What can I do

I have just had the news that I scored 0 points on my assessment. I followed all your advice but the decisions don't bear any relation what I wrote on my form or said at my medical. I have lodged an appeal - I don't have a penny to my name and will be cut off if I don't pay the electricity bill. How can they do this to people?

Glenys - firstly take a deep breath. Not getting any points is distressing, but don't give up just yet - you never know how your appeal will go.

Meanwhile, claim the assessment rate of ESA, whilst you appeal.

If you are in debt, see a specialist debt adviser. There are plenty of free ones, including CCCS, National Debtline, CABx and Christians Against Poverty. Beware of commercial organisations with similar names.

Your electricity company may be willing to agree to a payment plan or to your having a meter installed and some electricity companies have charities to help customers in debt, so get some advice to see what could be done to help.

If you are very distressed, see the list of numbers in the thread labelled "if you are distressed".

If you had said that you were going to kill yourself rather than you feel like it, I would not have cleared this post, but I believe that it is a good opportunity to remind people not to despair but to keep fighting and to get individual advice on their financial situation.

Good luck.

Hi Glenys,

You need to lodge an appeal asap - download a copy of our guide to appeals and an appeal form and you can have it in the post within the hour.

Make sure you ask to continue to receive ESA at the assessment rate whilst appealing.

And you certainly wouldn't be the first Benefits and Work member to go from 0 points to 15 points if you do win your appeal.

Good luck,

Steve

Hi Glenys, I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. If you need some money you can apply for a Hardship Grant (please can someone else help out here as I'm not sure if that is the correct title of it). I was advised to do this when I was moved from Income Support to ESA as it took them 7 weeks to sort it out. Best of luck,
Rachel

Hi Glenys, Rachel

They are called Hardship Payments but the qualifying criteria can restrict many people from obtaining these payments for the first week of hardship. You may be able to get a Crisis Loan.

However, as Steve and Survivor have said, if you send in your GL/24 form and ask to continue to receive ESA at the assessment rate whilst appealing, you ESA should continue.

Best wishes

Derek

Hi Derek, Glenys; thankyou Derek for clearing that up. I didnt actually apply for one myself so forgot what they were called. And Glenys, Derek is right about them continuing to pay ESA while you appeal. I think it is the assessment amount, it didnt affect me as I was on this rate when I appealed anyway. Best of luck,
Rachel