Jobseekers payments suspendedstopped.

elaine373

My husband signed onto Jobseekers mid january.Our payments are just starting to come through after a mix up with the payment amount etc.Two weeks ago my husband was asked to attend several appointments relating to attending college for a course. It was to do with health and social care which he has never done in his life. He is down as needing to look for driving,bakery,shop assistant type of work.About a week ago,after a discussion with another member of staff at the office, he was told he didnt have to attend the college interview at college so didnt go.This week he attended the job centre to see his usual employment advisor and was asked why he hadn`t gone along to the college. His entitlement for jobseekers is now under doubt and to make matters worse he has signed a letter that his advisor printed there and then,which says he didn`t go because it wasnt suitable for him when in fact it was also because a member of staff said it was fine and he didnt have to go!! He has messed up, but in defence has poor English (reading ) and did not realise the implications of the letter. He has asked if they can help him go for English lessons. If our money is stopped,I assume housing benefit will also be stopped. What do we do??? I am worried sick.

Parva

You're going to have to clarify. I read the wall of text and got a headache.

You say 'we' so I take that as being a couple. Do you work? Do you claim anything? Any kids? What property do you both live in, rented or mortgaged by either / both of you?

Was his previous job of a long enough term to claim contribution based JSA? Why did he lose that job? Why were you already on housing benefit prior to this (going on what you posted).

Voluntarily leaving a job (which he appears to have done regardless of the reasons given) also can carry a sanction with regard to his claim.

More details needed here.

bestpud

Without anything in writing from the person who told him he didn't need to go to the college, he will struggle to avoid a sanction. I am pretty sure you can appeal if it does happen though.

Your housing benefit will stop automatically but you just need to let them know, in writing and get a receipt, that he has had a sanction applied.

For the future, it may be useful to attend any training related interviews as he may well find a vocation he hadn't thought of before. Makes no sense to limit his options IMO.

brien123

Parva wrote: »

You're going to have to clarify. I read the wall of text and got a headache.

You say 'we' so I take that as being a couple. Do you work? Do you claim anything? Any kids? What property do you both live in, rented or mortgaged by either / both of you?

Was his previous job of a long enough term to claim contribution based JSA? Why did he lose that job? Why were you already on housing benefit prior to this (going on what you posted).

Voluntarily leaving a job (which he appears to have done regardless of the reasons given) also can carry a sanction with regard to his claim.

More details needed here.

Did you actually read the post - it is her husband so obviously part of a couple, she gets housing benefit so is obviously renting and it does not mention anywhere that he left his previous job voluntary - no more details are needed - you just need to read the post !!!!

uponahill

brien123 wrote: »

Did you actually read the post - it is her husband so obviously part of a couple, she gets housing benefit so is obviously renting and it does not mention anywhere that he left his previous job voluntary - no more details are needed - you just need to read the post !!!!

Just typical of posters that don't take time out to read and understand what is being asked and said!

agrinnall

I'm not sure why the jobcentre would decide to send your husband to a college course unrelated to the work he wants to do less than 2 months after signing on. That doesn't tie up with my experience at all, where for at least the first 3 months I was able to look for work entirely within the scope of what I was interested in. I would be seeking clarification from them on why they wanted him to do the course in the first place.

Bollotom

agrinnall wrote: »

I'm not sure why the jobcentre would decide to send your husband to a college course unrelated to the work he wants to do less than 2 months after signing on. That doesn't tie up with my experience at all, where for at least the first 3 months I was able to look for work entirely within the scope of what I was interested in. I would be seeking clarification from them on why they wanted him to do the course in the first place.

My partner, 60 years old, all her life in pubs from barmaid to manager was asked last week to attend a college course in IT.:eek:
She was going to go until this week she ran out of Contribution Based JSA and as I had made provision for a private pension we are jointly over the income limit so her Income based JSA has been stopped. During her time of signing on, the past six months, she has been into the JC and as soon as anyone moaned or made a suggestion or told her she had to do something she used that magic phrase that has them quaking in their boots, 'Can I have that in writing, please'. If JC were to tell me that today was Wednesday, I would still check my diary. They are inveterate and very skillful liars.

uponahill

Bollotom wrote: »

They are inveterate and very skillful liars.

Personally I would not give them the intelligence to be either!!

They simply have no idea, in the main, of what the law allows or disallows. They are more likely to suggest an answer that THEY think sounds OK!!

It wasn't that long ago in the Civil Service that you were never allowed anywhere near the public until you had full training and had completed hours of endless tests in ensuring that you were fully conversant with the laws and regulations.

Hey in my last department 'newbies' had to be shadowed by their departmental head, who gave them a written report (copy placed in their employment record as well) of where they went wrong, for as many times as he or she thought it necessary, when dealing with the public and undertaking interviews.
All of my staff were at the minimum qualified solicitors!!

Now they employ people straight off the dole and put them in a position of power with no thought given to training or selection.

Have you ever seen the way they interview new staff today?

What would you do if.....?

elaine373

parva wrote: »

you're going to have to clarify. I read the wall of text and got a headache.
sorry about that.

You say 'we' so i take that as being a couple. Do you work? Do you claim anything? Any kids? What property do you both live in, rented or mortgaged by either / both of you?




Was his previous job of a long enough term to claim contribution based jsa? Why did he lose that job? Why were you already on housing benefit prior to this (going on what you posted).
.

Voluntarily leaving a job (which he appears to have done regardless of the reasons given) also can carry a sanction with regard to his claim.

More details needed here.

1) First of all I am not asking for advice on whether we are entitled to jobseekers allowance,that has already been decided.

2) No we werent getting any housing benefit before this and he lost his job.

3) Thankyou to everyone who replied.