Not entitled to jsa because I'm seeing my children

Lou76

Fire_Fox wrote: »

The way I read this it is not a case that you have been taken off JSA because you cannot work one day a week, you are being taken off JSA because you are putting so many limitations on your job-hunting that you are not, in fact, actively seeking and available for full time work. The state is there to help you help yourself, but you come over more as if you want to milk the system - don't you want to set an example to your children and work anywhere for any wage? :huh:

I have every sympathy for your mental health issues, having experienced them seriously enough not to be able to work myself for a couple of years. I am newly unemployed after an end of contract and have been permitted not to work mornings due to my medication, so it is possible to work round some commitments. Why are you wedded to Wales? There are towns and cities in striking distance of both Kent AND Wales so you can see both branches of your family.

Once you find work and it is too low paid to manage on or too highly paid to be eligible for legal aid that is because the government believes you have sufficient income to live on. You have found MSE forums - there are boards to help you survive Debt Management Plans, bankruptcy and IVAs, how to cook and eat healthily on next to nothing, how to increase your income without affecting your family life, competitions, freebies and bargains. :money:

I totally agree with you Fire Fox.

Accordingy to the OP it sounds as though his sickness, therefore his need for IS for the 2 years, was due the stress caused by not seeing his children for over a year. As I said, I'm not a parent, but I can only begin to imagine how this could affect you.

However, he now has visitation rights to his children every 2 weeks, a lot of fathers would be delghted by that arrangement, so what's the problem?

Well, as far as it reads, the problem is that he can't have state handouts for doing nothing all day (he only mentioned the stress of not seeing his kids as a reason for not working, that's now been lifted, can see why he's now refused) but has to make the effort himself to see his children.

Won't move nearer them because " Besides, I don't want to live in Kent thanks."

Is living in a caravan on the street (is that even legal?) but expects weekend/holiday stays for the wee mites.

Thinks it's a choice between seeing his kids and earning an income. :eek: Surely any Dad worth their salt wouldn't think that way? You've already lifted your 'obstacle' (I'm not being facetious here, just can't think of another way to explain the OP's reasons) of not working , most of us wish it were that easy, why not get a job now and actually support your family?

If anything you should be investigated for benefit fraud. It's pretty obvious, from the way you post, the stress of not seeing your kiddies has naff al to do with you not working. It looks as though they've been a convenient excuse to you to doss about.

Annoyed by that? Well how else do you justify your reasoning for you rant?

Maybe I'm being naive but my Dad (and Mum) literally had to do without food themselves sometimes in order to feed me and my brother. There was no wtc ctc etc in those days, but they did everything they could to make sure we didn't go without. Afterall, in their words, they were the ones who chose to have us, they didn't expect my Dad to become wheelchair bound and have to give up work at such a young age, but my Mum took on the breadwinners role and we coped. It's what you do for your kids, surely?

Anyway OP, why not wise up and actually be a man. Take responsibility for yourself, and most of all those wee kids that rely on you, and show them what a real Dad is i.e someone who loves them regardless of his bank balance.

absent_dad

Ok I will try to answer as much as I can and thanks all for the replies.

To start with I am welsh and all my family is Welsh I have no other ties in Kent other than my children.

Sorry do not know how to ‘quote’ here


‘Moving costs very little if all you have is in a caravan’ - I have a caravan, no car!


‘how could you have your children to stay for holidays in this situation?’ – Currently I take them for a day out in Strood/Chatham

‘It sounds as if you don't actually want a job so you shouldn't be claiming JSA anyway’ – It isn’t a case that I do not want a job as I had one and a lovely 4 bed detached home here in Wales before it was repossessed. This isn’t the first time I have had to re-instigate contact, this is the 3rd. So far solicitor fees and other costs have crippled me and the strain of the whole situation got to much for me. Basically I have run out of cash fighting this and no job I could do would pay for it.

‘I can quite understand your not wanting to move but then don't complain that seeing your children is difficult.’ – I wasn’t complaining that seeing them was difficult, more that the benefit I was entitled to meant I could claim travel expenses however, claiming those expenses now means I am no longer eligible for that benefit.

‘If you keep putting your own wishes before living near (and providing for) your children then I don't think that you should expect everybody else to bend over backwards to sort out your problems.’ – Fair enough, but this isn’t about my own wishes, my ‘ex’ has moved with the children several times now and it took nearly a year to track her down the second time, during that period I lost contact for 18mths. This time it was only a year to reinstate contact.

‘How do you think you would get over night and holiday contact whist staying in a caravan on a street?’ – Contact was at my parents home (by her request) and will be this time.

