Totally appaled at Gordons response to Mir

'......but you need to get your act together as a charity and investigate this new law very disappointed in you'

At the risk of getting caught in the cross-fire I should like to point out that Benefits and Work is not in fact a charity and so, of course, is in no way 'obligated' to investigate this, or any other new law, that it might be considered to have if it was one!

John42.

I understand how you feel. However, this change is not specifically targeted at the disabled and like other benefits such as housing benefit, it is not something the moderators cover. They are, after all, volunteers who help us and are mostly disabled themselves.

I agree this needs to be discussed, but not on this forum. Just my thoughts and no offense intended. (We get enough grief from DWP, ATOS, CAPITA, and our wonderful Tory government.)

Paul.

John

I think Gordon has been very patient. There are petitions else where for you to sign and your own MP to contact. There is little to discuss and most people that are affected are aware of the change.
I am sure that it must be a difficult decision for anyone affected, but the number of people involved compared to the number of people struggling to get or keep ESA and PIP awards is small. Gordon and the team are doing a sterling job helping the majority who need to put food on their table and do not derserve your disrespectfull comments

Having just read this Gordon i wanted to say just how much i value the time effort and expertise you so freely give despite your own health problems. Thank you and know just how much you are appreciated .

Hi,

I started as a Mod circa 2011 but have not been around on B&W as a Mod for over 12 months due to my personal circumstances.

I was just browsing and noticed this thread where John is "having a go" at Gordon about him not giving his opinion or advice on SMI changing from a benefit to a loan.

I do not think Gordon has been rude or abrupt at all, he is spot on.

This has never been a discussion forum. There used to be a separate discussion forum on B&W but this was closed some years ago due to the extreme work load on the Mods in trying to run 2 forums, and there where 5 or 6 Mods operating then.

As things stand Gordon alone has kept this forum running for over 12 months, and without his time and diligence as a Mod, there would be no B&W forum.

So, if I was a member, I would think on about "giving him stick" that he does not deserve.

It is simple really SMI is changing from a benefit to a loan from April 2018.

It will be up to each individual and dependent on their own personal circumstances on whether they choose to continue to receive SMI as a loan or not.

As this is tantamount to taking out a second mortgage/second loan on their property it is therefore informed financial advice that is needed, not discussion, opinions or chit-chat on a this or any other forum.

As you will see from this extract :

"It is very clearly financial advice, we have been instructed at Citizens Advice not to touch it other than the basic info on SMI."

From this post :

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewreply/57072/

As part of this very long thread on rightsnet :

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/11338

Even The Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) will not advise on it as they too consider it to be a "Financial" matter rather than a "Benefit" matter.

I cannot imagine what advice is expected by the OP ?

Just a polite reminder to all, B&W is not a charity, it is owned and run by Steve. The subs paid by members are for access to the various guides. The forum is provided as a courtesy and run by Mods free, on a voluntary basis.

B&W does not receive any form of grants, it does not allow advertising and is therefore one of the only totally independent websites free from any external influences.

Hence the annual subs to keep it up an running.

My best advice to the OP or any other members affected by the changes to SMI would be to lobby their M.P.

I maybe back Modding in the future, I don't know.

In the mean time, stop giving Gordon stick !

He is the guy who keeps your forum running for no monetary gain, but purely through kindness and a willingness to help others.

I rest my case !!

bro58

Hi bro58 and all

SNAP! I too have been a mod on B&W but I had to give it up some years ago (I haven't got dates to hand) because of my own personal circumstances at the time. It is because of my modding experience that I know that whilst the role of moderator can be very fulfilling there can also be times when like the policeman and constabulary duties, the mods lot 'is not a happy one!' Mods sometimes have to make quick decisions under considerable pressure of forum work etc and it is inevitable that at times the mod's decision will not please everyone! All mods know that this goes with the job as it were but not every member - as we've seen here - fully appreciates what the exact role of the mod is and how difficult it can be at times and often quite a lot of the time! I have no complaint whatsoever about the current mod/s but, and this is just my own opinion, I can't help wondering that if a member does have a complaint about any moderator/s then they should make that complaint directly to the site owner and NOT raise it as an issue on the forum itself?

Kind regards

Mr B