The Plane Spotter, by me.
It’s about Alf, a man with a sick-note.
And me, terrified of getting sick in this anxiety-inducing-blaming-shaming-dignity-stripping culture we are accustomed to.
#NoSafetyNet
Can we stop vilifying ‘benefit claimants’?
Someone claiming benefit could be:
Your disabled child
Your veteran grandad
Your teenager suffering from a serious mental health illness
A 22 yr old
A 53 yr old
Anyone
You
Me
Stop it. Stop sanctions. They’re cruel and they don’t work
Honestly, I can’t speak to a bank on behalf of a client even when I’ve got signed authority but government can snoop on bank accounts to discover that Beryl, 76, sometimes makes a purchase from Morrisons?
#BigBrother
Ministers last week rushed an amendment through the Commons, allowing it to look into the bank account of everybody claiming State Pension. Their only reason was that it might be useful one day. The only change which could make it useful would be to means test the State Pension
@MelJStride
You are actually stopping people on benefits from getting free prescriptions? That’s a new low and quite an achievement in itself for this government.
Absolutely disgusting.
On a lighter note - JD received his PIP back pay today and rang me this morning - almost in tears - to announce that he was going to treat himself to some new underpants!
It’s been 2 years since he bought himself a single item of clothing.
It’s moments like that…😊
@RespectIsVital
Isn’t he the ‘people don’t *need* the extra £20 per week’ UC guy?
Parliament already a better place then. But could be a LOT better still
@johnpringdns
So they’re just relying on ‘hope’? No safeguards to ensure there will be no miscarriages of justice?
I mean, they’ve got such an excellent track record with their decision-making…
We definitely never see dodgy decisions being overturned on appeal every single day.
@Steven_Swinford
@cjayanetti
‘Benefit claimants made to look for work’
Does that include pensioners claiming pension credit?
Children claiming DLA?
Disabled people claiming PIP and AA?
Can you stop trying to shame people please?
My article in The Guardian
Come on!
Not every week you get to Tweet that
This is England in 2023 – where a broken welfare system and a hernia can completely destroy your life
The trouble is, advice services are viewed as ‘nice to haves’ rather than what they really are: critical, sometimes actually life-saving services.
Statutory footing needed now before they all go.
‘When a Citizens Advice has to close…’
@patrickjbutler
👇
Three of my finest welfare rights colleagues represented at 3 PIP appeal hearings today.
And they ALL won ✊💪
One client looking at an award backdated to November 2021.
It can be done.
#WelfareRights
Huge thanks to
@Moneybox
@bbcdanw
@paullewismoney
for the opportunity to raise our concerns and to ‘Jane’ and all the debt advisers who spoke up for the value of face to face debt advice and, let’s face it, debt advice itself.
#SaveDebtAdvice
Just got off the phone with a client who is off sick, late 50s, on UC and hoping this gov don’t take £20/wk off him because it pays for his bus travel - handy when it comes to looking for/going to work.
£20 = weekly bus saver ticket
#20QuidCan
#KeepTheLifeline
I’ve just heard Liz Truss say that the government acted to prevent people worrying about their
#energybills
this winter
Like that’s done…phew
IT ISN’T DONE
The bills ARE going up again in 2 days and I for one am very worried about it
#CostOfLivingCrises
Remember JD?
Applied for PIP Feb 2022
Refused PIP in Sep 2022
Lost appeal in Aug 2023
Reapplied in Aug 2023
Awarded PIP in Nov 2023!
‘We did it’ he told me this morning.
Don’t give up. Try again, get help, keep going.
Just got back from seeing
@JonathanPieNews
and
@jojosutherland
If you get chance, and you’re in need of a proper laugh about how f’d up everything is, get a ticket!
Find out what a ‘Maltesers Couple’ is 🤣
Not one, but TWO successful discretionary Council Tax awards today for clients who had been royally screwed over by their ex-partners and left in the lurch.
That’s over £5K of CT debt written off & a ton of worry gone
That’s
#debtadvice
That’s why I ❤️ my job
@C_Fitz_
@Jaimi_Shrive
@BootstrapCook
And the apparently opaque charitable fundraising
And the appropriation of a working class voice
And the pity-me, excuse-me, woe-is-me stuff
All that grates. Might be an unpopular opinion if half a million fans is anything to go by, but sod it.
It’s nothing new, but what a huge disappointment that face-to-face help to claim Universal Credit has been withdrawn by
@DWP
The assumption that everyone can be helped remotely is wrong
Many vulnerable people were isolated from the help they needed during the pandemic.
@C_Fitz_
@Jaimi_Shrive
@BootstrapCook
It’s the contempt and the reinforcement of old stereotypes that grates me - from someone allegedly campaigning against poverty.
