Urgent advice reqd: Housing Benefit/JSA

dizzybuff

I still dont understand how someone who is so called "educated" cant get of their arris and actually get a job. Its not that hard. Dont say there are none as they are plenty.
Your main concern should be food , house , warmth. All these need money to provide, you do what you have to do to survive. Those polish immigrants you pointed out to us do it , I do it , many people with more than masters have done it . We do it because we have to. with the MSC you may have the qualification but where is the experience. If you have it fair enough, if you dont well get out there and get it, Unfortunatly sometimes you have to satrt as say a lab assistant and work your way up, regardless of qualification. You have this MSC you also have the ability to get a PGCE and be a tyeacher, the opportunities are endless.

But these opportunities can be taken away by someone who is stubborn and fails to comply with the simplist of instructions as toi attend a new deal session. You are not b elow it , the fact is you have been on JSA for 18 months so any Sceintific career you had is gone , as you will need to work hard to catch up, the only way to catch up is to get the experience . Hence get a job , do you think theres a pattern here ?

out_of_cash

Those polish immigrants you pointed out to us do it! they also live in a two bed with 4 in each room that could be how and why they do it.

petrolhead.

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....

I do surprisingly, have a lot of sympathy for you.
You have aspirations, ambition and are well educated. OK yes in these times, the work that you would like to do may not be as plentiful as it used to be.

In the first instance, I would be using the intelligence you have to read up on exactly what your rights are. There are many many web sites that give this information. It is fine asking the question but why not try looking looking for the answer yourself.
Once you have chapter and verse and are satisfied that you know what your rights are - challenge each and every decision. This will give you something worthwhile to do.

Then, establish from these same sites what you could be entitled to. Make applications, and make sure that you get replies within a reasonable time scale.
Never be put off by anybody. Never believe or trust anything that is said to you by the authorities without first checking it yourself from other sources. Be always willing to listen and learn. Once you have the confidence in dealing with these authorities, you will be surprised how quick you will realise that benefit law is not as clear cut as many believe it is. There are grey areas that may help you. Again look at the various web sites that deal with cases and how cases have actually been decided upon.
As you can imaging this can be a full time job in itself. But the end result is that you should receive everything that the law allows you to have.

As regards the 'course' yes I will agree, that to be told to go on this when it is clear from the outset that it will never give you anything of any use.

I too am highly educated, but the difference between you and me is that I have decades of practical experience in my chosen field.
How would I feel about having to sit down with ex cons in a classroom setting being lectured to in the finer arts of literacy and numeracy where most if not all, could just about read and write, would completely 'do my head in'!

To be told that I have to do it for my money - I think is very harsh. They should delve into the claimant's backround a little more before deciding on these 'courses'. Why not match a course to the claimant's abilities?
As for having to do it or lose my money, would be a very close call. I know my wife would back me if I refused.
You can't have a system that one fits all, on the assumption that everybody hasn't progressed from 'Jack & Jill'.

One to one advising of job prospects tailored to each individual claimant should be offered. In fact the claimant should be able to demand it.

Would I do any job to get my £65? No, but I would use my intelligence and education to find another way round the problem.