Single Mum JSA stopped. Please advise

LovelyLinziLoo

Need advice please.
I'm a 30 year old single mother with an adopted son. I was on JSA but got a letter last friday 28/11 that its been stopped as I missed a appointment with them. I thought I gave good reason for this. I'd forgot about it as was going through a tough time and wasnt myself. Was bein bullied at college which made me decide to leave college and was spending a lot of time crying(have since been to the doctors). Before the missed appointment I was in the jobcentre in tears so they knew I wasn't myself. Also the day of the missed appointment my son was off school ill.
So now I'm without any money and don't know what to do?
There is more to it I've actually got a job but wasnt going to sign off yet as I have to wait for background checks to be done as it's for a airport. They should take about 2 weeks. So now I'm left without any money to live off and housing and council tax benefit stopped so I'm worried I'm going to end up in worse debt. Also will I not be entitled to the top up payment now(I don't know the details but the payment where you get about £40 a week for a year for finding work)?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Linzi

bobajob_1966

Having a tough time would not be good reason for missing a JCP appt. How long is the sanction for? Your HB and CTB may have been suspended but should not be stopped now that your claim has been considered, give them a call and they will be restarted.

purple.sarah

Contact the Jobcentre and Housing Benefit office ASAP to explain the situation and appeal the decision, the letter should include information on how to do this. See if you can still get a crisis loan from the jobcentre, it only covers the basics but you do not have to pay interest on it or pay it back straight away so it is preferable to borrowing from somewhere else.

I thought the ongoing back to work payments were on Income Benefit not JSA, I've just come off JSA and gone back to work and I got a one off payment. No, you don't receive it if your benefit has been sanctioned.

I hope you can get things sorted, good luck.

LovelyLinziLoo

The letter from job centre just says its been stopped plus letter from local council just say benefits been stopped not suspended.

Last time I saw my own advisor(when JSA wasnt stopped) he said I could claim the back to work payments but it has to be within a certain period. Might be worth you enquiring about them Sarah?

Before I recieved letter stating benefit stopped they'd made an appointment for me to see my advisor on 4/11 about working tax credits. Can I still go to this or will it be cancelled automatically?

Thanks

frostyfeet

It sounds as though you missed your appointment and didnt contact them within 5 working days. If this is the case they should have sent you a letter warning you that your calim would be stopped if you did not contact them within 5 working days. Looking after a sick child or being unwell are both acceptable reasons for not attending an interview if you contact them within 5 days.

bobajob_1966

Have you been sanctioned or have they actually closed your claim?

LovelyLinziLoo

I'm sure the appointment was for a monday and I went in on the wednesday(as usually would to sign on) so then explained the above to them. So was within 5 days. I'm not sure about if recieved a warning letter?

LovelyLinziLoo

I think it must of been closed altogether not sanctioned. My letter says they've looked at my claim and cannot pay me JSA from 27/10/11. But the letter also says further down they cannot pay me JSA from 3/11/11?

frostyfeet

The best thing you can do is contact them tomorrow to find out exactly what has happened. If you attended with 5 days then its possible that they have closed your claim in error and although you will need to give your reasons for not attending the interview, they should be able to sort it out. Its important to remember that if you need to make a new claim to get it all going again that the dates all link up with no gaps as if there is a gap, you will lose your entitlement to any In Work Credit, Job Grant or housing benefit run ons. Do it tomorrow!!!

Arg

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

Having a tough time would not be good reason for missing a JCP appt. How long is the sanction for? Your HB and CTB may have been suspended but should not be stopped now that your claim has been considered, give them a call and they will be restarted.

From what she's said I imagine it would be a good enough reason.

bobajob_1966

Arg wrote: »

From what she's said I imagine it would be a good enough reason.

But you'd let people get away with anything, wouldn't you?

What the OP describes would not normally be good reason, she has not described illness but having a bad day. In the case of her son being unwell there would be nothing to stop her calling the JCP to rearrange the appt (unless he was in hospital, which she would be able to present evidence for), in which case she would not be marked as having not attended.