As Karl Pilkington would say…
Heard a
#bailiff
shocker today
Depressed, suicidal man rings a certain firm’s ‘welfare team’
They say ‘we’ll put the account on hold for 7 days so you can get debt advice’
He says ‘I can’t get an appointment in 7 days’
They say: ‘we know’
So he pays £140 out of his UC
Once again, Telegraph stirring with misinformation.
No-one is ‘given’ a car. People getting the high rate of PIP mobility can exchange the money for the lease of a car via Motability
Hateful rag
I still can’t get over the fact that
@MoneyPensionsUK
gave contracts worth £millions to Gregory Pennington - a profit-making co - to run yet another remote helpline while community advice charities now face cuts in services & redundancies.
How can that be right?
#SaveDebtAdvice
Rang a client this morning to do telephone advice…not happening. She’s struggling with mental health & bailiffs calling but talking about this stuff is too hard
Offered in person appt and her whole tone changed
‘Can I bring all my letters in?’
Absolutely
#SaveDebtAdvice
The DWP send massive forms out to disabled and vulnerable people and you best believe if THEY don’t answer the questions on them then their money stops dead.
DWP should be ashamed of itself for this badly organised shambles.
In the last 6 months,
#DWP
ministers have repeatedly argued that they cannot answer crucial written parliamentary questions because of the “disproportionate cost” or because the information is “not collated centrally”.
Client walks in today with a debt of £4500 hanging over her. Hasn’t paid/heard off them for years
Phoned the creditor
‘Is this debt statute-barred by any chance?’
On hold
Comes back. Apparently defaulted in 2007
So yes it is
Payment plan?
I think not
Account closed 👍
Get in!
I feel traumatised
Client in bits on the phone. Warrant officer at the door with a locksmith ready to force fit prepayment meter
Emergency breathing space app done. WO ‘has never heard of Breathing Space’…Scottish Power on speakerphone, me the same.
Client distraught…
Wow
Just submitted a Debt Relief Order with a client and I love that visible dropping of the shoulders and sigh of actual relief that it’s done and the pressure is off. They’re smiling and I’m smiling.
Reminded me why I do this job and I needed reminding
#debtadvice
Thank goodness there were cameras that we might know of such good deeds.
We are a rich country - there should be no ‘baby banks’, no Foodbanks, and no ‘warm spaces’.
People should have enough to get by. And the safety net should keep people safe.
The Princess of Wales has taken her children to volunteer at a baby bank where the young royals picked out Christmas presents for those in need 🎁🎄
Latest UK news:
This week’s rant about debt advice, being a debt adviser, states of welfare, and the state of the welfare state.
I speak for myself but does it resonate at all?
Go paperless they said. It’s the future they said. But not in debt advice and not with a company like Jacobs Enforcement.
(Yes these 45 unopened letters were all brought in in a carrier bag by a client).
The client felt suicidal. But not any more.
#SaveDebtAdvice
Here’s another ‘benefit claimant’ for you
My dad
70s
Limited mobility
Claims AA
Entitled to it. Right to do so
Stop shaming him
Oh you didn’t mean him? You’re talking about young people? What do you know of their life? If they’re claiming, they’re entitled to just the same.
Me talking about debt advice v debt ‘packagers’ for a couple of minutes on
@Moneybox
tomorrow?
Anyone listening in for that? 🤔
12.04 pm BBC radio 4.
#DebtAdvice
@debtwe
@GMMAG1
‘They won’t force me to get a job will they? I saw it on breakfast telly this morning, they’re stopping people’s benefits…will they stop mine because I can’t work any more?’
ICYMI 👇 A message to Helen:
Don’t be scared
Jonathan Brearley
@ofgem
chief says get
#DebtAdvice
if you can’t pay your energy bills (radio 4 9.10am); what on earth does he think debt advisers can do about it?
A) we’re in the same boat!
B) we deal with debts - people need income/lower bills
These people haven’t a clue.
Shocking. Unsustainable. These are the people Cruella Braverman and her ilk are targeting - not the rich fat cats getting away with poorly paid jobs subsidised by the very same government. 🤦🏼♀️
‘We Can't Live Like This’
More than half of families receiving emergency charity aid are also on Universal Credit, with the benefit failing to meet families’ basic financial needs.
@sianushka
via
@bylinetimes
Debt advisers do this all the time. Day in day out.
That’s why I tweet this stuff.
It’s not all DROs and insolvency. Everyone doing this job knows what I’m talking about.
Those that fund debt advice should know it too.
We are debt advisers
@debtwe
This will 100% push people into debt/more debt/unmanageable debt. Yes Councils need funding and gov should increase it. Apply blood-out-of-stone principle.
