Urgent advice reqd: Housing Benefit/JSA

msxu01

Hello,

I need some clear advice as common-sense tells me that what i have been told does not appear to be correct.

Im single and live on my own, despite being educated to MSc level I am having difficulty getting a job.

I have been claiming JSA/Housing Benefit for 18 months when I was told that it was mandatory for me to attend a volunteer work scheme to keep my benefits going.
I visited the scheme to find out about it and they were surprised as they informed me that by and large they help out people with reading and writing difficulties etc. not people with an MSc

I have now refused this for a 3rd time, the previous 2 times both my JSA and my Housing Benefit was stopped whereby I lived off some meagre savings. However they are now being stopped for 6 months.

I have also been told that this 6 month sanction will involve

1. Stopping of JSA
2. Stopping JSA Hardship (40% of JSA) claim
3. Stopping Crisis loans from the Social Fund
4. Stopping my Housing Benefit.

I can give you the civil servants name who told me all of the above during an Interview. Since they got away with it the previous 2 times for a 2 week and 4 week sanction unless someone tells me otherwise it seems they can also do it for 6 months.

The previous 2 sanctions I wrote to Housing Benefit and told them that my claim was sanctioned and that I was not working and gave them my bank statements. They said this was irrelevant and advised me that my Housing Benefit would only be paid with a current JSA claim or Payslips from a Job.

From what I have read in forums elswhere it seems that this situation should not occur and these B* are just pusing me around.

Basically unless I find a job in the next 3/4 days or
someone tells me the benefits office are talking rubbish. I will be sleeping on the streets in a matter of days

Thanks for any advice....

Jowo_2

What is your age and is this work experience part of the New Deal, for example?

There are compulsory activities for the long-term unemployed with conditionality attached which means those that do not participate are sanctioned.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment/government_employment_schemes.htm#New_Deal

Here it indicates that the third sanction can be 6 months in duration for certain new deal schemes.

http://www.advicekit.info/advicekit/Benefits/A_to_Z_of_benefits_and_tax_credits/Jobseekers_Allowance/Benefit_disqualifications_and_sanctions/Default.aspx

Here is the DWP guidance as it applies to those on the Flexible New Deal

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/fnd-section-19.pdf

"Defines the fixed lengths of sanctions for:
•failing to attend a ‘Back to Work session’ – 1 week;
•failing to comply with a Jobseeker’s Direction, other than a Back to Work Session – two weeks or four weeks for further failures in 12 months; and
•refusing or losing a place on an employment programme or training scheme (including the New Deal) – two weeks, four weeks for second offence in 12 months and 26 weeks for a third act within 12 months of the second (and 26 weeks for subsequent acts/omissions)."

This site agrees with you that you should continue to receive HB and can apply for hardship

http://afraser.com/welfare/jsa.html

[FONT=Times new roman, serif]This does not affect Housing Benefit or Council Benefit. They continue to be paid regardless of any JSA sanctions.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times new roman, serif]The decision can be appealed[/FONT]
[FONT=Times new roman, serif]If sanctioned you can apply for a hardship payment which will effectively be reduced JSA payments[/FONT]

msxu01

I'm 43 yo. I was told this was part of New Deal.

under no circumstances will i be sacrificing a Scientific Career to volunteering to pick up junk people are throwing out - broken sofas,washing machines and mending it for a pass-off. People can drive down to the local Tipping ground and do this for themselves if they really need it that badly.

Thanks for any advice...

dizzybuff

msxu01 wrote: »

I'm 43 yo. I was told this was part of New Deal.

under no circumstances will i be sacrificing a Scientific Career to volunteering to pick up junk people are throwing out - broken sofas,washing machines and mending it for a pass-off. People can drive down to the local Tipping ground and do this for themselves if they really need it that badly.

Thanks for any advice...

:mad: Im also educated to MSC level , however I dont have your mentality. Having a family to support i would gladly shovel poop , clean up poop or anything else that meant keeping a roof over my familys head and feeding them. Yes you have a Scentific career if you have a job , but at present you dont ! Just get a job regardless of what it is , as most people know , if you have a job , volentary or otherwise it stands you in good stead.

Frankly it is not the time to be picky , you want money get a job , be it blowing things up in a lab , or stacking shelves in tescos , or cleaning poop. A Job is a job.

mitch161

your not technically giving up your scientific career. that ended 18 months ago. if you beleive you are too good to attend a literacy and reading course then your dumber then you think.

i have recently become unemployed and hope i dont get to the new deal stage.

i was previous many many years ago unemployed and experienced new deal. i was placed in a place based on teaching people computer skills.. my qualifications were in computing so i already had them. but i still attended.

i completed the worksheets in record time and spent rest of day talking to the person next to me teaching him a few things, basically i became a unofficial tutor.

the way i seen it was, hey im unemployed what else is there to do. i cant afford to go out on day trips, theres nothing good on TV. and the pub is too expensive to spend the day. so might as well just attend and get it over with.

by attending and showing i knew more then average joe, the tutor gave me a few contacts. and hey presto.. i was in a job.

stop thinking just about what everyone should give you. think about just doing things to not make your situation any worse, you may surprise yourself and get a scientific inspiration to invent a new pooper scooper, or a odour /stain remover while doing the scooping. and becoming a millionaire.

saying your too good to work yet your sat at home shows your not good enough to try new things or follow orders, which is what employers look for.

and please dont tell me you are only applying to research labs as thats your dream career. have you tried seeking to be a lab technician for the RSPCA, doing blood test analysing, .. working for the NHS, a school science lab technician, pharmacist at the supermarket. atleast.

even looked into the electronics companies, any local car manufacturers? milk dairy's? food manufacturers?

