job seekers allowance

happygil

Hi, new here and looking for advice. I have been on JSA since April (lost job when employer went into Administration). my sign-on day is a thurdsay and I had to attend a route to work workshop at the job centre on the 28th april, while there the staff asked me to sign on - I told them that I sign on a thursday and therefore not due to sign on the wednesday, the women went out, came back in a said she had double checked the system and that I did have to sign on. So I signed the card. went to sign on as usual yesterday and was told that i couldn't as they had stopped by claim as I did not turn up on Thurs 29th. I explained what had happened but they said I would need to apply again for JSA! which I have done and have received an apology from the job centre. but they cannot tell me when I will receive any money and today I got my P45 in the post! anyone came across this before and what, if anything, can I do about it?

cit_k

Best guess here would be to appeal the decision, set out in writing the full details of what happened, dates/times/places etc and appeal...

Unless anyone else knows a better way?

In future, ask for all directions to be put in writing.. they may refuse, but try anyway, and take the name of the person giving the instructions.

sammyjammy

Sounds like a right C*** up, but there is no appeal to make, they made a mistake, a lesson to learn may be not to listen to what they say when you think otherwise and either ring and check with someone else or turn up anyway. I assume from what you say your claim should be continuous? If they've apologised one would hope they will make payment of your benefit a priority.

happygil

I did argue with the women on the wednesday at the workshop but was put on the spot as there were 10 of us sitting in the same room and she was adamant that I sign!
I phoned and made another claim while at the job centre yesterday and had my interview for diary etc in the afternoon but it is being put through as a new claim rather than a follow on.... hence why I have to wait for payment - they cannot tell me when i am going to get any money as its up to the regional process centre.
There was an internal investigation and the staff were embarressed and apollogetic and have written to the centre explaining the mistake but that does not help me feed my family etc. I know I can get a crisis loan but do not want to go through that hassle. I am really !!!!ed off and feel that, although to err is human, i think the job centre staff should not just be able to shrug their shoulders, say sorry and get away with messing people about.

GEEGEE8

Don't get me started on the Job Centre.

I hope you get it sorted out asap, what a joke

Get the crisis loan - 0800 032 8347 - altho I think you have to be in receipt of benefits to get it.

happygil

thnks geegee but dont want a crisis loan - not prepared to go into debt over someone else mistake

GEEGEE8

Don't they just take it out of your benefits? I was thinking of one to cover this months rent that's all..

Killmark

happygil wrote: »

Hi, new here and looking for advice. I have been on JSA since April (lost job when employer went into Administration). my sign-on day is a thurdsay and I had to attend a route to work workshop at the job centre on the 28th april, while there the staff asked me to sign on - I told them that I sign on a thursday and therefore not due to sign on the wednesday, the women went out, came back in a said she had double checked the system and that I did have to sign on. So I signed the card. went to sign on as usual yesterday and was told that i couldn't as they had stopped by claim as I did not turn up on Thurs 29th. I explained what had happened but they said I would need to apply again for JSA! which I have done and have received an apology from the job centre. but they cannot tell me when I will receive any money and today I got my P45 in the post! anyone came across this before and what, if anything, can I do about it?

If its a case of maladministration, and it can be shown on the systems (such as a note when you were advised of your next signing or attendance) then you shouldn't need to make a rapid reclaim and it should be reopened.

However if there is no record of what you were advised then unless the advisor confirms what you were advised then you would have to do a rapid reclaim.

If they can reopen the claim for maladministration it shouldn't take long and assuming your paid into a bank account it could be arranged as a same day payment.

happygil

Luckily for me the advisor did fess up and I have it in writing in terms of what went wrong within job centre, however I was still made to reclaim. I also made an application for HB and got a letter today advising that due to JSA being stopped that I have to provide proof of income - so its not just JSA that's been affected my application for HB is too. I called CAB yesterday and they have advised to put in formal complaint and also to seek compensation - which I plan to do.