crisis loan assistance needed - catch 22

jimmy2h

I am 29 years old and have worked almost constantly for 13 years. At the start of the year i suffered from depression and was signed off sick. Unfortunately due to the condition i withdrew from the world and lost my job. I began recovering and the middle of last month i was confident i could get back into work and was informed about crisis loans by a friend to pay for my immediate needs of food etc. i was granted £40 for a week on the 19th of last month. They did however also say i should look at borrowing money from friends family etc.

I could not get back to work though and signed on for jobseekers 9 july (7 mile walk each way) and asked again about crisis loans as i was very short of money and because of my overdraft i had to set up a post office account for jobseekers to be paid into which would take 7-8 working days. I was told to call monday as there would not be time now.

On monday 12th july i applied to the crisis loan number for £50 to cover gas/electricity basic sanitation products like soap and washing up liquid and food and £10 i had borrowed the previous week for food. I was told that i could not cover the £10 borrowing despite doing so on their advice. This was understandable but disappointing so applied for £40. The bare minimum for me to survive for one week.

I was assessed for £21.03 on the basis that my claim was due to be paid on Thurs 15th July. I queried this as it was in contradiction to what i had already been told by the jobcentre and three and a half working days seemed very quick. I told them tis presented me with a choice between basic sanitation and services or food but they were not prepared to suggest which i spent it on. I told the lady i wanted to appeal but was due to attend the jobcentre to sign on and was told to call back later to discuss it. When i got back and called again i was told the claim had been settled and if i wanted to appeal i would have to do so in writing. Went back to jobcentre to do so writing a three page letter to explain my circumstances. It is now coming up to 48 hours since i appealed and am hungry and increasingly distraught, everybody i call either passes me to someone else, says they cant do anything or leaves me on hold for half an hour. I cant even go to a soup kitchen because if i miss the call im waiting for about the appeal i will be stuck another 24hours.

What galls me the most is i have tried everything possibe to avoid signing on and claiming benefits or help from the state and for my trouble im completely screwed. The friend who told me about the crisis loans was sanctioned for 6 months for having too many crisis loans and for lying about his circumstances. By a coincidence he signed on on 12th and was granted the same day £94. Someone who is honest and plays by the rules and doesnt know the system doesnt seem to stand a chance.

Today is the last day of the period they offered the crisis loan for so i doubt they will now give me anything at all and instead tell me to reapply. They have left me in the catch 22 position of taking £21.03 which leaves not enough to live on or waiting days for an appeal which gives me nothing to live on.

Can anyone tell me what to do? Thanks in advance.

Yours in crisis according to all but the social security office,

James

welshmoneylover

jimmy2h wrote: »

I am 29 years old and have worked almost constantly for 13 years. At the start of the year i suffered from depression and was signed off sick. Unfortunately due to the condition i withdrew from the world and lost my job. I began recovering and the middle of last month i was confident i could get back into work and was informed about crisis loans by a friend to pay for my immediate needs of food etc. i was granted £40 for a week on the 19th of last month. They did however also say i should look at borrowing money from friends family etc.

I could not get back to work though and signed on for jobseekers 9 july (7 mile walk each way) and asked again about crisis loans as i was very short of money and because of my overdraft i had to set up a post office account for jobseekers to be paid into which would take 7-8 working days. I was told to call monday as there would not be time now.

On monday 12th july i applied to the crisis loan number for £50 to cover gas/electricity basic sanitation products like soap and washing up liquid and food and £10 i had borrowed the previous week for food. I was told that i could not cover the £10 borrowing despite doing so on their advice. This was understandable but disappointing so applied for £40. The bare minimum for me to survive for one week.

I was assessed for £21.03 on the basis that my claim was due to be paid on Thurs 15th July. I queried this as it was in contradiction to what i had already been told by the jobcentre and three and a half working days seemed very quick. I told them tis presented me with a choice between basic sanitation and services or food but they were not prepared to suggest which i spent it on. I told the lady i wanted to appeal but was due to attend the jobcentre to sign on and was told to call back later to discuss it. When i got back and called again i was told the claim had been settled and if i wanted to appeal i would have to do so in writing. Went back to jobcentre to do so writing a three page letter to explain my circumstances. It is now coming up to 48 hours since i appealed and am hungry and increasingly distraught, everybody i call either passes me to someone else, says they cant do anything or leaves me on hold for half an hour. I cant even go to a soup kitchen because if i miss the call im waiting for about the appeal i will be stuck another 24hours.

