Really unfair situation - JSA rapid reclaim question please

bestmummy

So I was on JSA since September,about 2 weeks ago I went to my local jobcentre to sign on as usual, but at the door there was someone (maybe a security man??) not letting anyone in, I was not the only one there...and he told me that I didn't have to sign on and that they would pay me as usual etc...

Today I received a letter from my local council saying that my housing benefit was suspended because I'm no longer getting JSA as i did not not sign on. I was completely unaware of this so contacted my local Jobcentre and they told me they tried to contact me once but because i did not answer my phone they just closed my claim (?!), I mean they could have left a message or something, how am i supposed to know it was them calling me? Anyway the lady told me to call a number and make a rapid reclaim and ask to be backdated to the last day i got paid as none of what happened was my fault and they not even made a note on the system.

Even though all this is really unfair it seems like rapid reclaim is my only option, so i already done it and will have a 20min interview thursday, im just wondering how long do this "rapid reclaims" usually take?

tcr_3

"About 2 weeks ago" ? But that means you should've signed on this week. So what did the signing clerk say when you attempted to sign on this time ?

Anyway, 2 wks ago wasn't a holiday. So I don't see why you were turned away from entering the building, unless there was some kind of problem with the domestics in the Job Centre, power cut, heating failure or major staff shortage.

I'd go into the Job Centre and query that, tbh, tell them you got turned away through no fault of yours & that you still want to sign on for that fortnight and this ... and be paid too, without the hassle of a rapid reclaim.

bestmummy

im supposed to sign on this thursday, so 2 weeks ago on thursday i tried to sign on but like i said there was a man at the door not letting anyone in, the reason why i do not know. The claim is closed now so have no choice.

EltonJohnFan

Wow! that does seem really unfair but I'd suggest you just do as they say and hopefully you'll get paid soon.
The Rapid Reclaim really is that... if done correctly and I don't envisage you having any problems with this whatsoever.

Best of luck

tcr_3

The problem with a rapid reclaim is that they won't automatically pay you for the missing fortnight. So you'll have to request backdating. And of course, you haven't even signed on for that period so they won't backdate it as it stands right now.

Can't they just re-open the old claim ? It wasn't your fault you couldn't sign on. I'd query that with the Job Centre.