HELP! (Please)

Anyone out there familiar with the labyrinth that is the DWP? Short story;
very dear friend had heart attack yesterday (he's 47, gulp). He's pretty low
income - and had been lorry driving on an agency basis for the last six
weeks or so. Wife doesn't work much, and he'll be in hospital for a fair
while, plus unable to work for longer. No savings, of course - that's all
gone on his boys.

I *think* he can claim incapacity benefit, but I can't get through to the
DWP and the website is shite. Anyone able to offer advice/info, pretty
please?

TIA, Ali

 

uk.gov.social-security is over there ----->
and by all accounts has knowledgable residents

 

D'oh! That never occurred to me. Thanks mate.

Ali

 

Ali Hopkins emerged from their own little world to say

If he was employed on PAYE through the agency then they should sort out
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for the first 28 weeks. If the chap is still
poorly after 28 weeks then he should be eligible for incapacity benefit.

There of other means tested benefits he/she may be able to claim. This
whole area of the benefit system is a minefield. Seek professional
guidance from the Citiznes Advice Bureau as it all depends on individual
circumstances, especially the age of the boys you mention. The CAB will
also know about support groups for people in similar circumstances.

The direct.gov website is the best for this stuff. E.g. the SSP page is at:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Bfsl1/Bene...Articles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10018786&chk=nIK5wY

 

I'll chcek that - not sure what his status is/was.

Thanks most much - I'd tried the DWP website as being the obvious (!) place
and it was pants. That looks more helpful.

cheers mate - Ali

 

Ali Hopkins wrote:

And not for the first time, I'm thinking that ukrm is a viable
alternative to Google )

 

<TOG@toil>; <>; <>
wrote in message

It offers an added level of intelligence at times.

Ali

 

What , thousands of responses , most of them useless?

 

<TOG@toil>; <>; <>
wrote in message

Google with attitude!