What galls me the most is i have tried everything possibe to avoid signing on and claiming benefits or help from the state and for my trouble im completely screwed. The friend who told me about the crisis loans was sanctioned for 6 months for having too many crisis loans and for lying about his circumstances. By a coincidence he signed on on 12th and was granted the same day £94. Someone who is honest and plays by the rules and doesnt know the system doesnt seem to stand a chance.

Today is the last day of the period they offered the crisis loan for so i doubt they will now give me anything at all and instead tell me to reapply. They have left me in the catch 22 position of taking £21.03 which leaves not enough to live on or waiting days for an appeal which gives me nothing to live on.

Can anyone tell me what to do? Thanks in advance.

Yours in crisis according to all but the social security office,

James

Relying on repeated crisis loans is not the way forward. You do realise that you have to pay this money back at some point.

Shouldn't you be looking to get help with your depression from your GP and also maybe you could apply for ESA.

I don't think you can get JSA if you're not looking for work, and bleating about having no money is hardly the DSS's fault if you haven't made proper applications for financial support is it?

What about your living circumstances? Do you live alone, or do you have a partner or are you living with parents?

I fail to see how you can survive on a couple of crisis loans.

jimmy2h

Relying on repeated crisis loans is not the way forward. You do realise that you have to pay this money back at some point.

I do, and have every intention of doing so. I have had to ask for 2 crisis loans and am ashamed to even do that much but i have nowhere elese to turn having lst contact with most of my friends during the illness and having no close family to help.

Shouldn't you be looking to get help with your depression from your GP and also maybe you could apply for ESA.

I don't think you can get JSA if you're not looking for work, and bleating about having no money is hardly the DSS's fault if you haven't made proper applications for financial support is it?

I have been treated for depression with medication and counselling and am now trying to get back to work and actively seeking it. I will receive JSA i just need to survive until it arrives. Im sorry about "bleating" to you and them and that my choices have not been the best at a time of mental confusion and ill health but it seemed that exhausting all avenues to support myself before claiming from the state was the right thing to do both morally and according to guidelines. It seems not.

What about your living circumstances? Do you live alone, or do you have a partner or are you living with parents?

I fail to see how you can survive on a couple of crisis loans.

I have had to move in with my father who has recently been hospitalised himself. A crisis loan would allow me to eat until my first JSA comes through in a week.

esmerellda

If there is a Salvation Army shop/centre in your town tghey may be able to help with food. I had a reference from my job centre for a emergency food parcel but you can just go and ask them for help direct. They'll give you a much needed ear too. It is hard especially with depression and the lack of confidence that affords you but it is worth the effort, they helped me out no end.

esmerellda

Oh also, signing on they will recompense bus fare if you ask.

jimmy2h

Thanks. Ill try that when i can leave the house later.

MCGONIS

Hello. £21 sounds like a 3 day crisis loan. The rate is about £7 per day to cover food/power. They will have awarded you until your first benefit payday. If you benefit is not paid on the day your crisis loan ends, ask benefit section for an emergency payment of benefit. If they are unable to, you will get another crisis loan. Generally they would give you one for a two week period when an emergency payment is not made. This is to allow time for your new claim to be decided and to save you having to keep phoning for a loan.

With regard to asking for a review/appeal. Once the Jobcentre have your letter, you should get a telephone call within 24 hours if the review is for living expenses. Sometimes there are so may reviews being made, that is takes 2 days. That is a wee bit rare though.

And also, you do not get sanctioned from Crisis Loans! Your friend may have been sanctioned from benefit. If this is the case, they would then not qualify for a crisis loan either. The sanction would be pointless and serve as no punishment if he could then get loans to get by. He should apply at the Jobcentre for hardship. This is benefit, paid at a reduced rate. Hope this helps you a bit. Good luck with everything.

Oldernotwiser

I hope that you get things sorted out but wonder why you're having to pay for gas and electricity whilst living with your father.

viktory

I would have taken the money - anything is better than nothing.

tcr_3

^wot mcgonis says^

If your benefit doesn't arrive tmorro, phone & ask for an emergency payment. If they refuse, apply for another crisis loan. They'll either give you 1 or 2 weeks worth of crisis loans tmorro.

Not ideal. But at least you'll have food.

atomicsheep

hello.

Did you get paid from the benefit yet?