Minimum JSA Payment allowed?

KimYeovil

Lillyme wrote: »

I couldn't pay it back out of my wages at that point as they were to live on the following month !

So why not use your final wages cheque this time round to pay off the debt? You can telephone the DWP and ask them to accept a payment to pay off the balance. That may be more convenient for you than messing about asking to lower the repayments and prolonging everything.

AsknAnswer2

I can see how people have judged - there are two things I don't understand; the first is how you didn't know you were doing wrong, when award letters have always clearly stated that you must tell them about changes is circumstances, when they happen.

The second thing I don't understand is this:

Lillyme wrote: »

I couldn;t pay it back out of my wages at that point as they were to live on the following month !

You couldn't pay it out of your wages in a lump sum - this part I get. What I don't get is why you couldn't pay it in installments.

Perhaps people have judged you because of those reasons.

This aside, the maximum that can be deducted from JSA for overpayments where fraud is a factor is £13.20 per week for the year 2010. This amount can change every year. (for example in 2009 the max was £12.80p/w).

The minimum amount of JSA that can be paid to a person is nil. A claim can be sanctioned which means that the money can be decreased or stopped altogether for a period but the claim is ongoing for this period even though the benefit is not paid. Sanctions aren't applied for overpayments - they are applied for other reasons, such as failure to comply with the terms of a JSAg. I am simply showing that in some circumstances there is no minimum amount of JSA payable.

Arg

dmg24 wrote: »

You could have asked for a Crisis Loan or a Budgeting Loan. You did not have to commit fraud.

Could you guarantee if they would of arrived in a prompt enough manner?
I doubt it.

AsknAnswer2

Arg wrote: »

Could you guarantee if they would of arrived in a prompt enough manner?
I doubt it.

A crisis loan decision has to be provided within 2 days of the claim having been made.

Lillyme

Until I had my wages my circumstances hadn't changed - thats how I saw it, probably as it made sense.

I had 2 kids - , packed lunches,bus fares to school etc not to mention my own to get to work it never crossed my mind I was expected to take time off my new job to sort out Crisis loans or live on fresh air..

I learnt the hard way, I was ignorant, not clever like most on here.

It happened 6 or 7 years ago and since I have always worked and never heard from them _ UNTIL I was laid off my last job and had to claim JSA this January. I had actually forgotten all about it till I had the letter re reducing my JSA payments.

...
bring on retirement and my pensions - can't wait!

BLT_2

KimYeovil wrote: »

If you can't live on £50 per week then you will not be able to live on £64.30 per week. Shape up and cut your cloth.

But why did you not repay the money then once you were paid instead of waiting until now when you are on an unwaged income? You chose this strategy, don't complain now.

And stop wasting money paying bank charges - stay within your limits.

You are obviously having a laugh at the OPs expense. Who on earth can live on 64 pounds per week? That wouldn't even pay the rent on a bedroom in a shared property.

To recommend that someone earning getting 240 pounds a month in income 'shapes up and cuts his cloth' is just ridiculous.

Oldernotwiser

BLT wrote: »

You are obviously having a laugh at the OPs expense. Who on earth can live on 64 pounds per week? That wouldn't even pay the rent on a bedroom in a shared property.

To recommend that someone earning getting 240 pounds a month in income 'shapes up and cuts his cloth' is just ridiculous.

Nobody has to pay rent out of JSA/IS, they get rent and council tax paid on top of that! When claimants say they have only 50/64 per week to live on they always ignore the fact that they receive this as well.

seven-day-weekend

You owe it, you should pay it back. I don't quite know why you didn't do so in instalments out of your wages while you were working.

However, I would tell them it is causing you hardship and they may reduce the amount you pay.

Lillyme

I am paying it back! I am not disputing that.

I now get £49.86 per week to live on, I know my rent n most of CT is paid - but water-rates,electric ,TV licence, food, fares to interviews, toiletries etc etc is not paid - which is why I have asked for a reduction in pay back.

I haven't had an opportunity to pay it back till now as they have never contacted me in all these years with regard to it.

dmg24

Lillyme wrote: »

Until I had my wages my circumstances hadn't changed - thats how I saw it, probably as it made sense.

You were working x hours per week. You were claiming benefits on the basis that you were not working. Your circumstances had very clearly changed.

Lillyme wrote: »

I haven't had an opportunity to pay it back till now as they have never contacted me in all these years with regard to it.

Were you not able to contact them?

If I did not pay my credit card bill until they contacted me, I would be in a big old mess right now!