be honest with DWP?

mariusam

HI to everybody!

I am a new guy in this forum and I would appreciate if somebody will advise me if I am right or wrong.
I have been on IS nearly 9 months(lone parent) and now I found the suitable job for me.
I started the new job last week on monday(20 feb) but tomorrow I have an appointment at Jobcentre about filling an application for returning to work.
I am not sure if it is wise to tell them the truth about the starting day or just to say that the new job is starting today?
They might probably ask me to pay back one week benefit money.
I could be in trouble?

THANKS.

us,thecat&thedebt

i dont know what other opinions will be but personally just say your strting day after you go there cos yes they will want weeks worth of benefit back...

if you havent been paid for last week yet it should be ok...

we have done it twice started work on thursday didnt sign off till monday

welcome to mse and congrats with the new job

lynzpower

tell them the truth but tell them you dont have the cash to pay them back.

If youd been on JSA then you could have asked for new deal benefits, such as money towards transport, new clothes etc. State this to them, and that you simply cant afford to pay it back due to job expenses ( ie lunches, travel there etc). Put this in writing and keep a copy for yourself. Chances are, it wont cause a problem.

hjb123

Be honest with them! If you dont and they find out there could be far worse consequences!

mariusam

Thank you very much for the advise.Fingers crossed on monday.
It could be possible also for them to call the employer about the starting day?
That will be a nasty start for me with the new job.

coffeeandfags

Dont worry about it...... they let you keep the first two weeks IS when you start work. You also get rent/council tax paid for the first month, and you should also get a job grant of £250.
If you need clothes for work, they will also give you money for this (you have to buy the clothes first then take the receipts to the job centre and they reimburse you)

coffeeandfags

claysam

coffeeandfags wrote:

Dont worry about it...... they let you keep the first two weeks IS when you start work. You also get rent/council tax paid for the first month, and you should also get a job grant of £250.
If you need clothes for work, they will also give you money for this (you have to buy the clothes first then take the receipts to the job centre and they reimburse you)

coffeeandfags

They don't ley tou keep 2 weeks income support, as soon as you state you are working the income support stops from the day you started.

You are entitled to the 4 weeks run on for housing beneft and council tax, and the job grant of you have been on IS for more than 26 weeks.

I asked about the clothes for work and was refused, because they don't give money for that?

mariusam

Thank you guys!

But what do I do next?
Ask about money for clothing? or just leave it like that.
This company is paying me 21k. Telling DWP about lower salary will help me to get some benefits. It is a good idea ?.Are they calling the employer to find out for sure what is my real salary?

Thanks

coffeeandfags

claysam wrote:

They don't ley tou keep 2 weeks income support, as soon as you state you are working the income support stops from the day you started.

Hmmm, thats not what the single parent advisor told me....... she said you get to keep the first 2 weeks as most companies dont pay you til the end of the second week. I must find out about this!!

coffeeandfags

mariusam wrote:

Thank you guys!

But what do I do next?
Ask about money for clothing? or just leave it like that.
This company is paying me 21k. Telling DWP about lower salary will help me to get some benefits. It is a good idea ?.Are they calling the employer to find out for sure what is my real salary?

Yes, ask about money for clothing.... our local office definately does this, though others may have different rules.

I dont think the DWP will be interested in your salary, its Tax Credits who need to know..... and theres no point lying to them coz the tax office will know what youre earning anyway!!

coffeeandfags

Curry_Queen

Check out the Job Grant factsheet to find out how much you're entitled to. You will need to speak to an advisor about the 2 week extended IS payments as I can't find any current information on it so I'm not sure if they still do this, but they certainly used to. They do still offer extended payments of HB and CT benefits for up to 4 weeks though, if you qualify.

It's always advisable to be honest with them, as they will find out if you've lied, and then you face paying back any overpayment and a possible prosecution!

BTW, IS is usually paid in arrears so any benefit you received last week would not be affected by your new job, but you need to tell them before the next payment is due.