Job Center/DWP complaints?

SadnSkint_2

Hi all, hopefully you can point me in the correct direction.

I signed onto my local jobcenter over eight weeks ago and my claim was sent to the wrong benefits office so I was told I'd have to wait 2-4 weeks as the claim was only HALF-built (After already having waited a month) I waited for them to complete my claim. Meanwhile, my partner has had a baby and I've kept my JC informed in my need for money on a almost daily basis.

I spoke to a lady on the phone from the DWP who said they could give me part of the money in advance and it'd b deducted from what they owe me. After a week waiting for the money, I called up to enquire. Iwas told I'd be phoned back within three hours, but nobody contacted me. I recontacted them and they told me I could claim a crisis loan. (However I'm already in debt and don't wish to have to pay anybody else money) Last Thursday I signed onto my local JC and asked the bloke that delt with my book about where I was in the system. He told me the form was complete and I'd be paid in 3 working days, Tuesday (today), I've been to the bank and wasn't suprised when I saw I still had no money.
I phoned to JC and told them my problem, the bloke explained to me that the form isn't done.. it's only HALF-built.. still? I told him It'd been over a month since I was told that and even further still since I started my claim but he just told me there was nothing he r the JC can do and to aply for a crisis loan. So I'm here with a two-week old baby, running out of food and nappies, waiting for the JC to pull their finger out, and whilst I've explained my situation to a dozen staff I'm still being brushed aside and being given the same usless, dated information.

I think I have grounds to launch a complaint as I've fulfilled my obligations to the jobcenter but they haven't done their part. It's not me, my partners, nor our babys fault they sent the claim to the wrong place to begin with and why we have to suffer is beyond me.

Any e-mail adresses, phone numbers or advice on the situation and where I can send a complaint to would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

AsknAnswer2

It's impossible to provide contact details when we don't know where your benefit delivery centre is.

The jobcentre cannot do much to enforce the payment of your award because they do not deal with the processing of your claim; your complaint needs to be sent to the office which deals with that. Your jobcentre should be able to provide you with the address of your benefit delivery centre (this is the office that will deal with the processing of your claim).

You have manged to establish that it went to the wrong office; have they advised whether it has as yet reached the right office?

A Crisis Loan would be deducted from your benefit payments and is interest free. A Crisis Loan can be paid as an alignment to benefit.

paul_stephens

i know exactly how you feel. i have had major problems with them too. my cooker broke at the beginning of december and i care for my disabled partner decided to apply for a budgeting loan for the first ever time. was told that it was approved on the 10th dec, rang them again on the 20th as i have not had the acceptance letter only to be told it had not been sent. so no cooker for a hot meal. until the new year, so told them that i have no choice but to put my caree into hosiptal and was told ok do that.. why cant there get anything right. surely its cheap to give me the loan and wait for the paperwork than tie up a nhs bed for 2 weeks

enabledebra

Have you applied for a crisis loan? If not do it because in my experience it will push your JSA claim to the top of the queue.

How to apply here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018856

Also complain. This is the service charter (hmmm):

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/customer-charter-dwp.pdf

and you can find where to complain to here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/ContactJobcentrePlus/DG_186391