Winter Wonderland Snap happy in the snow
Rutherglen and Cambuslang locals proved it was snow joke recently as they enjoyed getting out and about in the winter weather.
The snowfall two weeks ago saw people head outside to make the most of it, and when we asked for pictures of residents having fun we were swamped with photographs showcasing families and pets out and about chilling .
Here is another selection of the pictures we received and since there were so many we will feature more in next week’s paper.
Q. I have received a text message from the NHS to inform me that I am eligible to receive my coronavirus vaccination if I filled out a form. I am 70 years old and worried that I will miss out on my vaccination if I do not fill out the form, but my granddaughter told me that it is a scam. Would I be able to seek some advice on this?
A. Your granddaughter is right. The NHS for Scotland will never text you to “apply” for a vaccination via text message you will be written to and given a date and time to attend a vaccination appointment.
If you are not able to make the appointment then you can follow the instructions on the letter.
This is a scam and is designed for you to click on the link where it will redirect you to a website which starts asking for your personal information and then your bank details.
The vaccination is free via the NHS and is not chargeable.
Q. I had booked a hotel room for my husband’s birthday in March 2021. The hotel got in touch with me at the beginning of January informing me that due to the uncertainty of the current pandemic and the rules surrounding this they were cancelling my booking (there was no option for a voucher or credit note) and they are giving me a full refund. No time limit was put on the refund and I have still not received it. What should I do?
A. It might take longer for refunds to be processed than normal because lots of people are either receiving refunds or asking for refunds.
It would be worthwhile phoning the company if you have not already done so to ask how long it will take.
It is also worthwhile telling them if you require the money urgently because you have lost your job to coronavirus.
If the refund takes longer than the company has said it would then you can make a formal complaint either in writing or by email.
Q. I cannot afford the rent in my current property and I have applied for another home with Link Housing. I have a medical form as well as the housing application to fill in as I suffer from various medical conditions. My GP has refused a supporting letter and I am wondering if I have any other options?
A. At the moment generally the council are only dealing with housing emergencies due to the current pandemic and there is a long waiting list for housing.
Your GP is not obliged to offer you a supporting letter and it is a chargeable service, however your GP can still refuse. Your GP may not agree to write a supporting letter but it may be worthwhile asking if they were contacted directly by the HA would they be prepared to make a statement to support you verbally.
In the meantime, you would be advised to complete the form with as much detail and information as possible.
If you have medical conditions or disabilities is there possibly anyone else like a social worker, mental health nurse or specialist that you have been working with who may write you a supporting letter?
If you are in receipt of benefits you can contact the Department for Work and Pensions for your benefit assessment for supporting evidence of your conditions.
Your current Housing Officer may also offer to provide a reference.
It would also be advisable to contact Link Housing again and ask if any alternative information you could give would be suitable.
Q. I was due my state retirement pension in 2016 and I decided to
defer the payment until 2017. I had contacted an independent pension advisory service and I was given information on deferring my pension and that a lump sum would be paid after I claimed my pension. I then claimed Carer’s Allowance in 2017 as I was caring for my wife. I have now received letters from the Department of Work and Pensions and I have been phoning them for the last few months.
A DWP adviser has told me that I have lost my pension for the years 2017-2018 and also 2018-2019 due to the claim for carer’s allowance.
I have now received a lump sum from this pension but I feel that I have been misinformed or misadvised by this particular pension service and would not have claimed carer’s allowance if I would have known that I was going to lose such a big part of my pension. I am looking for some help. A. You may have fallen foul of the overlapping benefit rules and as your state pension was over the carer’s allowance payment, you should not have been paid carer’s allowance but instead a Carer’s Premium which would not have given you any money but it would have been a passport to other benefit entitlement. I understand that you are feeling upset that you had not been told that deferring your pension and claiming carer’s allowance would result in the loss of your pension and you would have claimed your pension immediately as you would have been better off.
You are advised that although you had not received any pension payment the DWP may have assumed that you had and classed your pension as notional income or capital as the pension was available to you.
You can request a Mandatory Reconsideration of the decision, and if the decision is upheld the next stage would be an appeal to a tribunal (Social Security and Child Support Tribunal).
If you are following this complaints procedure then you would be advised to collect all your paperwork that you have from the people that advised you on your pension.
You could also follow their individual complaints procedure.
Q. I would like to enquire as to whether I am entitled to the council tax single person’s discount of 25 per cent. I have been paying full council with no discounts or exemptions. I am in council tax band A and I live on my own, with my son who is nine.
A. The single persons discount is awarded to people who are the only adult living in their home.
Your income and savings are not taken into consideration when applying for this discount.
The easiest way to find out if you are entitled to this discount is to check eligibility with your local council.
Council websites have eligibility calculators that are easy and quick to use.
Once you have done this then you can apply for your discount as outlined by your local council and their procedures.
■ PLEASE NOTE: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau currently is open for telephone /e-mail advice Monday to Friday from 9.30am until 3pm.