JSA not paid - no warning - is this common?

tsstss7

Wol2 wrote: »

Hi

My friend has just gone to the bank as normal to draw out the JSA that should have hit the account today, in order to do the weekly shopping for the family of 6....only to find it hasn't been paid. On ringing Job Centre plus at the payments procesing centre, they have said that HMRC are checking that JSA and tax credits are all in agreement etc and that whilst this happens, they put a hold on the payment.

My friend was not told on tuesday when they signed on that this would be happening (otherwise they could have prepared for it) and it has all come as a complete shock.

The claim is not stopped, just on hold, and has now, as a result of the phone call, been cleared for payment- but the earliest they can expect a payment is next wednesday. so what are the kids meant to eat until then?

Has anyone else had this experience, is this common? or can anyone offer any advice on whether there is any emergency cash payment they could claim between now and wednesday to do the shopping?

Many thanks
Wol2

This happened to me many years ago (approx 7) when I was a single parent claimant with no other income (they took the csa payments in those days) so its not a new phenomenom by any means. It cost me over a hundred quid in bank charges too! (due to non payment of weekly dd's which I had spread out over the month for utilities). :rolleyes:

Macro_3

As a family with 4 small children on JSA they are likely to be getting around £180 child tax credits and £59.60 child benefit per week on top of their £100.95 JSA - will they not receive either of those benefits before Wednesday?

SuziQ

I was told my IS payments were changing from weekly to fortnightly in June, and due to me being not too well hadn't checked my bank account for a while. When I did I saw an amount credited to my account in mid June,similar but slightly more than 2 weeks IS amount,thought it was my IS and haven't been back online until last week. I had CTC and DLA go iin for my son as usual and have been cutting my spending right back,so was lucky I hadn't gone overdrawn. However when I printed my account off and looked at it closely,the credit was actually money barclays had paid me back for a DD taken in error. I had had no IS for almost 6 weeks! I 'phoned up and the advisor was very helpful but slightly incredulous that I hadn't noticed before (until I told I had been ill,seeing dcotors about Chemo etc) he then said he would send a Giro for some of it,but I was due another payment the day after my call and he said this wouldn't happend and I would have to wait until it kicked in again,which it did today. Had this happened to me a year ago I woulkd have been in dire straights but I have drastically cut down my grocery spending etc and was lucky enough to be able to cope.
I had a letter from them today,telling me that 'despite my change in circumstances' ......eh?,my payments would remain at the same level. No explanation or apology for their mistake.