Over three months and no benefits

ElaineE_2

My husband was made redundant on 31st December 2008 and we both went to the Job Centre to complete the paperwork. He was just short of the two tax years for NI stamps as he had been self employed before his paye job so everything was based on our joint income. I was a part time sessional tutor for adult education and was paid paye. I also do some self employed writing work when it is available.
We still have not had a decision about benefits and I have telephoned the central office three/four times each week. The job centre wont help so we lodged a complaint and got called in for an ajax (sp) meeting. This was three weeks ago and at that time my paye part time job had finished. We were told that they had made a mistake and each department blamed the other so all forms were redone and fast tracked. Still we have heard nothing and the central offcie in Canterbury tell us to be patient. The money we had to tide us over for three months has run out - we have under five pounds to our name and cant even afford to go and sign on on thursday. I told this to the job centre and again begged for help and was told if we dont sign on we lose our claim!
We own our home and have a policy that pays three quarters of the mortgage repayment. My husband has applied for over two hundred jobs and is almost ignored because of his age (58).
I'm really depressed and the off hand treatment we get from all the staff is really upsetting.
Can anyone advise us?
If I can walk the five miles on Thursday to sign on I swear I'll stage a sit down protest until we are helped. We've never had to sign on in our lives and have never needed help but I'm really frightened.

Perr

Have you spoken to your local Social Security office if your husband does not have enough NI contributions you should be able to claim income support which should be back dated if you give them all the dates which you have visited and rang the Job Centre.

ElaineE_2

Thank you for the information, this is what we are still waiting to hear about since the beginning of Januaury. When I have telelphoned them they have even told me I am an 'ex partner' of my husband and then wont speak to me. This is an insult as we have been married for 37 years and its a joint claim.

ElaineE_2

The job centre have rung me back to say that our case has gone to a desicion maker as my husband was self employed - what??? He was paye for two years before being made redundant, they have had all this info since 1st January!

ElaineE_2

I have decided to lodge a formal complaint against the DWP and read the leaflet they gave me for this - if I wasn't so upset I'd be laughing hysterically as the leaflet is to complain about their written decisions and we have NEVER received one letter from them.
I telephoned the number the leaflet gave for legal advice and went through a means test. Even though we have less that £4.00 to our name we are considered not acceptable for legal advice as we own our own home.
What is wrong with this country when someone works hard all their life, never claims assistance, doesn't have unpteen children or expect handouts and then the one time they need help from a system they have paid into for over 40 years they are ignored and refused?

ilovecheese

Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time, it must be so frustrating! Sorry I dont have any advice on your benifit claim, but when your OH applies for jobs and sends in a CV or application form he should leave his date of birth blank, so they don't know his age! May improve his chances of an interview.

soul619

reading this makes me so upset at this country!

we've treat our own like poo for too long!

dont no if you can do this but when claiming benefits you get your travel refunded for hospital apointments so maybe its possible for signing on, although im not sure i think my brother got a free bus pass?!? can someone clarify that pls?

Horace

Write to your MP and enclose a letter for the Parliamentary Ombudsman and ask him/her to pass it on. The Parlimamentary Ombudsman deals with complaints regarding government departments such as the DWP.

ElaineE_2

Thank you all for the kind words and advice. Horace, I will get onto the Parliamentary Ombudsmen thanks for the info.

Perr

Try ringing your MPs local costituancy office and speak to someone ther it will be much quicker than letters you will not get money for a travel pass to go to the Job Centre you only get a travel pass for job interviews and then only if the journey lasts over 1hr 30 mins. I do know what you are going through as my son has had to battle for months with the JB and he to has never been out of work 25yrs they treat decent people with the same contempt as they treat the ones who have never done a days work in there life. If you are early to sign on they tell you to go outside and wait if you are late they send you home and make you go back another day and if you try to point out they are wrong in anyway they call security and have you removed. the whole of the JB staff in our town need retraining themselves

onlyforboards_2

ElaineE wrote: »

What is wrong with this country when someone works hard all their life, never claims assistance, doesn't have unpteen children or expect handouts and then the one time they need help from a system they have paid into for over 40 years they are ignored and refused?

It is terrible, I hope you get it resolved soon. But it is what happens when people get used to treating the unemployed as scum. Lots of people at the moment are going to find out how terrible it actually is living hand to mouth on benefits.