International Law

Mentally ill 'go without food'

By John Hirst

"Almost three-quarters of people with mental health problems run out of money at the end of each week, a study says".

Tell me about it. I recently received a letter from Yorkshire Water informing me that it was applying to the DWP to deduct money I owed them from my benefits. It works out at £7.50 per week. With the bank taking £28 per month in over charges, they are just sending me deeper and deeper into debt.

My understanding was that a charity was paying my water bill via the social services. By the time I found out that it was a one off payment, it was too late and Yorkshire Water presented me with a bill of over £100. At a time when gas and electric had gone up, and heating over Winter meant costs went through the roof, there was no way I could pay.

What makes it worse, is that the DWP made a decision to grant the Yorkshire Water's request without allowing me any say before the decision was reached. I can only appeal against the decision, which I intend to do. In my view, the process falls foul of a Court of Appeal decision in my favour which decided that I was entitled to have an input into the original decision on the principle that it is harder to overturn a decision once made.

And more bad news...

British Gas bills may rise again

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on May 12, 2008 (boomark / email).