How can i survive on £39.25 per week from the Social?

JKThink

Hi, I need some advice.
I was sacked from my job in October and have been looking for work and applying for every job i can see that i am skilled in. Nothing yet.

After 3 months the Job centre have decided that as i was sacked they will be stopping my Job Seekers Allowance money and told me of this decision 23rd of December (merry blumming Xmas).

I asked what payment i would be on now - they said none?? I said I have no income and have bills and a Mortgage to pay! The woman said i can apply for 'hardship' payments. Which i did.
I have just received the amount and it is £39.25 per week. which i am going to find impossible. The woman at the Job Centre said i was lucky i was getting this amount at all, as if had any savings i would have to use them- which i have none.

They also said i didn't apply for a job that they gave me the first time i signed on - i have no knowledge of this job and when given the details later i wasn't qualified for the role anyway. I stated all this in detail in my defence- to no avail.

The Job Centre have made several mistakes since i started signing on (stopping my money for no reason (in the first month I was only paid £18) and just said 'sorry' when asked why! Also they sent me a letter addressed to a woman i do not know, also sent me to a 'back to work comany' for support and they didn't have a clue who i was and they said I shouldn't have been referred there until unemployed 12months - the Job Centre people just shrugged their shoulders when asked about it)

I am now very stressed and concerned I will lose my house, as i can not come close to paying my bills. I have applied for Mortgage interest help and am awaiting an amount/decision - and my bank have put me on an interest only mortgage.

Any help appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
JK

tcr_3

Your punishment for being sacked is a benefit sanction i.e. no regular JSA payments. How long are they applying the sanction for, have they said ? It could be up to 6 months.

JSA Hardship's there to prevent total destitution, paid at 60% of scale rate i.e. 0.6 x £65.45 p.w. It's good you applied for it, many don't even know they can.

You've got the right of appeal against the imposition of the sanction. So if you think they've got it all wrong, that they haven't taken fully into account the circumstances of your dismissal then exercise your rights and put in an appeal. You can get help with that through the CAB or the Welfare Rights office at your local council.

Other parts of this forum can tell you how to cut your cloth & eke that money out to best advantage. They can also give advice if you've got personal debts, how to contact lenders & what to say to them.

You'll need to chase up your mortgage assistance application, obviously, to ensure your lender doesn't take any action against you. Give your benefit delivery centre a call on Monday to see where they're at with that.

RAS

John

I suggest that you also post ont he Debt free wannabe forum and on the old style Money Saving forum. The folks on those forums cannot help you with trying to appeal over your sanction, but that are brilliant on living on next to nought.

In preparation, put together an Statement of Affairs (income and expenditure) and make list of the following

1. What is in the cupboards fridge and freezer, so peopel can help you live as long as possible on next to nothing.

2. Check round the house for everything and anything that can be sold on e-bay, amazon or at a car boot sale.

3. List your local resources, within walking distance (say 2-3 miles). Local library - a lot warmer than home and you may be able to get free internet use. Supermarket - when do they reduce items? and so on.

EltonJohnFan

I'm truly sorry to hear of your situation and though I can't offer much help ,I just wanted to wish you lots of luck.
Do whatever you must to get this decision overturned and, if you can, put in an appeal and don't take no for an answer.

Take care.

murtle1981

Hi JK ! Its such a shame that theres so many people in this country in a similar position to you. Nobody should have to live like that in this day and age. Ive read dozens of these threads and theres are so many people in the same boat. The government want so called benefit scroungers to get off their !!!!!! and find work...then please tell me Mr Cameron/Clegg/osbourne where is the work?? Even people like you (OP) who are skilled in a certain trade, cant find bloody work due to something called a RECESSION! The recession has hit our area hard and dont we know it! Would be helpful if you could state if you live alone or have a partner, if so do they work, any kids, how old you are etc, as it will give someone an idea if why you are being refused benefits. Im not too clued up about hardship payments etc although i think it may have something to do with NI contributions???Im really not sure...someone will be along soon to advise you better than i can. Good luck...x
PS-I thought they wouldnt pay benefits if you walked out of a job(intentionally made yourself unemployed), not got the sack!

lynzpower

Is it just you living in the house? Could you get a lodger to help bring some money in?

Oldernotwiser

murtle1981 wrote: »

PS-I thought they wouldnt pay benefits if you walked out of a job(intentionally made yourself unemployed), not got the sack!

If you couldn't be sanctioned for getting the sack, don't you think that many people would manipulate the situation rather than just walking out?

Hammyman

£40 a week is enough to put food in your mouth and light and heat a home. In other words, the bare essentials. So you're going to have to get rid of the internet access you're obviously paying for, mobile phone, Sky TV, fags, beer and all the other none-essentials people seem to think they can live without.

murtle1981

Did you get the sack or get laid off? If you got laid off, you should be entitled to regular benefit payments...tcr was right about you being sanctioned as punishment for getting the sack.

Tcr-has that changed cos im sure it used to be (and im going back a few years) that if you quit, became intentionally unemployed, you couldnt sign on for anything up to 6 months but if you got sacked, you could sign on straight away no problem??

murtle1981

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you couldn't be sanctioned for getting the sack, don't you think that many people would manipulate the situation rather than just walking out?

True, just thought thats how it used to be a few years ago...:huh::huh:

murtle1981

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you couldn't be sanctioned for getting the sack, don't you think that many people would manipulate the situation rather than just walking out?

I dont think that anyone who is in work would want to manipulate things to get the sack, especially in this day and age...:(!