Having trouble with JSA

honeyD

I applied for JSA nearly 6 weeks ago. I am yet to receive a payment. The claim is a joint claim with my Husband. He volunteers so had to fill out a form and it seems this is what is holding us up all this time. We handed the form to our jobcentre last week and they sent it to the benefits place who have to send it to a decision maker. Ive been told now 3 times that its been sent to a decision maker and it can take 10 days, however I called again today and the person I spoke to said there was no note of it being sent so they have to have someone find the form!
I also received a letter dated 30 Nov saying our claim for housing benefit and council tax benefit has been suspended and they want proof of our JSA in 14 days. Well at this rate I wont have anything at christmas nevermind in another 10 days!
I have no idea what to do! We have been struggling along for the last couple of weeks and we have hardly no food in the house and there are bills due and nothing to pay them with. Im just getting so stressed about it all which is causing arguments.
Does anyone know how we can get the process sped up? Its taking so long!
They keep saying apply for a crisis loan but I really dont want more debt so am not willing to take it out!
We're looking really hard for jobs but while my Husband has received replies albeit rejections, I have heard nothing whatsoever from anything so it is proving difficult and I dont know what to do.

coupes

That sounds like a really long time to be waiting for it to be processed. Have you tried calling them up to find out? Try this number 0800 055 6688

honeyD

coupes wrote: »

That sounds like a really long time to be waiting for it to be processed. Have you tried calling them up to find out? Try this number 0800 055 6688

Ive been calling them every other day pretty much. Phone bill is gonna be high too because Ive been using the 0845 as I couldnt find an alternative
Just had them call and they had to have the jobcentre fax the form to them, even though I was told last week they had sent it through already! So now I have to call back later next week again to see if its sorted. Its just a big mess. Im getting so stressed with it all and its getting closer and closer to christmas and we have only a little food in the house, not even thinking about presents because thats not even looking possible right now.

honeyD

honeyD wrote: »

I have heard nothing whatsoever from anything so it is proving difficult and I dont know what to do.

Scratch that last bit, got an interview next week

debcow

Oh your story sounds so familiar my partner and i have just had exactly the same problem ours took nearly 10 weeks. Money has just come through the council also suspended our housing benefit they did say they could base our claim on nil income, try talking to them. There is a massive backlog with claims at the minute the best advice i can give is keep ringing as they alleged they had sent things and had not so keep reminding them. We feel their treatment of our claim was appauling and we are currently in the process of making a formal complaint there were failures in every department. Try applying for a crisis loan although i'm not sure what criteria you need to fill for it. Yes i know exactly how your feeling i was ready to leave my other half but things will sort themselves out.

lil_lisa

coupes wrote: »

That sounds like a really long time to be waiting for it to be processed. Have you tried calling them up to find out? Try this number 0800 055 6688

That's the number to make new claims (or rapid reclaims) only. They don't have access to any details about how the claim is being processed, all they can do is give you the number for the BDC (the 0845 number). The BDC however should be able to call you back if you ask them.

honeyD

Well, today is supposedly the day the decision makers shoudl have the form. We are struggling still. I had to raid my money box so we could buy some food, there was more than I thought in there. Got £18 now to last until we get our payments through and we have run out of gas and only £2 on electric which isnt good as we are sitting in the cold today.
They told me to call on Wednesday but Im thinking I'll call tomorrow since I do need them to be moving this along as much as they can. Never thought it would take this long and Christmas isnt far away. Looks like we might not be having one this year.

johnsons_baby

We've been waiting since September for ours, have e-mailed our MP to ask them to intervene because we kept getting asked for additional information and information they have already had. I am pretty much thinking of giving up on our claim as husband has managed to get a job and the Jobcentre are just making us jump through hoops to get anything.

Maybe worth asking your local MP to assist you?

honeyD

Form still hasnt been looked at. :rolleyes:
I called again today and the woman called them up while I was on hold, to speak tot hem and see if it had been looked at yet. They have put ours as the next one to be looked at and we have to call back tomorrow afternoon.. as it seems to take them a full day to look over a piece of paper! :mad:
Im just not happy with this. We've been struggling for weeks now and I am worrying and feel so low about it all. We are doing our part and jobseeking. I had an interview today which I had to scrape coins out of my money jar to get the bus fare together and it was all in small change. I have another interview on friday and I do not know how I will get there as I dont have the money and I need to put 2 passport photos on the application form and have no money to get any taken. I really dont know what to do!
Im hoping my advisor at the jocentre will be able to help because otherwise I will have to miss the interview and I really do not want to. I really do not want to go beg them for money either to get there but it is their fault this is taking so long.
Interview today wasnt good, lady didnt seem to know what she was doing and the job was supposed to be 32 hours a week and now is only 10 for whatever reason and I will be in a room with up to 10 kids for 2 hours a day with only a tv and some toys to keep them happy. I dont know, just feel so down.

slim1982

apply for a crisis loan till its sorted

fresian_cow

I think you can ask for help with costs for getting to interviews etc from the jobcentre too. Ask in your local one tomorrow because I think you have to apply before your interview.