question about new deal sanctions?

red_devil

Can anyone give advice about what sanctions are given if you dont attend the work placement on New Deal but you have done the rest.

It seems hard to find out what exactly these sanctions mean? Who qualifies for hardship payments too is it only if you have children or you are sick?

TheHangingJudge

DX2 wrote: »

I know not your fault personally but this is just shocking! You would think that the crisis loan dept would know this already.

I'm confident that most Crisis Loan DM's do know this & advise the claimant accordingly, certainly for telephone applications. But for postal applications all they have to do is nil the application & send out a decision notice. Crisis Loans aren't awarded to cover rent arrears anyway, most "housing costs" are excluded from the Crisis Loan system because they're covered through other schemes i.e. HB, LHA & SMI.

But Crisis Loans may make an award if you "mis-spend" your benefit by using most or all to pay the rent arrears & leave yourself penniless ... although any award is based on your past application history & whether you've provided proof that you've paid the rent at all.

red_devil

who can get hardship payments only the sick and pregnant?

DX2

red_devil wrote: »

who can get hardship payments only the sick and pregnant?

Hardship Payments are a reduced payment of Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). You might be able to claim a Hardship Payment if you are disqualified from JSA or your JSA is sanctioned.

To claim a Hardship Payment you have to show you are suffering hardship and you have to make a separate claim.
Hardship Payments will not be paid for the first two weeks of the disqualification or sanction unless:

• you have children, or
• you are a carer, or
• you are pregnant (your partner can also claim), or
• you are sick or disabled (your partner can also claim)

You have to make a Hardship Payment claim at Jobcentre Plus. Hardship Payments are based on a reduced level of benefit: a 40% reduction normally, but only a 20% reduction if there is pregnancy or serious illness in your family.
A Decision Maker will assess your hardship, taking into account all your circumstances. They should also consider:

• Whether you have other resources?
• Whether there is a substantial risk that essential items such as food, clothing, heating and accommodation will stop being available to you or will be reduced.

If you are receiving Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, you should carry on getting these even if your JSA has been sanctioned. If in doubt, get advice.
You cannot make a claim to the Social Fund for money to help you through a sanction period. Sanctions leave many people, particularly those without children, with no income at all.

MCGONIS

TheHangingJudge wrote: »

I'm confident that most Crisis Loan DM's do know this

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN!

Why not log in under USUAL name and post. Different user-name but as predictable as ever.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN!

MCGONIS

dmg24 wrote: »

That is wrong - HB/ LHA can be claimed on the basis of being on a low income. A JSA sanction has no impact on HB (except potentially increasing it, if JSA is Conts Based), although it is always worthwhile informing the LA of any change in income.

I know it's such an old post, but still a relevant post.

I just want to confirm, what I said at the time.....that if an individual has a JSA sanction -and they are therefore not entitled to that benefit - they are also not entitled to the Housing Benefit for the period of the sanction.

I have had discussion with benefit sections and also the counter staff at housing benefit. Housing benefit would NOT be awarded during the period of a benefit sanction.

bestpud

MCGONIS wrote: »

I know it's such an old post, but still a relevant post.

I just want to confirm, what I said at the time.....that if an individual has a JSA sanction -and they are therefore not entitled to that benefit - they are also not entitled to the Housing Benefit for the period of the sanction.

I have had discussion with benefit sections and also the counter staff at housing benefit. Housing benefit would NOT be awarded during the period of a benefit sanction.

Housing benefit will stop automatically when they are notified by JCP but it can be reinstated if the claimant explains why they aren't receiving JSA.

BigAunty

MCGONIS wrote: »

...

I have had discussion with benefit sections and also the counter staff at housing benefit. Housing benefit would NOT be awarded during the period of a benefit sanction.

That's not my understanding at all - a person sanctioned for JSA is sanctioned for JSA only - it doesn't affect entitlement to any other benefit. Even someone sanctioned for JSA can apply for a hardship sum that partly covers it. HB entitlement is calculated on a household's income/capital, that is all, no other conditionality to do with other benefits.

Ask the counter staff to confirm this to you in writing, quoting the relevant HB regulations. As there are no rules relating to JSA eligibility, I think you'll find a bit of resistence to this request...

sniggings

dmg24 wrote: »

Yep, that is correct. Not much of an incentive to look for work really.

not having money for food gas/electric is maybe incentive enough but hey lets kick them out of their home too for a sanction that is probably not justified anyway.

Notmyrealname

MCGONIS wrote: »

Hi. If you are not entitled to benefit, then you will not be entitled to housing benefit either.

Wrong. Housing benefit is calculated on income, not what benefits you receive.