Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
I received a letter this week from the Pensions HQ in Newcastle informing me that they will be making a reduction of £8 per week in my pension. I have been receiving the OAP since 1999 on reaching 65 years of age, I am now 77.
They told me that a clerical error was made in 1999 and has just come to light after 12 years. Surely they cannot take this away from me after so many years, there must be a time limit on these things.
The reason given for the error was that the computers in those days could not handle the amount of changes that were being brought in. Their words to me on the phone were "we had to drag people in off the streets to handle the backlog and mistakes were made clerically". The only consolation for me is that they are not asking for the "over payments made". A good job because they would have to whistle for it.
I can appeal and picked up a leaflet from the Job Centre yesterday. It has to be made within a month. Does any one know if the Citizens Advice office is still open in Dover?. I seem to remember it being near the Bowling green years ago. I am not taking this lying down as £8 per week is a lot of money for me and worked nearly 50 years to get it. I was 37 years Merchant Navy, over 3 years at Channel Tunnel, 3 years with Stena Line shoreside and several other jobs in between. This was when you could go from job to job unlike nowadays.
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
Sorry to hear that Alec, could they not at least defer any increases until the £8 is evened out? not ideal but better than taking such a hit in one go.
Audere est facere.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Alec, there is general information and free-phone numbers for you here...
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
It may not help at all Alec, but a mistake that happened over 12 years ago surely must rest on their shoulders ?
You could write to Charlie Elphicke too.
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
You are right Roger. Alec get Charlie onto it - this is unjust, you are being treated shabbily and should not suffer because of such a mistake. £8 a week is a lot to lose and you have based your lifestyle on that income now for 12 years.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Alec, the CAB is still where it used to be, Arthur Brown is the financial wizard there.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
much as i don't want to be a wet blanket, alec may have problems here.
a few years back it was found that people had been overpaid tax credits through no fault of their own.
all had to pay back.
But twelve years and a sudden drop like that - it has to be fixable, just on the grounds of fairness.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Fairness is that wishful thinking Bern, although I do agree with you.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Alec Sheldon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
Many thanks to every one who commented on my post.
Tom, thanks for the links.
Roger and Barry, I will see what the CAB have to say before I involve Charlie, I think that he has enough on his plate at the moment, thanks for the suggestion though.
Peter, thanks for that, I think that I know Arthur Brown by sight although I haven't seen him for some time. I think that he used to drink in the Mogul when it was open.
Howard, my pension has nothing to do with credits, my understanding of Pension credits is that it is money paid to anyone over 60 and who is unemployed to make up their money until they reach pension age. It is a ploy to keep the unemployment figures down in my opinion. I earned every penny of my pension and never received any "so called" credits, in fact I don't think they were available in my time.
Bern, Jan and Martin, thanks for your input, as you say 12 years is a long time for an error to come to light.
I will try to get in touch with the CAB tomorrow and will let you know of any outcome.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Alec here is the CAB link for times etc it might help if you can phone for an appointment rather than just visiting them. They are a brilliant bunch in there, very friendly and extremely helpful.
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/bureau_detail?serialnumber=561448-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
alec
the point i was getting across is that the tax office made the mistakes but the individuals still had to pay out.
best of luck with the c.a.b.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Alec, so sorry to hear this unfortunate state of affairs, surely there must be a way to keep this £8 in your pension income after all this is vital to your living costs as has been the case for over 12 years now, you must of course fight your case.
The CAB is an excellent starting point, they are a very friendly bunch of people and extremely efficient. I had to see them recently with regard to my eldest daughter's problem with an unfair landlord and we had a great result in our favour. As Jan has said it is better to make a personal appointment with them. Good luck, I look forward to hearing how you get on.
Alec Sheldon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
Thanks to Jan, Howard and Collette for your comments. Thanks for the link Jan. I have got an appointment at the Gateway office in Castle St. tomorrow morning.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
That is a fair old time 12years before they realize they have made a mistake, good luck at the gateway offices tomorrow i hope they are able to help.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
How did you get on Alec ?
Roger
Alec Sheldon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
Not much joy Roger. The nice lady gave me a couple of web sites to have a look at and I have to go through all the procedures before I can appeal. My next procedure is writing to ask them to reconsider their decision which I did today. It is just a waiting game now, letters going back and forth.
She thought it was unfair and had never had any cases like it so she couldn't be of much help.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Alec - good luck with your endeavours.
It must be unusual if she has never heard of any cases like it, maybe you could put that in one of your letters to them.
Roger
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Alec
this it totaly unjust
if i were yiou i would involve everyone
as has been said get your MP on it
also your local cllrs
and get the local media onto it to
12 years and a whopping £8 a week
should be wiped clean after all this time
Alec don't be frightened to use all avenues this is unjust
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