Job seekers question a bit of a fiasco!!!

lisa.m_3

Hi, I was just looking for some advice for this fiasco please:o

My OH applied for JSA after losing his business, we were left with no money from ongoing court fee's to get his business back-but thats a long boring story of it's own!

So anyway we applied as a joint claim, as I don't work as for bringing up my family, this was in August 2009 we filled the form, got an interview and he was put on this 'signing in' thing which they do at the job centre. We waited a month but never received payment? he went down to the job centre who told him an error was made and we must apply again, so we did. We still received no payment.

In September I went to the job centre to ask for help to find work in school hours, she told me I can speak to an adviser when my husband signs again, so I did she gave me advice on courses, one which I'm doing now, but she saw on the system we haven't been payed by JSA we said we had been struggling and are running out of savings, she said she would contact whatever department and find out whats going on.

So by Christmas our savings run out, I opened up an account with littlewoods to by my sons xmas pressies as we had nothing.
After xmas my OH angrily went down the job centre to say we are struggling and he is stressed by the lack of work in our area, they told him to file a new claim for JSA as they do not understand why we have not had any benefit but this time it is done by phone, he stood in the phone box in the snow for nearly an hour starting up a new claim and also filing for a crisis loan for food, they gave us £30 which was like a gift from god!!!

We still receive no payment, so I spoke on the phone to them she said she did not know why and will ask the processing department to hurry up. In the meantime I apply for another crisis loan.

I went on Monday I spoke on the phone again she had told me again she doesn't know whats happened and told me I had to write an appeal form, I said what am I appealing against, she said she doesn't know!!! I explained to her due to this situation I have come depressed and struggle to sleep and am in the care of my GP who is also worried about my son as he has become unsettled, it has almost caused me and OH to split and I am using my tax credits and child benefits on food and bills-which is not right!!!! she was sympathetic towards me and said she will do her best.

Today I got a letter through saying we will get payment tomorrow:T

I am so pleased!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But can anyone explain OR has a similar story as mine ? I would like to hear as I have heard I can get a form to backdate the payment I didn't receive, but I'm to scared to do so as I don't want to mess things up:(

Please help

NASA_2

Hard to advise really without knowing exactly why the first few claims were not succesful. If your intention to claim was established back in august and the department messed up then they should backdate it for you. If there was some reason your husband was not entitled then there would be no point backdating.

sunnyone

lisa.m wrote: »

Hi, I was just looking for some advice for this fiasco please:o

My OH applied for JSA after losing his business, we were left with no money from ongoing court fee's to get his business back-but thats a long boring story of it's own!

So anyway we applied as a joint claim, as I don't work as for bringing up my family, this was in August 2009 we filled the form, got an interview and he was put on this 'signing in' thing which they do at the job centre. We waited a month but never received payment? he went down to the job centre who told him an error was made and we must apply again, so we did. We still received no payment.

In September I went to the job centre to ask for help to find work in school hours, she told me I can speak to an adviser when my husband signs again, so I did she gave me advice on courses, one which I'm doing now, but she saw on the system we haven't been payed by JSA we said we had been struggling and are running out of savings, she said she would contact whatever department and find out whats going on.

So by Christmas our savings run out, I opened up an account with littlewoods to by my sons xmas pressies as we had nothing.
After xmas my OH angrily went down the job centre to say we are struggling and he is stressed by the lack of work in our area, they told him to file a new claim for JSA as they do not understand why we have not had any benefit but this time it is done by phone, he stood in the phone box in the snow for nearly an hour starting up a new claim and also filing for a crisis loan for food, they gave us £30 which was like a gift from god!!!

We still receive no payment, so I spoke on the phone to them she said she did not know why and will ask the processing department to hurry up. In the meantime I apply for another crisis loan.

I went on Monday I spoke on the phone again she had told me again she doesn't know whats happened and told me I had to write an appeal form, I said what am I appealing against, she said she doesn't know!!! I explained to her due to this situation I have come depressed and struggle to sleep and am in the care of my GP who is also worried about my son as he has become unsettled, it has almost caused me and OH to split and I am using my tax credits and child benefits on food and bills-which is not right!!!! she was sympathetic towards me and said she will do her best.

Today I got a letter through saying we will get payment tomorrow:T

I am so pleased!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But can anyone explain OR has a similar story as mine ? I would like to hear as I have heard I can get a form to backdate the payment I didn't receive, but I'm to scared to do so as I don't want to mess things up:(

Please help

OMG!

You have to use your tax credits and child benefit for food and bills!

fresian_cow

sunnyone wrote: »

OMG!

You have to use your tax credits and child benefit for food and bills!

Is that really helping???

I would put in to backdate the claim anyway as I believe it is judged separately to your existing claim and to be honest the worst they can say is no which isn't ideal but is no worse than you are now. Absolutely shocking that it took so long, I would put in a complaint also.

sunnyone

fresian_cow wrote: »

Is that really helping???

I would put in to backdate the claim anyway as I believe it is judged separately to your existing claim and to be honest the worst they can say is no which isn't ideal but is no worse than you are now. Absolutely shocking that it took so long, I would put in a complaint also.

What using tax credits and child benefit for the reason it is given?

lisa.m_3

NASA wrote: »

Hard to advise really without knowing exactly why the first few claims were not succesful. If your intention to claim was established back in august and the department messed up then they should backdate it for you. If there was some reason your husband was not entitled then there would be no point backdating.

Hi,

We don't know and apparently neither do the job centre, I can't think why he wasn't entitled, we even gave a letter from his solicitor stating what has went on (with the business) and we we had no earnings....maybe this is why it took so long,who knows, I am even worried I wont get payment tomorrow as they seemed to have taken so long.

lisa.m_3

sunnyone wrote: »

OMG!

You have to use your tax credits and child benefit for food and bills!

As far as I'm concerned that money is for my son....I haven't been able to buy him new clothes or shoes which he desperately needs let alone a school uniform yet...

fresian_cow

sunnyone wrote: »

What using tax credits and child benefit for the reason it is given?

I know but OP has come here for help and advice not sarcastic comments.

Lisa.m, try putting in a complaint and request a written reason for the time taken for your claim to be put into payment.

Killmark

It sounds like there could have been a suspension on the initial claim which could have been down to a number of factors, my guess would be to do with the business.

In cases like that its standard for the benefit delivery center request further information and nil the claim until it is recieved, for the jobcentre staff it can be difficult to find out exactly why there are suspensions without having to spend considerable time chasing the BDC for further information.

If there had been a sanction you should have been advised to complete a JSA10 (hardship provision).

lisa.m_3

Killmark wrote: »

It sounds like there could have been a suspension on the initial claim which could have been down to a number of factors, my guess would be to do with the business.

In cases like that its standard for the benefit delivery center request further information and nil the claim until it is recieved, for the jobcentre staff it can be difficult to find out exactly why there are suspensions without having to spend considerable time chasing the BDC for further information.

If there had been a sanction you should have been advised to complete a JSA10 (hardship provision).

WOW thanks!!!

I think they did mention suspension when she said I need to appeal but they didnt know why :mad:
I'm really fed up with them I was near giving up, I have never been in this situation before so me and my OH don't really understand it too much, but you seem to know alot!

Which form should I ask for tomorrow for a backdate payment ?

Thanks

dookar

I wouldn't ask for back dating - firstly because you want money from your date of claim so there is nothing to back date, secondly because the law defines maximum periods for which backdating can be allowed, the law is absolute and cannot be overridden purely because JCP made a mistake.

personally, I would be contacting the regional manager and demanding either an explanation of why I am not entitled for the period or a compensation payment. cc'ing my mp into the letter.