Claim declined, cant afford electric, help!

paulcornwall

After 4 weeks living on hand outs, our decision for income support came through today, guess what its been declined!!!, apparently we have'nt sent back the B16 form, what a load of rubbish!!! I know for sure this was sent but obviously got lost in THERE system.
I have a 2 year old daughter and receive about £50 per week, thats for 3 of us living in the house. I'm scared to tell my partner i cant afford the electric when it runs out. No doubt another claim will take 3-4 weeks, what can i do, if anything, please help!

zappster1966

In which case they've made their decision based solely on the lack of evidence ... i.e. the B16. Get another one from the Job Centre, fill it in there & then and ask them to fax it immediately to the New Claims office at your Benefit Delivery Centre. If they need any other documents take them in with you. Tell them this is a duplicate form & request they assess your claim back to when you first claimed. If they have all the information they need & accept the B16 you can apply for an emergency payment of benefit.

If they insist you're back to square one, re-apply for Income Support immediately. You can also apply for a Crisis Loan while your claims are being sorted out.

marsupial_mama

Also, ask the lady at Job Centre to give you a copy of succesful transmission! When we were claimining IB, she has sent away the forms with courier and the IB office claimed they never received anything. She then faxed it for us and showed us it went through OK, yet they still claimed they have not received it...

I have learnt the hard way to keep proofs of everything!

Do ask for crisis loan and remember to say you have NO money and NO food in the fridge. I was declined because I said that I still have some pasta and stuff in cupboard (no milk or bread though!!). Also, as my electricity was on the bill rather than prepaid, I was deemed not in need.

Good luck sorting this out! I know how stressful it can be,

:grouphug:

Andreja

paulcornwall

If we've ever needed a crisis loan we need it more than ever now. Who do i call to arrange this, and what amount of money are we likely be able to borrow. I orignally thought 3 weeks would be the maxium time we would be without money, but we placed our claim on the 12th August so it shows how unpredictable these claims can be.
I dont want to say i require 2 weeks money when the claim is going to take 4 weeks and end up with nothing again, what would you suggest?

zappster1966

I doubt even a crisis loan is an option. From what you've said you have no benefit entitlement from which to repay the crisis loan (which, strictly speaking shouldn't come into it ... but does, unfortunately).

Try to get your Income Support sorted first, get the B16 done & ask for your benefit to be paid immediately or an emergency payment while they're trying to sort it out. If unsuccessful with that then apply for a Crisis Loan. You can either do that by phoning the freephone 0800 number for your area (you can get that number from the Job Centre) or you can go here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017683 ,print off the application form and hand it into the Job Centre. They do have a way of calculating how much you'll qualify for ...

1. When did the crisis start ? (the day you apply)
2. When will the crisis end ? (the day your benefit gets paid)
The difference between the two is how many days your crisis loan gets paid for & it's paid at 75% of your personal allowance.

If the Crisis Loan gets turned down, the local Social Services department (council) has final responsibility to prevent hardship, especially because you have a young child.

Course, Paul, this is assuming the rest of your claim is in order & that your B16 form is going to be straightforward to deal with. Good luck tmorro.

marsupial_mama

I am not an expert, but I think you will not get a crisis loan for 4 weeks 'just in case'. Crisis loan really is just to tie you over and that is what they usually give you. You may have to ask again if needed.

Sorry I am not more help. Do ask your local Job Centre for the number to call. They will give you a leaflet and more information as well.

Good luck!

Andreja

Sherrie

I did a crisis loan application for someone the other day, I was told that you could only ask for enough money to last you three days. They will ask you 1) when you last had some money,
2) what you spent it on
3) when you will get your next amount of money,
4) how much money you need
5) what exactly you will spend it on

You can only really claim for items that would have a detrimental effect on your life if you didn't have them, such as food and electric

Can you not apply for JSA?
Good luck with your situation,