First bit of good news

Having been laid up pretty much all weekend I was delighted to open an envelope from our LA confirming my Council tax benefit application has been approved and they are also popping last months payment we made back into our bank account.

Although it is just £135 it seems a fortune right now. We still pay £2.30 a week because Mum who lives with us - and my wife, is a registered carer to her Mum & is classed as a non-dependant. Having so said we have made an application for pension credit for Mum which has been agreed in principal and when she receives that element the LA will not consider Mum as a non-dependant.

So with just under two weeks to go now to my initial ESA medical assessment (I am honestly so nervous about this), not of the medical assessment because what I have is fully documented and can be visibly seen anyway, no, it is in-case the assessor is not truthful with the assessment and forces me unnecessarily into an appeal...should not be a consideration but it seems like it is from what I have read here.

DLA lower rate care is awaited and another letter states I will find out within 8 weeks so hopefully that might be a positive as well.

What is daft about this entire process, is above and beyond anything else I would love to do paid work again, it is now a year since I was made redundant.TBH I guess the employer tried to make adjustments to accommodate me but finally they could not hence redundancy. Have no idea what I would be physically capable off, probably not a lot, but at least a couple of hours working from home would be good and ease my conscience.

Hi BTD

Bless you!! It is great to see that you have your first piece of luck but not without a lot of sweat and tears!!! It is a fortune when you are trying to get by on the small amout that we do get. Sad as it may sound you would have thought i had won the lottery when 6 months after leaving my job due to ill health they sent me a cheque for the previous years bonus scheme for £800 i couldnt believe it. I informed DWP and was told it wouldnt affect my benefit being such a small amount but to me it was a fortune!!! My belief is honesty pays! Anyway lets hope things continue to go your way its the very least you deserve!! Its so uplifting to hear good news and i am sure i am not the only one thats pleased for you.
Keep in touch with your progress!!

Best wishes
Julie

Thanks for that Julie, really appreciated. yes indeed, it is now the dratted medical Assessment in under two weeks so that is the next phase.

BTD