Most top-tier English councils to raise council tax by maximum permitted
Today looks like this:
AM: debt advice drop in at the job centre
PM: zip up the M60 to Salford Quays to join
@FelicityHannah
for
@Moneybox
live at 3pm
Energy debt, cost of living, prepayment meters…I won’t have much to say about any of that now, will I? 🤔😁 wish me luck!
To all those debt advisers finding out today that they are facing redundancy in March 2022,
@debtwe
stand with you and we will absolutely fight for this not to happen ✊
#SaveDebtAdvice
Sign up for the 4/11 MP briefing & think about joining a union ✊
Hugest of thanks to everyone who attended the
@debtwe
briefing this afternoon to
#SaveDebtAdvice
and a special thanks to
@lee_whitwell
for a brave and heartfelt contribution.
We will follow up ASAP with the slides & next steps 1/3
Debt advisers do a really complex job in difficult circumstances - it’s time they had pay and conditions to match their skills and professionalism.
I suppose I would say that - but it’s still true! Solidarity ✊
Can i just put on record how grateful i am to the migrant care workers who cared day & night for my mum in her final weeks of life in 2019 and especially, Edward, who held her hand as she passed away while I fell apart.
Eternally thankful for your kindness ❤️ & ashamed of UK gov
Sat down and watched
#Dispatches
properly tonight.
@C4Dispatches
actually did a rotten job of portraying debt advice in my opinion.
Most debt advisers I know help clients - contact Councils, creditors etc
Hope it doesn’t put people off. We really can help people.
#DebtAdvice
Hey
@MoneyPensionsUK
!
Today I am seeing 2 clients face-to-face
We started off on the phone but they were struggling with this, so in an amazing seamless-customer-journey-channel-shift I made them appointments to come in!
It’s just that easy. No hubs required
#SaveDebtAdvice
Thank God for Welfare Rights Officers who today proved that they understand the rules on benefit capping when members of Parliament who actually dream up such rules apparently don’t.
A constituent finally gets good advice - the cap does not apply in her circs.
The thing about sending bailiffs out to people who have nothing is that it achieves precisely that: nothing
But it does cause a lot of stress for the person who is not only struggling with daily living costs but then has a bailiff to contend with (and their fees) on top.
I have been campaigning to get Stockport Council to stop using debt collection agencies to recover debts and sign up to
@CA_Stockport
ethical debt collection protocol.
Using bailiffs is not necessary and only compounds distress for struggling residents 👉🏽
Saw this post this morning about bailiffs collecting Council Tax debt so
You do NOT have to answer the door to bailiffs
You DON’T have to let them in
If they can’t collect debt they return the account to the Council ‘nulla bona’ (no goods)
Get
#debtadvice
We can help ❤️
‘As the cost of living crisis deepens, figures suggest almost 13 million people in the UK are falling behind on their bills and struggling with their debts.’
Who’s Cashing In?
👀 Monday 24/7 BBC 1
Here’s hoping for a productive debate that highlights the debt advice crisis in our local communities.
We need an immediate pause before it’s too late.
Thanks
@EmmaHardyMP
for your support. I hope MPs from all sides speak up for their constituents.
#SaveDebtAdvice
@DebtWe
I have cast my vote.
I went in, said ‘where do I vote to get the effing Tories out?’ and got a standing ovation from the 5 people in the hall and a dog woofed somewhere with enthusiastic approval.
Does Lee Anderson MP think the Foodbanks are giving out ready meals??
Try cooking a meal when you’ve got no gas/electric. Ready or otherwise.
Try budgeting on £334 a month. Try double that and you still couldn’t.
🤬 ‘sake
Excellent. Thank you
@NavPMishra
Councils acutely aware of the cost of living crisis should not be sending the bailiffs. It’s hypocritical and frankly, cruel.
Last year,
@CitizensAdvice
estimated that there were millions of people behind on council tax, yet councils continue to use debt collection agencies when there is no evidence to suggest bailiff use increases collection rates.
I raised this with the Government 👇🏾
@CA_Stockport
To be clear,
@MoneyPensionsUK
had a pot of £77m - lost a mill along the way - so it became £76m
£30m went to community based contracts - a 10% cut - but higher with inflation & contractors like
@CitizensAdvice
are now talking redundancies.
#SaveDebtAdvice
@UniteEconomy
Client today telling me about recent suicide attempts. Members of the public ‘unfortunately’ intervened.
I said I could help with the debt stuff, which was a major factor.
He started crying. Relief at getting some help I think. Tough call.
1/2
Gather the pitchforks, light the torches…tonight, we are bravely going after the enemy who are…benefit claimants? People too sick to work? Carers? Are we sure about this Jeremy?
A rant has landed.
#Welfarestate
#benefits
#NoSafetyNet
Have submitted an application for pro bono rep to Advocate today on behalf of the 81 year old going up against the mighty Barclays Bank.
