Crisis loan - how do they check?

blonde_mel

I've had to claim JSA while I'm unable to work for the next couple of months, the lady who was dealing with my claim suggested calling for a crisis loan while I wait for my benefit.

I was under the impression that it was a same day decision, so do they send someone out to check if your cooker isnt working and to see bank documents? How does it work?

alwaysonthego_2

Why can't you work for two months?

You can't claim JSA whilst you are unable to work!

busy_mom_2

blonde_mel wrote: »

I've had to claim JSA while I'm unable to work for the next couple of months, the lady who was dealing with my claim suggested calling for a crisis loan while I wait for my benefit.

I was under the impression that it was a same day decision, so do they send someone out to check if your cooker isnt working and to see bank documents? How does it work?

A crisi loan is an immediate payment to cover you for 1 or 2 days, it won't pay for a new cooker. If you have no money to buy food they will consider a short term small payment. You have to pay these amounts back. If your cooker is broken can you still use microwave or hob?

alwaysonthego_2

Would it not be an hardship payment rather than a crisis loan, though I am still puzzled why the op is claiming JSA.

busy_mom_2

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Would it not be an hardship payment rather than a crisis loan, though I am still puzzled why the op is claiming JSA.

Hardship payment usually mean a reduced rate of benefit because they may otherwise be sanctioned. I'm also confused over the JSA bit?

alwaysonthego_2

I'm self employed unable to work for the next couple of months due to personal reasons.

If this is the case she must have either not told the JCP about her intentions.

To the op if you're not actively looking for work to claim JSA would be fraud as you would not be fufilling the criteria for entitlement.

alwaysonthego_2

busy_mom wrote: »

Hardship payment usually mean a reduced rate of benefit because they may otherwise be sanctioned. I'm also confused over the JSA bit?

When my DH was made redundant they gave us the hardship payment as it was taking them time to sort out our benefits, thankfully he got a job within a month.

AsknAnswer

A Crisis Loan CAN pay for a cooker. There are two types of Crisis Loan: one for immediate living expenses and one for household items. You can only get a Crisis Loan if there is a serious and immediate risk to your health and safety or that of your family if you do not receive a payment and if you have no other resource. They are payable in a Crisis or emergency situation. It is not always a same day payment; that is decided upon by prioritising Crisis Loan applicaitons.

They have a number of ways of checking things, it depends on what you are applying for and what has happened to cause the emergency. If you are due a payment of benefit, you will not get a Crisis Loan as this is not the purpose of them.

blonde_mel

AsknAnswer wrote: »

If you are due a payment of benefit, you will not get a Crisis Loan as this is not the purpose of them.

The purpose of the loan is to help people with immediate risk - i.e starvation due to having zero income to buy food or having no money to pay gas and electric. The lady at the jobcentre wouldnt have told me to call for a crisis loan if I was 100% unable to get one.

alwaysonthego_2

blonde_mel wrote: »

The purpose of the loan is to help people with immediate risk - i.e starvation due to having zero income to buy food or having no money to pay gas and electric. The lady at the jobcentre wouldnt have told me to call for a crisis loan if I was 100% unable to get one.

You still have not answered the question, why are you claiming JSA if you are not looking for work in the next couple of months?

blonde_mel

alwaysonthego wrote: »

If this is the case she must have either not told the JCP about her intentions.

To the op if you're not actively looking for work to claim JSA would be fraud as you would not be fufilling the criteria for entitlement.

I'm not able to work in my self employed job for personal reasons, I made an agreement with the jobcentre that I could do certain jobs (they know the situation) So I will be actively seeking work while I'm on JSA until I can go back to my other job. No fraud here!


You're a feisty lot lol.