Seriously underwhelming first JSA package.

PaulEED

So i did a JSA claim on the 25th of June, and had to wait till the 5th of July for an interview (which was fine). The interview was very rushed, i was sat down and told to sign three blank lines on what i can only assume is my signing book?

Then the guy typed away on the computer for about 3 minutes and then said, "don't worry we're nearly finished" which was a surprise because he hadn't even looked at me in the eye yet, let alone explained what was going on. He handed me a collection of papers, mostly A4 print outs saying I have to come in to see Next Step for CV writing and then another appointment which had no explanation. I was then taken to a second person, who again, typed away, took my evidence, photocopied it and then declared "DONE." I asked, "so what's next? when should i hear about it?" and she declared I have to wait 2 weeks before anything happens.

So i attended to all the interviews that these papers asked me to, one was for CV help on the 12th and the next, I still don't know what it was, on the 20th.

So on around the 16th i phoned up because still had received no letter, and she told me I was supposed to sign on the 7th which i didn't attend. This was NEWS to me, especially since i've been in since, and had not been told anything?? She assured me that if i signed on the 21st, it would all be ok.

So on the 20th when i went i made sure to ask what was going on. There was a lot of confusion, because nothing seemed to be in the system properly. Then a man came and told me my claim was cancelled because I was supposed to come in on the 7th. I said, "I would have come in.. if i had known about this?". I found within the wad of papers was a green booklet, that did indeed say the 7th. So is this my fault?

So anyway, I pleaded with them, because I really do need the money now. And they assured me everything will be ok, and signed me.

They then sent a letter to me saying exactly this, and that I will be paid a backdated JSA on the first installment to my claim. However, I got a JSA payment of just £35 pounds today. Why is this? I haven't had anything explained to me, and now i'm really in the !!!!, I can't pay rent, my bills, anything. I can't borrow from anyone anymore. I was really counting on this JSA.

I wish i hadn't gone down this route. Wasting a month of my time for £35. I should have moved out of my apartment and moved back in with my parents until i found a job on my own. But no, i thought the system would help me find MY OWN FEET (I am 25 now). And now i owe so many people money, and i haven't even left the apartment except to go to the JobCenter in that month. What a waste.

Half of this is just ranting, so I apologise, but I kind of am expecting the worst, "you missed your first sign on bro, bad luck". What ground do I stand on? Can i claim that they were negligent? I feel like nothing has or will be explained to me and they just keep giving me stuff, intentionally so i mess up and they can get out of paying me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

robpw2

are u renting ? if so you could apply for housing benefit

relic

The person signing you on obviously didn't go through everything correctly, but as you say, you did have your signing on book with the date you needed to attend.

The £35 is probably from the 20/21st sign on date, you will have to appeal the backdating.

marywooyeah

sounds rubbish, but nothing really suprises me about these people as I've heard all sorts of incompetence from them on here!
hopefully you will find a job soon and not have to bother with them anymore - good luck!

PaulEED

Thanks for all your quick responses.

robpw2: Yeah, i have a housing benefit meeting on thursday. I am hoping it goes through, however he was nice enough to explain to me that it would go through in arrears so it wouldn't be in time to pay for rent.

relic: how likely would it be to get it backdated? I mean the letter says they will back date it? And if so, do you think they'll get it to me in time?

marywooyeah: Yeah i hope so! I got a £600 tax rebate last year for overpaying my taxes! I was finally showing a bit of faith in the new government :P But eh, it's not them personally. I should have kept onto that money instead of treating myself. I'll be earning money again soon enough, and then people will treat me like a real human being again.

CazGreg

If you write letters explaining their incompetence, they will usually back down and agree to backdate your JSA after trying to fob you off twice. So don't expect them to back down straightaway, but in my experience they get always get tired of arguing back by the third letter.
However, the backdating will take a LONG while to come through. It isn't worth even trying to work out when to expect it, just be glad when it finally pops into your account. There is absolutely nothing you can do to speed it up. Welcome to the world of benefits. Unfortunately it isn't true that the government looks after you when you need help like this. There are dozens of loopholes which you can fall through through no fault of your own and be left with no money to survive. It's like a hidden secret which no-one mentions. So never, EVER 'count' on anything.

On the plus side, although on this occasion it wasn't helpful, before too long you'll be immensely glad when they speed through these interviews and simply say 'sign here' without any bother...

CazGreg

I meant to reiterate, seriously do not waste your time trying to work out what money paid in is for what dates and so on .... your head will explode and it's a total waste of time. They do things very strangely - but they do actually always eventually pay in the right money. The only thing you need to always read is the letters they send you, as they will inform you if they've changed anything or messed anything up, and that's when you need to start checking things.

Bill_Bob

You get paid in arrears on JSA from your signing date. The first payment will always be a little odd due to the first three days of the claim being classed as "waiting days" and they won't pay you for them PLUS because it's paid in arrears you only get paid for the days you have been unemployed for example you make a claim 25/06 and your first sign on is the 07/07 thats:

13 days - 3 days (waiting day rule) = 10 days payment

Unfortunately this is not helped by your failure to sign on the 7/7. This could mean that your start date of the claim has been changed. Hence £35 payment probably equates to 4 days worth of payment. Your letter of entitlement will give you the claim start date.

You should now sign 04/08 and hopefully your first full 2 weeks payment will be issued.

Oldernotwiser

PaulEED wrote: »

Then a man came and told me my claim was cancelled because I was supposed to come in on the 7th. I said, "I would have come in.. if i had known about this?". I found within the wad of papers was a green booklet, that did indeed say the 7th. So is this my fault?

Well, duh, yes!

You took all these official papers home with you and didn't read them? What did you think they were for - loo paper?

Bill_Bob

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Well, duh, yes!

You took all these official papers home with you and didn't read them? What did you think they were for - loo paper?

Quite correct Olderdnotwiser. The JCP need you in on time on the correct days otherwise no one would bother turning up and chaos would ensue. Try to turn up on time everytime else you run the risk of being sanctioned and losing out on benefits.

TBF though they should have explained the procedure of signing on. They didn't seem to do this hence "Is it my fault?". It's still your responsibility. You sign the Job Seekers Agreement you are agreeing you have understood the T&C's.

viktory

PaulEED wrote: »

I found within the wad of papers was a green booklet, that did indeed say the 7th. So is this my fault?

Yes.

PaulEED wrote: »

Wasting a month of my time for £35

Attending the JCP twice a month is hardly 'wasting a month of your time'. Let's face it, you've clearly got sod all else to do...as you say below:

PaulEED wrote: »

i haven't even left the apartment except to go to the JobCenter in that month. What a waste.

Why not? You should have been out and about, job hunting in the month. Out every day with a fistful of CV's looking for work - not watching TV and waiting for your free money!