‘Can you not get a part time job to help pay for things’ – No, as explained, I could not earn enough and lost everything trying, this legal bill this time around is expected to be over the £100 thousand mark

‘Surely the fact that your children live in Kent, and you've been given visitation rights, would mean that, with no ties to the area you live now, you would do anything to move nearer to them?’ – Moving to Kent would serve no purpose…she would move again. I have ties in Wales, all my family are here.

‘You can't exactly complain that you're no longer receiving benefits on the basis of "stress" through not seeing your children if you now put up your own obstacles to avoid seeing them.’ – I am not complaining about not getting benefit ‘sick’ even though I am still stressed about the whole situation, more that my JSA has been stopped because I am travelling to see my children 1 day a fortnight when I should be out looking for work.

‘Why wouldn't you move nearer them’ – see my previous answers

‘if you allow your children to be brought up there.’ – Believe me, I have no choice

‘I would walk to the ends of the earth for them. Kent would be a breeze for me.
‘ – Currently I am living in a caravan on the side of the road with no income so I can see my children. I would sooner have no income than not see them which is what is happening. Without legal aid I cannot see them as the cost is too high, in order to qualify for legal aid I need to be on JSA. Getting a job would mean the court process stops until I fund my legal fees.

‘lies’ – I cannot provide the link as I am new here, but part of the JSA is that I have to be actively seeking and available for work during the 2 weeks you claim. Traveling to see my children means I am unavailable for work and not seeking work during this period. The decision has already been made and I am in the process of appeal.

‘there's loads of other areas that are within a reasonable distance for commuting to see your children.’ – I know but there is a likely hood she would move, and it is the commuting that is preventing me from qualifying for JSA

‘It almost sounds like, from your original post, that you being in Wales and the travel times required to see your children is one of the reasons stopping you from getting work?’ – No not from getting work, although when I had contact before and was in work, it did cause problems, but now I have run out of money to fight to see them the people I fell back on to help me are no longer helping.

‘Also you state you need a job that pays you less than £600 per month in order to keep what, legal aid?’ – Yes, without legal aid I do not see my children, I was paying for it myself, but couldn’t earn enough fast enough and now everything is gone.

‘But you cannot go on relying on the state to fund your choice to live on benefits so that you can maintain the contact with your children.’ – Hence the asking here for advice, This is as much about the children as about me as they have suffered a lot through this. I had a job which paid well but this was not enough and she knows this, it is a battle of attrition and I am nearly out of the ‘game’ even though it is not a game.

‘give some thought to moving down to the South East, getting work and having regular contact with your kids. I know for a fact that for a simple £45 and doing a test for the CCSC (or is it CSCC?) card, you could get a job as a labourer’ – I am a qualified plumber before that I did a degree in Cardiff uni (pure maths/computing) but didn’t keep it up and did plumbing because I enjoyed it.

‘The way I read this it is not a case that you have been taken off JSA because you cannot work one day a week, you are being taken off JSA because you are putting so many limitations on your job-hunting that you are not, in fact, actively seeking and available for full time work.’ – Sorry if that is the way it read but I was trying to be a succinct as possible, I have already had the letter explaining why I am not getting benefits and CAB have already helped me with the appeal.

‘However, he now has visitation rights to his children every 2 weeks, a lot of fathers would be delghted by that arrangement, so what's the problem?’ – It isn’t that easy to ‘just’ get over all this, also I am now in a poverty trap and cannot see a way out, hence the asking for advice.

‘Is living in a caravan on the street (is that even legal?)’ – NO

‘If anything you should be investigated for benefit fraud’ – I’m not committing fraud, I’m not in receipt of any money.

‘It looks as though they've been a convenient excuse to you to doss about.’ – believe me this hasn’t been a doss

‘Annoyed by that? Well how else do you justify your reasoning for you rant?’ – not really as many people consider those on benefits as dossers, Was I ranting, sorry, I just gave a little background for some advice. So far the advice has been to move to Kent.

‘Anyway OP, why not wise up and actually be a man. Take responsibility for yourself, and most of all those wee kids that rely on you, and show them what a real Dad is i.e someone who loves them regardless of his bank balance.’ – Yes thanks for that, my bank balance is zero, my income is wait for it zero, all because I want to see my kids as they want to see me. If I have to I will remain this way until I can see a way out. Getting a job is not an option as this would stop my kids seeing me and after the last 5 years of off/on contact through no fault of mine or theirs, a little bit of advice would be helpful.

Thanks for all the replies…sorry for this post being so long.

dmg24

absent_dad wrote: »

Ok new here.

