Housing Benefit suspended!!

Ross2452

Hi guys, urgently need some advice regarding my HB. I've tried calling my HB office but its just ringing out, obviously I'll keep trying!

Here is my situation; I have been signing on for the past 6 months (income based JSA). I can't stand sitting around the house all day so I accepted a job working 16 hours per week at minimum wage (£4.83 as im only 20). Not ideal, but at least it gets me out the house!

I was told by my advisor at the jobcentre that because my earnings will be low I should still be entitled to most of the HB and CTB I have been receiving.

Today I received a letter from the HB department saying my HB and CTB have been suspended until I provide 2 months pay slips (im being paid monthly) from my new job. This means I will not be able to afford my rent at the end of this or next month and will need to start paying council tax as well!!?

How am i expected to pay my rent / CT bill when im only getting £76 per week? Most of that will be going towards paying for transport to and from work, council tax arrears and food! I would have been much better off not taking this job and staying signed on!

Has any one else been in this situation or have an idea on what I should do?

I'm getting incredibly worried about this so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys! Ross.

Edit: I just remembered there that I was told I would receive HB/CTB for 4 weeks (I think) aftter signing off as I have been signed on for over 6 months, is this correct or am I making it up? Aaaah! I hate the benefit system! lol.

Rothschild

Ross2452 wrote: »

Hi guys, urgently need some advice regarding my HB. I've tried calling my HB office but its just ringing out, obviously I'll keep trying!

Here is my situation; I have been signing on for the past 6 months (income based JSA). I can't stand sitting around the house all day so I accepted a job working 16 hours per week at minimum wage (£4.83 as im only 20). Not ideal, but at least it gets me out the house!

I was told by my advisor at the jobcentre that because my earnings will be low I should still be entitled to most of the HB and CTB I have been receiving.

Today I received a letter from the HB department saying my HB and CTB have been suspended until I provide 2 months pay slips (im being paid monthly) from my new job. This means I will not be able to afford my rent at the end of this or next month and will need to start paying council tax as well!!?

How am i expected to pay my rent / CT bill when im only getting £76 per week? Most of that will be going towards paying for transport to and from work, council tax arrears and food! I would have been much better off not taking this job and staying signed on!

Has any one else been in this situation or have an idea on what I should do?

I'm getting incredibly worried about this so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys! Ross.

Edit: I just remembered there that I was told I would receive HB/CTB for 4 weeks (I think) aftter signing off as I have been signed on for over 6 months, is this correct or am I making it up? Aaaah! I hate the benefit system! lol.

Heya i would suggest that you phone your local jobcentre tomorrow, and ask them to contact your local council and provide them with the details of the job that you have.
(As i assume when you start working but claim jsa at the same time the jobcentre will have had to contact your employer to findout that you are only working partime so still entitled to jsa)


But also and more reliable option, as the jobcentre are likely very lazy,
when you started your job by law you would have had to be given a contract of employment by the employer.

Or if you werent, you have the legal right to demand that from your employer instantly.


But as long as you were given this by your employer, just take it down to the local council office tommorow,
demand to see the housing benefits department,
and show them that contract of employment.

(As on it it must state your salary and the average number of hours that you will be working each week)


This will be sufficient proof of your earnings for the council.




On a side note though, why on earth are you working for such a low salary??! :eek:

If the minimum wage even is ridiculously low at £6 per hour, why would you work for £1.50 per hour less than that even?!


As if the job that you are doing is a job which could also be done by anyone aged 18+, why would you do it for less than min wage?

(And especially if there are other people doing the same job as you at that company, but they are getting paid more money than you, that is illegal!)

Ross2452

Hey Rothschild,

As I'm working 16 hours I had to sign off JSA.

Also, as I'm only 20 years old, minimum wage is £4.83. I took the job because its work I will enjoy doing and will be earning slightly more that I would be signing on....or so I thought.

I'm sure I can get a contract of employment off my employer so I might try that. Thanks for your input!

Ross

Doom_and_Gloom

Rothschild wrote: »

On a side note though, why on earth are you working for such a low salary??! :eek:

If the minimum wage even is ridiculously low at £6 per hour, why would you work for £1.50 per hour less than that even?!


As if the job that you are doing is a job which could also be done by anyone aged 18+, why would you do it for less than min wage?

(And especially if there are other people doing the same job as you at that company, but they are getting paid more money than you, that is illegal!)