Had terrific advice from Shelter’s SDAS
Fingers now crossed 🤞
Credit when it’s due 👍
Well done
@edfenergy
for answering my call in under 10 minutes & agreeing to stop the fitting of prepayment meters tomorrow for my disabled client who would almost certainly have self-disconnected
This is how it’s done
@ScottishPower
- take note
Client:disabled pensioner. Him & Mrs get £780 / month to live on
He owes the DWP for some dusty old overpayments from another century
Gets a letter from
@DWP
saying from April they will deduct £230 per month
His response (to me)
‘Might as well slash my wrists’
☎️ time again
I don’t believe the masses swearing allegiance are ready to die for the king
I think some might unfortunately die in their armchairs next winter, watching the same TV, still having no money & petrified of putting the heating on
#Coronation
👎
#NoSafetyNet
I’ve now got Scottish Power telling me the account is on hold for 28 days to give my client (who I have seen face to face) time to call Stepchange who will be able to agree a longer payment plan than Scottish Power themselves allow.
What’s going on?
@kevpeellab
True story:
4.30pm last Sat
Woman walks into town centre community hub
Says I’ve no money & no food
Don’t care about myself but my kids will go hungry
What can I do?
Staff had a whip-round & a nearby cafe said she could have everything unsold at 5.30
This is the BNPL target.
And as for Councils…it’s all well and good doing prayer hands emojis about the cost of living crisis and setting up warm spaces etc but to then send bailiffs to people in the very deepest poverty?
Just stop it. Now.
@sarahanstey23
@RebeccaClaxton
Proper
#debtadvice
is practice of social welfare law, contract law, etc Representing in court, witness statements, challenging liability, explaining rights and obligations.
It is not just working out disposable income for a payment plan!
Certain MPs taking second jobs to help them manage on £82k a year
Client today has £260 per MONTH to live on after they pay their rent
In their 60s
Working
Health starting to fail
Universal Credit
Don’t always have credit on the phone
No email
Can’t
#TalkMoney
#SaveDebtAdvice
Update: Barclays has withdrawn its possession claim completely after submission of medical/vulnerability evidence.
The negotiations will continue outside of court. But for now, main thing is that this elderly gentleman can stay in his home without fear of repossession.
💪
Have submitted an application for pro bono rep to Advocate today on behalf of the 81 year old going up against the mighty Barclays Bank.
Had terrific advice from Shelter’s SDAS
Fingers now crossed 🤞
Solidarity with any debt advisers being told to stop doing casework from January 2022
I am absolutely gutted
@MoneyPensionsUK
it’s getting very close to TooLate o’clock - please hit pause - this can’t be what you intended surely?
#SaveDebtAdvice
@DebtWe
@UniteDebt
While CEOs & policyfolk are enjoying
#DebtAwarenessWeek
& the feeling of well-being that comes from ‘doing good’, spare a thought for people in debt - well aware of their debt - completely unaware of
#DebtAwarenessWeek
& facing the sorts of choices that CEOs have nightmares about
Hearing again today about a debt adviser working evenings and weekends to type up pointless dissertation-length letters after seeing 6 new complex cases a week.
Losing sleep in case they get ‘marked down’
By people who haven’t EVER given debt advice!!
This is what happens
Lessons should be learned from Universal Credit
Digital only
How many of us have clients who have absolutely no means of looking at their journals, get locked out, don’t understand?
Excluded
Marginalised
No voice
We can’t let debt advice go that way
#SaveDebtAdvice
❗️This is what’s happening to Community Debt Advice on the ground. A reduced ‘adviser headcount’. So MaPS can crow about 80% funding increases till the cows come home but the reality is less debt advisers in the worst cost of living crisis we’ve ever seen.
👇⚠️
#SaveDebtAdvice
Client yesterday:
Suffered domestic violence
Drug/alcohol addiction ongoing
Debilitating physical/mental health disabilities
Bailiffs at the door
Deductions from benefits for who knows what
How do remote advice hubs practically help this person?
Factsheets?
#SaveDebtAdvice
#OfgemMustAct
#DebtAdvice
We refuse to send our clients back to square one.
We are professional, accredited debt advisers.
Talk to us
@Ofgem
We need this sorting.
Calling
@ofgem
@ScottishPower
and all energy providers. Debt advice agencies demand equal treatment. It is not ok for providers to dictate to people in debt which debt advice agency they must go to. Our blog
#OfgemMustAct
#DebtAdvice
The Executive Council, Unite and I call on the
@GOVUK
and Money & Pensions Service to increase and extend the levy which pays for debt advice services so that all organisations which create or profit from problem debt make a contribution to fixing it.
@UniteDebt
#SaveDebtAdvice
‘Don’t expect your Housing Association to answer the phone just because they emailed to say they’d evict you if you didn’t phone them.’
I mean, why would you?!