MGA News Winter 2003

Mrs Gravis and I once again did our duty, and trundled off to the AGM and quite a trundle it was too, all the way to Liverpool. When we arrived I was quite shattered, but I had made it and as I always say “once I have done it they can’t take it away”. It took some careful preparation. Building up reserves by having a sleep in the afternoon for a few days before hand, care to avoid undue stress or infection and careful planning of the route. Much to Mrs Gravis’ relief our route avoided the motorways around Birmingham. She always feels that on motorways the heavy lorries are about to fall on us.

Although now of mature years, for Mrs Gravis and I this was our first visit to Liverpool. As with any first visit we did not know what to expect, but my abiding memory is one of kindness and courtesy, particularly to me as a wheelchair user. After the AGM was over Mrs Gravis and I left the splendour of the Town Hall and went for a ramble. We passed the Liver Building, went along the waterfront and on to the Albert Dock, where competitors in the Round the World Clipper Race had moored up. On the paved area between the Liver Building and the river we came across a group of youngsters skateboarding. As we approached every one of them stopped, moved to one side, exchanged a friendly word and smiled. Later in the shopping centre, which was very crowded, we met with the same kindness and concern. Just for once, although in the chair I was below their eye line, everyone seemed to be aware of me; they made way and proffered assistance where it seemed I might need help. Again there was a cheery word and a smile, communities in the South could learn a lot from Liverpool.

If you are of pensionable age, or in receipt of Incapacity Benefit or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), you will know that the Government is changing the way these are paid. The order book used at the Post Office is being phased out and replaced by direct payment into a bank or building society account, or into a Post Office Card account. If this hasn’t already happened to you, you will get a letter when your turn comes to transfer, I’ve had mine.

Living in a rural area I know how important the Village Post Office is and have always done my best to support it, so the Post Office Card account was the obvious choice for me. I have to confess that I also enjoy my Thursday outing with Judith, the carer who looks after me whilst Mrs Gravis is at work. It gives me a chance to buy all those goodies, which Mrs Gravis would have me put back on the shelf.hen

Opening the Card Account was not quite as straight forward as I had hoped. I had to contact Job Centre Plus on a free-phone number and ask to be ‘invited’ to open a Card account. They did want me to consider all the other alternatives, but I stood, or rather sat firm. After a couple of weeks I received an application form, which I had to fill in and take to the Post Office. This form is such that if you make a mistake it has to be scrapped. I am told that it is designed to be read by a computer, so no crossing out or correction fluid permitted.

To make it more difficult you must not stray outside the white boxes. Oh yes and you must use black ink. Mrs Gravis immediately expressed the opinion that with my very eccentric handwriting I would never make it. In fact with the aid of Christine, our kind Post Office Counter Clerk, it took four attempts. After two weeks I had a letter telling me that the card was now at the Post Office awaiting collection, I then had to wait for the PIN number. It finally arrived and I reported to collect the card. We did a trial run which worked, revealing a nil balance. I phoned the details to Job Centre Plus and have now received a form to sign confirming the details. At this point I realised that my form was only in respect of Incapacity Benefit. It seems that the DLA and Mobility components will require a separate form, although I shall not have to repeat the Post Office exercise again. Until all the departments have completed their part of the procedure I am told that I will continue to use my order book. At each stage, to make sure that I was doing the right thing, I phoned the Job Centre Plus help line, they proved to be very helpful and have great patience. I seemed to recognise the accent of the call centre staff, could they be on Merseyside somewhere? They were kind enough. Providing that I can remember my PIN number, it looks like being a good system, but setting it up is far from user friendly.

On the other hand if I can do it anyone can.

MGA NEWS Winter 2003

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