JSA Stopped for doing the right thing?

concerned43

Sorry to hear about your probs with JCP - we are hearing more of this at the CAB and trying to find out what the hell is going on. JCP only have the right to suspend payments if you have not kept to your jobseeker's agreement!
All who have came into the CAB have seen their appeals upheld and money backdated, in the meantime you can apply for a crisis loan if you need money or apply for the hardship fund.

BreamoreBoy

morganedge wrote: »

How can it vary so much from town to town??

Human nature? Lack of training? Ruthless manager who gets at staff? etc?

kevinUK_2

Just to Clarify on some of the questions.

I don't have health problems that effect everything, just some type of work i can't do as i have very sensitive skin, i had to quit a construction job as it burned me quite badly with the chems they were using.

Transport is an issue as to get to a job in the closest town would be fine if there was actually any work available. I would consider jobs in other towns to but it's the matter of getting there. It's not just a simple 5 mile walk or bike ride(which i am fine with), to get to a job in town the earliest bus is 9 am, most of the jobs i see start at 9.

Other jobs in the next towns most start around that time to, so to get there its not just simply get on a bus or train and then its ok as i live in a small village and sign on in closest town. Jjust to give an example: i got offered a job which started at 10am, my earliest bus to get into 1 town was 9am and the journey is 20-30 minutes, i would then have to get to the train station to catch the train to the other town and thats another half hour journey just to get to the city then make my way to the job location.

As for not looking for work enough, i check the internet daily, i ring up agency's 3-4 times a week, i get the local paper when it comes out i also get other papers. When i am in town i look around in shop windows, i even coldcall. I do everything i can to look for work, i hate being on benefits it is degrading, but i have to live.

@ concerned, i have tried to ask for a crisis loan but they said i can't have one while my case is being looked at. I live by myself and don't have any family to rely on, so atm im in my house with no electric and i am living off sandwiches etc. It's rough living, and i can cope for now, but i can't for much longer.

@ morganedge: Yes i sat down, went to sign paperwork as she asked, then she said apparently that i had not done enough to look for a job and i didn't argue because i'm not the type. I went home and thought nothing of it, a few days later they sent me a letter saying they couldn't pay me for the period of 2 weeks i had just signed for. This letter said i will not be getting paid and my claim is being looked at to see if it is still relevant.

The thing that annoy's me the most is i try my hardest, i sit, roll over and follow any orders to keep them happy because jsa keeps me going, i try 10x harder than these who only want to live on benefits yet i am the one who is getting looked at. It makes me sick

dogfish12

Well, that's just it Kev. You can try as hard as you can in this job market and still find nothing. Job centre workers in the main appreciate this and are sensitive to it. It seems that the desk advisor that you saw has passed on a message (in their opinion) to the higher ups saying that you are not doing enough to find work. I have to wonder why. Cab advisors are saying this is becomming much more common. What pressure is that signing on clerk under? Who knows?

morganedge

kevinUK wrote: »

@ morganedge: Yes i sat down, went to sign paperwork as she asked, then she said apparently that i had not done enough to look for a job and i didn't argue because i'm not the type. I went home and thought nothing of it, a few days later they sent me a letter saying they couldn't pay me for the period of 2 weeks i had just signed for. This letter said i will not be getting paid and my claim is being looked at to see if it is still relevant.

I know some people dislike confrontation, but you really should have said something when they initially challenged you, assuming that you had the appropriate number of 'steps' written down. (which I think you already confirmed that you did have)

Im sure that it will be backdated when it gets sorted out. I understand your frustration though.

The thing is, in this world nowadays, its the ones who shout loudest who get what they want. People who quietly do what they are supposed to do will get walked all over.

When your benefit gets reinstated, add on 3 extra 'steps' in your booklet, even if it means bending the truth. Don't give them an opportunity to mess you around, and if they do, give them an earful then and there.

CCFC_80

Previous threads on this subject suggests that JCP staff are under pressure to meet targets and to try and sanction at least one person a day and refer their claims to DM's if they believe they are not trying hard enough to look for work.

This is just not on especially if people are sticking to their JSA agreement.

dark_lady

The way its going at the moment from what ive read on these boards i foresee many people being forced into immoral earnings just so they can eat and pay rent and council tax.

dogfish12

Lady: I quite agree, and I'm sure that some of the bile writers who attack the unemployed would love to be their pimps!!

morganedge

If they're desperately trying to kick people off of JSA and there aren't that many jobs out there, and the jobs that do exist have lots and lots of people applying for it, then the Government will pay back to money they save on JSA payments with interest when it comes to dealing with the increase in robberies and other things that people will have to resort to.

dogfish12

Morgan: I agree, you always have to look at the bigger picture when you consider these things.