Robbie64

msxu01 wrote: »

Hello,

I need some clear advice as common-sense tells me that what i have been told does not appear to be correct.

Im single and live on my own, despite being educated to MSc level I am having difficulty getting a job.

I have been claiming JSA/Housing Benefit for 18 months when I was told that it was mandatory for me to attend a volunteer work scheme to keep my benefits going.
I visited the scheme to find out about it and they were surprised as they informed me that by and large they help out people with reading and writing difficulties etc. not people with an MSc

I have now refused this for a 3rd time, the previous 2 times both my JSA and my Housing Benefit was stopped whereby I lived off some meagre savings. However they are now being stopped for 6 months.

I have also been told that this 6 month sanction will involve

1. Stopping of JSA
2. Stopping JSA Hardship (40% of JSA) claim
3. Stopping Crisis loans from the Social Fund
4. Stopping my Housing Benefit.

I can give you the civil servants name who told me all of the above during an Interview. Since they got away with it the previous 2 times for a 2 week and 4 week sanction unless someone tells me otherwise it seems they can also do it for 6 months.

The previous 2 sanctions I wrote to Housing Benefit and told them that my claim was sanctioned and that I was not working and gave them my bank statements. They said this was irrelevant and advised me that my Housing Benefit would only be paid with a current JSA claim or Payslips from a Job.

From what I have read in forums elswhere it seems that this situation should not occur and these B* are just pusing me around.

Basically unless I find a job in the next 3/4 days or
someone tells me the benefits office are talking rubbish. I will be sleeping on the streets in a matter of days

Thanks for any advice....

You can still receive HB/CTB without receiving JSA. The important thing is your income. If you have none then you can be paid your normal amount of HB/CTB.

mitch161

mitch161 wrote: »

your not technically giving up your scientific career. that ended 18 months ago. if you beleive you are too good to attend a literacy and reading course then your dumber then you think.

i have recently become unemployed and hope i dont get to the new deal stage.

i was previous many many years ago unemployed and experienced new deal. i was placed in a place based on teaching people computer skills.. my qualifications were in computing so i already had them. but i still attended.

i completed the worksheets in record time and spent rest of day talking to the person next to me teaching him a few things, basically i became a unofficial tutor.

the way i seen it was, hey im unemployed what else is there to do. i cant afford to go out on day trips, theres nothing good on TV. and the pub is too expensive to spend the day. so might as well just attend and get it over with.

by attending and showing i knew more then average joe, the tutor gave me a few contacts. and hey presto.. i was in a job.

stop thinking just about what everyone should give you. think about just doing things to not make your situation any worse, you may surprise yourself and get a scientific inspiration to invent a new pooper scooper, or a odour /stain remover while doing the scooping. and becoming a millionaire.

saying your too good to work yet your sat at home shows your not good enough to try new things or follow orders, which is what employers look for.

and please dont tell me you are only applying to research labs as thats your dream career. have you tried seeking to be a lab technician for the RSPCA, doing blood test analysing, .. working for the NHS, a school science lab technician, pharmacist at the supermarket. atleast.

even looked into the electronics companies, any local car manufacturers? milk dairy's? food manufacturers?

schools/colleges and benefits dont work like this

train you for a dream career then give you a benefit until that dream career and only the dream career comes up.

start with the mondane job just to give you £200 a week in your pocket while you still look for your dream career.

imagine it 18 months ago you applied as a counter staff at mcdonalds. you would have had £200 a week in your pocket not £65. and you would still be where you are now.

so why deny/avoid trying. what are you trying to achieve by waiting/doing nothing?

chubbs1981

sorry but why exactly did you refuse this 3 times knowing full well it may affect your JSA? surely at MSc level you should be aware you have to jump through hoops to get stuff of the dwp and failure to jump the hoops mean they will get stop helping you.

I get no JSA as my other half earns just over 140 a week and despite being a graduate with aspirations to study a pgce in adult education i'd crawl across broken glass and hot coals to clean the toilets in a place that did the course you were offered in exchange for just the minimum of benefits.

Might i put it to you that after 18 months of not working in your desired profession its time you lowered your expectations. or is it simply that you think you deserve to be paid your JSA/HB without jumping the hoops as you have a post grad degree?

Jowo_2

msxu01 wrote: »

..
under no circumstances will i be sacrificing a Scientific Career to volunteering to pick up junk people are throwing outThanks for any advice...

I don't believe your qualifications or attitude to unskilled work will be considered a good cause not to attend though you can always appeal this. There should be some info on the internet about valid grounds to refuse new deal activities.

msxu01

I didnt state in my opening post what type of work I'd applied for during the 18 months but it is interesting that people made an incorrect guess to justify a bible bashing sermon.

I prefer to get my sermons in church.

There are many hotels and call centres as well as usual businesses so these applications are ongoing

Bar staff
Restaurant waiting staff
Kitchen porter
Night porter
Manual car wash
Office clerk
Call centre sales
Trainee sales
Shop assistant
Shelf filler
Warehouse labour
Trade counter assistant
Hotel Lobby assistant
Royal Mail Christmas Casual letter sorter
Hotel general maintenance
Betterware Leaflet distributor

If you can think of it Ive applied for it. I didnt see a pooper scoop job (is that an Americanism?) but im quite sure that would be covered in some of the above

I also know that there is a business delegation leaves this place to go to Poland every year and tell people there to come to "X" because they will get a job here. As a result I am competing with around 10,000 Polish people for these jobs.

Jowo_2

There is a jobseeking and employment forum on MSE that will have members that can help you with job searching advice.

Why, as you are open to unskilled work, are you against a placement that has activities at the same level of positions that you've applied for?