A little history, I was on 'the sick' and claiming income support for over 2 years because of stress as I hadn't seen my children for over a year, (mother is being implacably hostile). I recently had to go for a medical for the dwp who promptly told me I was fit for work even though my own GP says I am not and the court appointed psychologist also concluded the same in her report.

I appealed and lost (no suprise there).

Contact with my children has resumed which is currently every 2 weeks, whilst on income support I also claimed a Community Care Grant from the Social Fund - to visit a child who is being looked after by another parent while waiting for a court decision.

You may be able to get a community care grant if you are getting one of the following qualifying benefits:

• [FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]Income Support[/FONT][/FONT]
• [FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]income-based Jobseeker's Allowance [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]You can see it at the [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]dwp website claimform sf3000[/FONT][/FONT]


[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]Of course now I am off income support and claiming income-based JSA however, to qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance you must be:

• available for and actively seeking work

[/FONT][FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]Now I have been told by the DWP that I am no longer entitled to JSA because I am visiting my children as I have to spend a whole day to travel to see them (I live in Wales, they live in Kent, I have to pick them up at 9am sat morning), as part of the commitment to jsa I have to be looking for and available for work! ALL the time.[/FONT]

[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]To top this off now, the travel allowance has now been stopped, as I am no longer on JSA (I have to be in receipt of money not just 'signing on') even though jsa is a qualifying prerequisite.[/FONT]

[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]I am back in court mid this month and was hoping for overnight and holiday contact, I do not think that I can do this now.[/FONT]

[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]If I get a job, I will be liable for the legal bill, bearing in mind the psychologist cost £15,000 for a report on 3 of us. (costs to be awarded at the final hearing) I think I can earn up to £600 per month and still qualify but I cannot find a job that pays so little typical but and am also worried I will have to pay my solicitor in advance before further court action so everything will be stopped. [/FONT]

[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]I am now living in my caravan parked in the street with no income and being helped out by my friends and family.[/FONT]

[FONT=Swiss 721 BT,Swiss]Any advice?[/FONT]
[/FONT]

Anyone else smelling a troll? I have a feeling this is an AE who has posted on several threads tonight. If it isn't, I would be very intrigued to meet the psychologist who charges £15,000 for a report!

absent_dad

'Anyone else smelling a troll? I have a feeling this is an AE who has posted on several threads tonight.' - sorry not me and not interested in troll.

'I would be very intrigued to meet the psychologist who charges £15,000 for a report!'

Sorry I cannot provide a link but with a quick google search and family futures co uk fees they show a few...for example

Comprehensive Child Focused Assessment and Report (Per Child)

£3,095

Psychiatric Assessment (per child)

• Psychiatric State of Mind Assessment & Report by our Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

£1,857

Fighting to see your kids don't come cheap

dmg24

absent_dad wrote: »

'Anyone else smelling a troll? I have a feeling this is an AE who has posted on several threads tonight.' - sorry not me and not interested in troll.

'I would be very intrigued to meet the psychologist who charges £15,000 for a report!'

Sorry I cannot provide a ling but with a quick google search and family futures co uk fees they show a few...for example

Comprehensive Child Focused Assessment and Report (Per Child)

£3,095

Psychiatric Assessment (per child)

• Psychiatric State of Mind Assessment & Report by our Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

£1,857

Fighting to see your kids don't come cheap

So you are not a troll, but your AE has logged in and back out again in between each of your posts? Bit of a coincidence!

absent_dad

'So you are not a troll, but your AE has logged in and back out again in between each of your posts? Bit of a coincidence!' - Sorry I have no idea what you just said. I have only joined today as I am nearly at my wits end, I am over a mates house using his computer.

Oldernotwiser

Good grief - some people should really get a life and stop playing games!

kingfisherblue

What is AE?

mattcanary

I have no idea what to suggest.

But I do think some of you posters should be ashamed of yourselves. You asusmed far too much and made judgements without knowing the full facts.

Where did the OP say in his original post that his children stayed overnight with him? Where did the OP say he had a car so that it would be easy to move to Kent? In many parts of the country, it is not exactly easy (nigh on impossible, I'd say) to find somewhere to live when you are on benefits. And if you are homeless, how likely is it that you will be offered a job in this day and age with so many people being unemployed??!!
Good luck absent dad. I do hope you are able to keep in contact with your children.

pookienoodle

I am confused as to why you cannot claim JSA.
you have to be "activly looking for work".
this you can do buy reading the vacancies in the paper on the train to visit your kids.
your availability for work should not be in question as the time you take to see your kids is your unavailble to work period(just the sames as lone parents who cannot work weekends)
the job centre does not expect you to be available 24/7 at zero notice.