Advice needed re missed work focused interview

shrubal

I recieved a letter through the post this morning and was shocked to discover i missed a work focused interview yesterday. I originally had an appointment 2 weeks ago which i rescheduled due to it being a compleatly innappropriate time and then i had to reschedule the second appointment because i could not get anyone to pick my children up from school so rescheduled again for 1/10/2010. I foolishly did not write it on my calender and it compleatly slipped my mind (i have a hell of a lot on my mind at the moment and am going through quite a tough time) .. anyway, this letter states that my benefit is going to be deducted for missing this interview and i should wait for a reply from them.
I have been worrying and panicking all day as i am already appealing against deductions from my income support as they currently stand at £20 per week which is leaving me only £45 per week and for that to be reduced would be extreemly difficult for myself and my children to survive.
I know i can appeal and i have every intention to do so and will be going into the jobcentre first thing monday morning to try and sort it out but from now till then is a long time when you have anxiety issues! I'm so scared, my son's birthday is coming up and christmas is only around the corner any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Sam____2

Sounds like you've messed them around a fair bit, you know the consequences when you fail to apear for these things, sorry but very little sympathy, if money was so tight and you were as worried about it as you say you are, you would not have forgotten about it. especially when they have allowed you to reschedule twice, sounds like they have been very accommodating, don't think there's much you can do to be honest.
an appeal is your only hope...

SuziQ

When I missed one, I realised and telephoned them the next morning and they were fine about it, just rescheduled and no sanction. It sounds to me like you need to prioritise- some things just HAVE to be remembered in future. I am not lecturing you, but I'm afraid you are unlikely to get much help or sympathy from the Jobcentre unless you at least try to make it to the appointments, and as they are sanctioning you it would seem it's not the first time?


BTW I can't believe you only get £45 a week-surely you get CTC,CB, CTB and maybe HB?

oompahloompah

Sorry but I think you'll just have to bite the bullet on this one. They gave you 3 different opportunities to attend the interview, and you failed to show up. If you are on the end of a one off deduction I would accept it as I would be concerned that making too much of a fuss would make them rethink my entitlement altogether - the rules clearly state that to be entitled to JSA you need to be "available for work". Sorry if this sounds harsh, but if you're not able to attend an interview at the jobcentre you are really going to struggle should you actually get a job, so you really need to get yourself organised.

healy

oompahloompah wrote: »

Sorry but I think you'll just have to bite the bullet on this one. They gave you 3 different opportunities to attend the interview, and you failed to show up. If you are on the end of a one off deduction I would accept it as I would be concerned that making too much of a fuss would make them rethink my entitlement altogether - the rules clearly state that to be entitled to JSA you need to be "available for work". Sorry if this sounds harsh, but if you're not able to attend an interview at the jobcentre you are really going to struggle should you actually get a job, so you really need to get yourself organised.

The OP has said that they are claiming Income Support rather than JSA.

oompahloompah

healy wrote: »

The OP has said that they are claiming Income Support rather than JSA.

Sorry, I thought the "work focused interview" was part of JSA.

However, the name of the benefit doesn't alter that OP failed to turn up on 3 separate occasions.