application, help you with it all?'

You do it on the phone, because it's a crisis situation, and they get arsey if you get anyone to help you with it, they tell you the person has to apply themselves. I was looking after my mate's kids when she was on the phone, for about an hour with this twat, then they turned her down. Had no money to loan her ourselves, next to nowt till be get paid next week.

Rational, it wasn't aimed at you as such, more people in general who assume I'm 'working', the system, as I don't 'look' disabled.
You are right though, I am defensive and I need to stop being, it just makes me seem bitter and annoying.

My point was that you need a lot of help to get just what you should get, money is not thrown at you, it takes time and effort, and of course, if you are applying for it, it means you don't have much.

Still, sorry I came across as a grumpy cow.

"Still, sorry I came across as a grumpy cow."

Lol, that's ok, we can all be grumpy cows!

My point was that the reason it's so difficult for people like you, people who are ill or genuinely in dire straits for other reasons, is because of the ones that know how to 'work the system' and can say exactly the right thing to get what they want, not necessarily need. Crisis loans and grants etc can be seen as an entitlement rather than an emergency contingency.

I work in Social Care, I've seen both sides of this in action.

carben i'm not sure what more you want to know?

i do think jeremy kyle is looking for new audience members

• babe, you'll fit right in, up on the jezza stage!

i just cant believe the government is giving people money to buy new cookers? , their are so many other better causes, 3.8 million children - (CIN) live in poverty in the uk, and im sure thats not just because their parents dont have a cooker?.....

Honestly, words escape me, apart from a few choice ones to which i will resist.

I kind of agree with champagne......

If you're on a low income, can't get credit, live hand to mouth, have health problems in the family and barely cope then if your cooker breaks down it could be the final straw for your family. Buying food daily is more expensive and not being able to cook meals is pretty unhealthy. Why shouldn't there be some help for people who for whatever reason cannot help themselves. People with problems have kids too you know.

Cream - could you tell us what info you put on the form about your circumstances ?

I've had less than a fiver in my purse to feed my kids for a couple of days. There would have been NO WAY I would have got anything out of the DWP! Because I worked full time.

But I sort of see where champagne is coming from - you can manage without a cooker for a little while, but there are people that have no fucking food! So where's their money?