OPENING HOURS SURVEY

I think a Saturday session would be very useful, most of those dreaded brown envelopes plop on the mat when there are no offices open and you have zillions of questions !!!!
I like that mods answer posts very quickly, and some of the post have warranted a speedy reply to put minds at rest.
Mostly, I want to say "thank you" to all the Mods who support us through very trying and difficult times. I hope you realise just how much of a life-saver you all are.

Methinks it's fine exactly as it is but thanks for giving us the opportunity to comment.

Good luck to you Gordon and all the mods and please keep up the invaluable work that you all provide.

Thanks from Seth La

Hello. Re opening times whilst I would imagine a lot of subscribers would like the opportunity to ask advice 7 days a week, I find it adequate as it is. However, I have not had to seek help from the moderators as yet but no doubt will need some advice re the move from DLA to PIP next year. As one subscriber has already mentioned, these feared brown envelopes tend to arrive on a Saturday and to wait till Monday for help can mean a very worrying time for some. Therefore some time on a Saturday would no doubt be useful. However, the moderators give there expert advice I assume voluntarily, often have their own health issues and also no doubt have families to consider. You all do a brilliant job and the ones asking help are very grateful for your time and effort with very complex matters. So a lot is down to whether or not you can cover any extra periods. I always like to read the forum news and have already picked up some good pointers for when my envelope falls on my doorstep. Keep up your good and very valuable work.

Would you be happy if we switched from the current pro-active moderation to a re-active one where your posts go through to the forum automatically and are then dealt with if they break the rules?

This passage concerns me. I remember, it was about 2½/3 years ago when someone from B&W (I think it was Steve Donnison) explained the need to keep the site safe from Government action, legal or pseudo legal, that would/could threaten to close down the site. At that time the ’powers that be’ were closing down lots of sites that were set up by, or to help, disabled and other vulnerable people on benefits.

We (the poorest, weakest and vulnerable) have already lost access to legal aid for benefit issues. Voluntary Agencies have lost funding and many have been closed down. Those few recourses left are struggling to cope. ‘Benefits and Work Guides You Can Trust,’ has remained a constant, reliable and effective asset and ally.

I got my notice letter to have my ‘face to face, for ESA on a Saturday. I was desperate, with a myriad of questions to ask and reassurance to seek but I waited till Monday. Really, it’s not a bad thing to wait sometimes, because we need to assimilate the facts and sort out the wheat from the chaff of our emotions and fears.

Initially it might seem a good idea to increase or extend the hours available but wouldn’t that be a drain on the moderators who already do so much? You guys have your own health problems, and lives to lead. It would be different if there were moderators who where contracted and it was their paid employment.

Susan.

Thank you for consulting with us all. I was over 65 when the criteria for PIP assessments was established. However, always fearful of a "brown envelope" and D.L.A. reviews, thus I keep up my subscription. I pass on advice from here to friends who are younger than me, i.e. of "working age", so I find the forum, and all the advice and suggestions very useful. The current opening hours are okay for me.
We lost a very valuable service in my borough for disabled people, and the local CAB office is oversubscribed so this Benefits & Work site in a tremendous help. I would not like to lose it.