£4.85 per hour is the legal minimum wage for 18-21 year olds. It's only 22+ that get £5.80 per hour. 16 and 17 year olds only get £3.57 per hour. That is how the law works but I believe it's discrimination but the goverment say it's fine so who are we to argue :mad:. I don't know why that is but as the OP is 20 like I am the minimum wage is £4.85 as stated.

Doom_and_Gloom

OP I would say you should still be able to get HB and CTB still. Not the full amounts but a good chunk of them. I would talk to your council about it as the advisers there should be able to help you.

dmg24

Rothschild wrote: »

Heya i would suggest that you phone your local jobcentre tomorrow, and ask them to contact your local council and provide them with the details of the job that you have.
(As i assume when you start working but claim jsa at the same time the jobcentre will have had to contact your employer to findout that you are only working partime so still entitled to jsa)

The OP is working sixteen hours, and earning more than the applicable amount. Therefore they will not still be entitled to JSA.

But also and more reliable option, as the jobcentre are likely very lazy,
when you started your job by law you would have had to be given a contract of employment by the employer.

There is no requirement for a contract of employment. There is a requirement for a statement of employment particulars.

Or if you werent, you have the legal right to demand that from your employer instantly.

The abovenoted statement must be provided within two months of commencing employment. A demand for it to be supplied instantly would probably lead to the OP being shown the door!

But as long as you were given this by your employer, just take it down to the local council office tommorow,
demand to see the housing benefits department,
and show them that contract of employment.

(As on it it must state your salary and the average number of hours that you will be working each week)

This will be sufficient proof of your earnings for the council.

It should be sufficient to make an interim award, however payslips should still be submitted as they are received.

On a side note though, why on earth are you working for such a low salary??! :eek:

If the minimum wage even is ridiculously low at £6 per hour, why would you work for £1.50 per hour less than that even?!

See Doom_and_Gloom's reply!

As if the job that you are doing is a job which could also be done by anyone aged 18+, why would you do it for less than min wage?

(And especially if there are other people doing the same job as you at that company, but they are getting paid more money than you, that is illegal!)

Not necessarily - people can be on different pay rates doing the same job for many reasons. It is only unlawful if the pay difference is for discriminatory reasons.

See comments.

woody01

when you started your job by law you would have had to be given a contract of employment by the employer.

?
Another non fact post.

daimonde

suspending of benefit is done all a matter of fact with HB & CTB, its just routine for staff - sadly customers wouldnt know this & quite rightly im sure see the suspension on letters & probably think the worst. its basically done to prevent overpayments.


It does sound like you may be entitled to a 4 week run on of HB/CTB - an Extended Payment Period (EPP), this is not something you have to apply for & the local authority should look into this for you. It is intended as a kinda buffer to help ease into work & so should ideally be paid asap in these circumstances. It can be paid without the wage slips / evidence of earnings too.

In my LA letters are sent asking for 2monthly wage slips again routinely, which for a lot of people doesnt really fit their circumstances. We do have forms which can be completed with Employers to show earnings & speed things up. There certainly are ways aronud having to wait for 2months of wage slips.

My advice would be, if at all possible speak face to face to a HB/CTB officer, ask about the EPP and what evidence they actually need to get things moving.


Dave.

Ross2452

daimonde wrote: »

suspending of benefit is done all a matter of fact with HB & CTB, its just routine for staff - sadly customers wouldnt know this & quite rightly im sure see the suspension on letters & probably think the worst. its basically done to prevent overpayments.


It does sound like you may be entitled to a 4 week run on of HB/CTB - an Extended Payment Period (EPP), this is not something you have to apply for & the local authority should look into this for you. It is intended as a kinda buffer to help ease into work & so should ideally be paid asap in these circumstances. It can be paid without the wage slips / evidence of earnings too.

In my LA letters are sent asking for 2monthly wage slips again routinely, which for a lot of people doesnt really fit their circumstances. We do have forms which can be completed with Employers to show earnings & speed things up. There certainly are ways aronud having to wait for 2months of wage slips.

My advice would be, if at all possible speak face to face to a HB/CTB officer, ask about the EPP and what evidence they actually need to get things moving.


Dave.

Cheers Dave, will get on this asap!

BERFFRO

Seems everyone has already answered your queries, I just wanted to say well done you for accepting a job that sort of seems to put you in a worse off situation than signing on! Like you said it much better than doing nothing! If everyone had the same attitude this country would be a much better place.