Dear LPG,

 I recently found myself in a bit of a quandary.  I am disabled and I don’t really know a lot about the benefit system apart from it is all very complicated. 

A friend told me that I might be missing out on a particular benefit that would increase my income a little and that I should make some enquiries.  Not long after this I talked to another friend, in similar circumstances to my own, who warned me that they had been told the same thing ,they  phoned and made some enquiries and after giving all their details it had worked out that their new benefit resulted in another being taken away with the outcome that they were now somewhat worse off than when they first started.

The big problem is that the benefit system, like nearly every system in this country is so complicated that one thing will cancel out another, and there are so many bits of small print that no one really knows what is going on. 

I suppose what I am saying is that it is really difficult to learn the truth about the effect that a change of benefit will make, and if it will help, before it actually happens, and then there are a whole different set of problems caused if you want to change things back again.  If you make an enquiry you are usually asked for your personal details and before you know it some government department has changed things in such a way that you were better off in the first place. 

So I have found that one way of learning more about how things will change is to get someone else to make the enquiry for you because they, if asked for your details can honestly say that they are making the enquiry on your behalf and therefore are not at liberty to be more specific about the person they are enquiring on behalf of.  A younger family member, or a friend, is also likely to ask different questions than the ones you would and may well know more about what is said than you do.  There will be some officials that ask you to get the person concerned to call back, but if our government departments are as transparent as they like to be seen to be, you should be able to get some clarity by working in this way. 

JH, Bellingham.      

LPG would also like to mention that perhaps one should get that friend, or another to repeat the process for you, and we would also add that it is to your advantage to work in the same way that you would if you were trying to have some building work done in your home.  It is always suggested that you get at least 3 quotations before making any real plans. 

Another way to learn if you are getting the best deal benefit-wise is to approach an organisation called Turn2Us.  They are happy to talk to you anonymously about this subject, and a variety of others, and also offer an on line calculator which may help.  They will email you a more detailed assessment but you don’t have to let them know who you are.  Even if you are happy with your financial circumstances it is worth trying their questionnaire.

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