Jobcentre mistake that I'm paying for!

katielouisemc

Long story, brace yourselves..

My partner and I used to claim jobseekers separately. We moved to a different area and asked to transfer our respective claims over. We had separate appointments to do so, but for some reason our claims weren't put on the system. Instead, they set up a new JOINT claim with me as the main claimant.

My partner had been on jobseekers (IB) since August, whereas I had only been on it since December. We tried to apply for a budgeting loan for rent in advance because we were going to be homeless, but were told that we haven't been claiming long enough because it's in my name and not his.

We accepted it and found other ways of dealing with our situation. The latest thing is that my partner started work and because the jobcentre made this stupid 'clerical error' as the advisor put it, they're saying we can't have a job grant because we've only been claiming since December! What about the year or so before that at the other jobcentre?

Any ideas as to what I should do? The advisor we saw said it was a clerical error on their part.. surely we shouldn't be allowed to suffer because of them? It's also affecting whether we get extended payments of housing benefit and council tax - meaning we've got to find a month's rent and CT with no wages coming in for 5 weeks.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

WPN

Your claims should be linked (treated as one). I hope someone can provide more help about it than I can.

Hammyman

Two people living together as a couple cannot have individual claims and when making those claims, if you were living together at your old address YOU BOTH LIED ON THE FORMS WHEN CLAIMING AND HAVE COMMITTED BENEFIT FRAUD. You are actually lucky they've not cottoned on to that for your previous claim and prosecuted you for fraudulently claiming JSA as individuals when you were in fact living together.

If I were you, I'd keep your mouth shut or you may find yourself going in for an "interview under caution".

concerned43

Were you living together when claiming individual claims - were both claims at the same address?

katielouisemc

Neither of us lied. My partner was claiming first before I moved in and then when I claimed they just set me up as an individual claim, we weren't told that we had to claim together. The amount of misinformation we were given by that particular jobcentre is ridiculous, nobody ever seemed to know what was going on so it doesn't surprise me that it wasn't done right in the first place - I resent being told I lied and people insinuating that I purposely committed benefit fraud. I went on information given to me by the people who run the system, therefore take what I'm told as gospel so to speak - maybe you should be careful how you word replies.

katielouisemc

Yes we were, concerned

nannytone_2

make a complaint if you feel it is justified. but be prepared for them to look into the fact that you were claiming seperately whilst living together.

oldmotherreilly

Were you receiving JSA(IB)? You can claim separately but only if you are claiming and entitled to JSA(Contributions based). If you were receiving two single amounts of JSA(Income based), then you have been overpaid. Why did your OH start claiming before you? Were you in employment until December? If you were and your OH was in receipt of Income based JSA rather than Contributions based, then he was not entitled to any of that JSA. If it was for another reason, then we will be able to advise whether that will result in an overpayment of JSA or not. The Contact Centre was correct to set you up as a joint claim. Ask JCP to investigate the matter, but you need to be prepared for the fact that you may owe them more than they owe you!

WPN

nannytone wrote: »

make a complaint if you feel it is justified. but be prepared for them to look into the fact that you were claiming seperately whilst living together.

If you complain you will be done over. To be prosecuted for benefit fraud you must have known you were breaking the law - if they gave you the wrong information, although information is out there if you look for it, its cannot be helped BUT the form method, telephone and online requests if you have a partner.Whether intentional or not, you must have made a false representation somewhere along the line.

What method did you use to apply for JSA?

concerned43

The fact that you went onto a joint claim should not affect your partners claim for job grant if he had been receiving benefits for over 6 months (without a break).
So if he has received his beneft continually for the last 6 months then you would need to appeal the decision.
There is no need to complain and your past history is irrelevant in relation to the grant.
Therefore get an appeal in ASAP stating that your other half meets the criteria as in:-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10018789

WPN

oldmotherreilly wrote: »

Were you receiving JSA(IB)? You can claim separately but only if you are claiming and entitled to JSA(Contributions based). If you were receiving two single amounts of JSA(Income based), then you have been overpaid. Why did your OH start claiming before you? Were you in employment until December? If you were and your OH was in receipt of Income based JSA rather than Contributions based, then he was not entitled to any of that JSA. If it was for another reason, then we will be able to advise whether that will result in an overpayment of JSA or not. The Contact Centre was correct to set you up as a joint claim. Ask JCP to investigate the matter, but you need to be prepared for the fact that you may owe them more than they owe you!

Unless you both werent claiming the same type of JSA (as mentioned above)