To think my sister has a right to be peed off

[Kimi]

Sis is recovering from cancer, she has worked for the last 16 years, paying the higher tax bracket.
While she was ill and having chemo her husband walked out on her as in his words he was fed up with her crying, throwing up and not getting any sex . She got a lot of support here (bluesarahjayne)
Sis ended up living back with mum and not able to work, savings ran out and sis needed help from the state system (the one she has paid in to for 16 years at the high tax rate) she got a massive £44.00 every 2 weeks.

She has now had a letter from the benefit office asking her to pay the money back now she is in remission and working again . Its not really about the money its the fact she has all her life paid in to a system that is supposed to help the most needy as a short term thing but is milked for all it is worth by a lot of people who see it as a free ride, thus not being able to help those who need it most when they need it, she had to fill forms in in triplicate and wait almost 3 months to get any help at all,
It really makes me cross as I know people who have never done a days work and milk the state left right and centre.

If I ever win the lotto I am off to be a tax exile

She has to pay the money back?
I don't understand. Why?
Glad she is better btw

The classed it as a crisis loan

Oh and if she has not paid in 28 days they will do an attatchmentof earnings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Tis the sorry state of affairs over here. My parents who always worked, moved abroad five years ago and despite paying into the tax pot for at least 60 years between them when they come back they have to pay for a doctors appointment.
Surely this is not a crisis loan to then leave your sister in a crisis when she pays it back, terrible.

OMFG that is horrific! How can that possibly be right?? Your poor sister!

I really think it is taking the pi**

Did she not have anyone helping her through claiming benefits? She should have been entitled to DLA and Incapacity which shouldn't have to be paid back. I've never heard of anyone getting a crisis loan as a weekly benefit!

I would be angry if I was her and if she was getting help I would be really angry with them too.

That's just taking the pi**

There was a story one the news last week, about a women who has cancer and requested from her doctors that she didn't want time frames. She applyed for DLA and received a letter from them to say she wasn't entilted to it as she would probaly be dead in 5years .

How can that be right?! Maybe your sister should contact the Citizen's Advice Bureau?

I have never heard anything like this before in my life in 25 years working in benefits. Who gets crisis loans as a weekly benefit?

She should have got IB at the very least.

One for CAB.

twelvelegs - don't think that is right? They will be entitled to be treated as a temporary resident?

Lizziemun, are you sure that's a true story? I'm a bit doubtful because we've just applied for DLA for DH and he qualified instantly, precisely because he will probably be dead in 5 years. If you have limited life expectancy (as they put it) you are automatically granted DLA. At least, that's what our Mac nurse told us and that's what has happened with DH.

You're right Mummydoit.

why didn;t she get incapacity benefit? My mum got it whilst she was being treated for a grade 3 cancer and when she was in remission she wasn;t asked to pay it back (in fatc she had a job persuading them to stop paying her).

Why was it done as a loan not incapacity benefit?

I have no idea why they are asking for it back as a lone.... She is seeking legal advice.
It really really makes me bloody cross.