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Articles in Benefits

Delays To PIP Payments

Ben Clark

We’ve confirmed today with the DWP that there is an ongoing issue with PIP benefit payments which started on Friday 2nd December, and persists today. Many people are finding that their usual PIP payment hasn’t reached their bank account. DWP insiders are telling us that Caxton House (DWP Head Office) have ‘declared a major incident’ over non-payment of disability benefit PIP, but they still don’t know how or when it will be resolved.

We have consulted welfare rights lawyers, who confirm that disabled people receiving PIP have no legal right to be paid on any particular day and that the DWP cannot be held liable for any bank charges or other losses because a payment is delayed. The DWP have made themselves unaccountable.

If the DWP end up making two payments into your account, report it to the DWP immediately. Do not leave yourself vulnerable to DWP recovery proceedings, as they can be very ruthless. More information here.

As of 5 pm today (5 December), a lot of claimants are reporting money is arriving in their accounts. We do not know how many claimants have been affected, or how many payments are still outstanding, as the DWP is not accountable.

As of 3.30pm today (5th December), the DWP are telling claimants that about a third of PIP claimants have been affected, and that all failed payments will be paid again using Faster Payments. There has, of course, been no official confirmation from the DWP.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 2 December 2022

Ben Clark

The Covid risk in Bucks continues to rise. As of 30 November, 1 in 48 people in the county were infected with Covid-19. The risk of meeting an infected person when out and about remains VERY HIGH. In your average busy supermarket, there will be six people breathing out Covid for you to catch. This is the beginning of the predicted ‘Winter Wave’ of Covid.

Our advice remains to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places (especially hospitals and GP surgeries), breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions will help save you and your family from serious illness or long-term disability.

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BuDS is not attending Chiltern Open Air Museum’s Christmas Event

Freya Clark

BuDS always strives to make events in Buckinghamshire accessible for disabled people. However, we have recently been hit with a wave of illness within our events team. After lots of careful consideration, our Trustees felt that attending this event would put too much strain on the health of our volunteers, and we are therefore very sadly announcing that we will not be attending this event.

If you have any questions or comments, please email info@buds.org.uk.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 25 November 2022

Ben Clark

The Covid risk in Bucks is going up again, after falling to its lowest level this year. As of 23 November, 1 in 55 people in the county were still infected with Covid-19 and the risk of meeting an infected person when out and about has increased to VERY HIGH. In your average busy supermarket, there will be five people breathing out Covid for you to catch. This is probably the beginning of the predicted ‘Winter Wave’ of Covid.

Our advice remains to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places (especially hospitals and GP surgeries), breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions will help save you and your family from serious illness or long-term disability.

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Have You Heard About The DecodeME Project?

Ben Clark

Written by Liz Hobbs.

Disclaimer: this is a personal blog by a BuDS member. The views expressed are personal and don’t necessarily represent those of BuDS or our Trustees.

A few months back it was Chronic Fatigue Awareness Day.  I really wanted to write a blog about it, but at the time my own chronic fatigue symptoms were so bad that I didn’t have the energy, focus or ability to do anything about it.  I promised myself that at some point I would write something.  This isn’t quite the blog that I was going to write – still not enough health to do that, unfortunately.  It was going to be all about how CFS has affected my life and how it impacts so many people in so many ways.  However instead, having just attended a webinar, on 16th November, I’m going to ask you a very important question:

Have you heard about the DecodeME project?

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Pensioner Winter Fuel Credit Payments – Winter 2022-23

Ben Clark

If you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023, and you are a pensioner, you will get an extra payment for your household. You can receive this alongside other cost of living payments from your tax credits or benefits.

The amount you will receive is different depending on your circumstances at the time of your winter fuel credit payment. A full breakdown of the circumstances, and how they affect your payment, is below. Please note that the amounts shown in the table below are ONLY for the winter of 2022 to 2023, and will not apply at any other time. 

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The Warm Home Discount Scheme

Ben Clark

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off deduction of £150 from your electricity bill, under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money will NOT be paid to you – it is a one-off discount on your electricity bill between October 2022 and March 2023. 

You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity, and you are eligible.The discount will not affect any Cold Weather Payments or Winter Fuel Payments that your household may also be eligible for.

Read on for more.

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Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 18 November 2022

Ben Clark

There remains a lot of Covid in the community this week. As of 16 November, 1 in 109 people in the county were still infected with Covid-19 and the risk of meeting an infected person when out and about is still HIGH. In your average busy supermarket, there will still be three people breathing out Covid for you to catch. However, the risk has reduced from last week and Covid levels in Bucks are at their lowest level so far this year.

Even though the risk is lower, it remains HIGH and so our advice remains to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places (especially hospitals and GP surgeries), breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions will help save you and your family from serious illness or long-term disability.

Read More