JSA advice

amberowl28

Hi,

I've been in real financial difficulty recently with no work (due to having to care for my mum) and absolutely no money, overdraft at it's limit. Been jobhunting really hard but obviously i applied for benefits but am completely new to this.

Eligable for JSA and housing/council tax benefit

Got letter about JSA today saying i'll be getting £50.95 a week starting 4th June. Have to go in on Mon 15th and then again in two weeks. Was wondering when and how much i'll be paid? Want to start paying bills again asap.

Anyone explain the not paying for first 3 days thing? Not complaining just wondered why that is.

Also the account this money is being paid into has a maxed out overdraft of £600 and has gone over overdraft limit by further £5 (due to intrest charged) so am thinking any money i put in there will be at risk. I.e. bank may decide i can't have it and use money to pay off what i owe instead. Should i open another account? How would i transfer DD's, at moment cancelled, to new account to start paying what i owe?

Sorry so long any advice appreciated?

ovenreadywombat

Under common law you have a right of appropriation over your own money and money you pay to another.

If a bank informs you it will be taking money from your account to pay itself, for any reason, charges, offset of another account/loan, or just to be swallowed up by an unauthorised overdraft and you can't afford for them to take the money, then you MAY be able to use the Right of Appropriation to stop them taking the money temporarily.

You should take this letter to the bank at least 7 days before the payment is due in / they are due to take the money. If you are up to it, then take the letter in and ask to see someone and insist on it being actioned there and then. If you post letters they will often go to central processing centres and not be dealt with for days, by which time it is too late.

You need to tell the bank what date and the amount of the payment due in to the account, and the dates and amounts of payments that are essential to be paid.

The most common use of this right is to rescue your Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance from bank charges and enable it to still reach your landlord.

Your rights do not extend solely to benefits - and you may use this for ANY payments into an account which NEED to be used for a specific purpose.


If the payment you are needing to appropriate is something regular I would recommend that you open a basic account at a different bank and use that solely for the incoming funds and outgoing payments. For example, Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance - this should help stop any problems arising in the future.


Copy and paste the following in to MS Word and add your own details

[your name ]
[your address]


[date]


[bank name ]
[bank address]




Dear Sir/Madam,

RIGHT OF APPROPRIATION
ACCOUNT NUMBER: xxxxxxxxx

I am writing to inform you that I am due to have a Benefit / Salary / tax credit payment of £xxx paid into my account on xx/xx/xx, and I wish to use my first right of appropriation for this money, for the following purposes;

Rent - Company/Landlord name/reference - due to be collected by Direct Debit on xx/xx/xxxx - £xx

Please ensure this payment is made.

I also need to appropriate the sum of £xxx for essential housekeeping and will withdraw this sum over the counter/by ATM on xx/xx/xxxx.

Please ensure this sum is available to me at that time and that any other payments out of my account or charges applied to my account do not interfere with this withdrawal.

If you have any doubt over my rights please contact your legal team.


Yours faithfully,


[signature]

amberowl28

Thank you that was really helpful, it's not that i don't want to pay off overdraft i just want to make sure any money i do get goes on essentials like rent, food, utilities first then anything left can be used to start paying back what i owe.

Think i will open another account on monday to keep benefits and basic bills seperate from anything else.

Anyone give me an idea when i can expect first payment? Pretty desperate for the money.

deb0020

amberowl28 wrote: »

Anyone give me an idea when i can expect first payment? Pretty desperate for the money.

Can't say for sure, but it is likely you will receive your first payment on Thursday 180609. It should be for 9 days from 070609 to 150609 at 9/7 of £50.95 which is £65.51.

amberowl28

Thank you, i hope your right. Guess i'll have to wait and see.