JSA Hardship payments

csmw

Neil_948 wrote: »

Ok so I am going to discuss my dealings with this JC+ office.


My partner went to sign on and as usual she had to see a different advisor from another team, who was very rude and derogatory in her demeanour.


The advisor went through the whole interview with the whole intention to place my partner on a sanction and this can be proven, (which has happened).


During the interview my partner was asked a very strange question which had or would ever have any bearing on the claim the question being with being put completely on the spot and my partner being one that is very quiet and placid, this made her an easy target now and she got confused with being put on the spot with a totally out of the blue question (non of there business answer required) but she told them that I had a shift when the truth was I actually had an interview. Now I don't totally disagree with the outcome on one hand but do on another.


How do I know that she wanted a sanction target easy
1. The advisor first of all sanction the claim due to the fact that I had worked a shift on that day.


why was that wrong? anyone who has done part till work within the DWP rules will know that you have to fill out a B7 form which starts from the day that you sign and ends the day before your next signing.so the action that day was to issue the B7 form and wait for the next 2 weeks for the form to be returned. Not a straight disallowance as if the advisor had investigated the claim she would have seen that we both work for companies on zero hour contracts so there for we can not sign off completely because a good string of hours one work could result in none the following.


2. First failure of failing to provide the 2 week job search should be dealt with by advising that if it happens again then a disallowance would be the consequence. Or as I have seen on a number of cases sent home to get it and bring back in the same day.


so clearly the advisor has decided to have a field day.


I am currently investigating the claim as it is my understanding that as a joint claim where one person fails to meet DWP rules does not disallow the other person however because when we made the claim somebody (not us) decided to make it a partner claim so I do not have to sign on and have no agreement in place with them.


I am going to investigate further and if this attitude continues with my partner then I will look at her signing off and me signing back on the only reason we switched it was after advice from a jcp advisor previously that I could work more hours.


E.G.
Main claimant can work 15 hours per week as soon as 16 is hit sign off required.


Partner on claim can work 23 hours per week as soon as 24 is hit sign off required.

Incorrect, they are under no obligation to give any warnings, the jsag clearly states that if you do not meet the conditions then your benefits will be affected. Each 2 week period it taken as a standalone.

karen30_2

Hi there I'm going through the same thing.
I went to the job center on the 3rd of March to sign on ( It was only my second signing ) and to tell them I had a JOB.....
However as I had not had money from them until that point I was unable to pay my phone bill which meant I was unable to accesses the internet although I had done everything else and more to get a job (clearly as I got one!!!!!!)
The advisor suspended my benefit as I hadn't logged in to job serve and told me I hadn't done enough to find work.
Needless to say I was furious I HAVE FOUND AJOB !!!!!'
Unfortunately she would not have it so stopped my money I have applied for hardship payments and sent in an appeal but 3weeks later neither have been sorted I should also say I put in a complaint about the advisor..
I'm unable to start work now as I'm a community carer and have no petrol to get to the care calls....
I am still so fed up about it and truly believe they have targets to meet as every advisor I've seen since can't believe my money was stopped...
And as for hardship payments well does anyone know how long it takes????

busy_mom_2

Couple of things, there really are no tagrets for referrals to DMA. Certainly not anymore. There is a quality expectation that around 80% will recieve an adverse decision, but no targets.

Karen30. Have you been disallowed or is your claim suspended whilst the decison is being made? The adviser cannot stop your money they can send the doubt to a DM who can impose a sanction but no adviser can stop anyone benefit.
Can you not access the internet anywhere other than your phone? Library local work club? What actions are on you JSAG or Commitment? When were you notified you had a job to start? Are you climing jsa C or IB?
to claim hardship you have to be in receipt of JSAIB. you will still be entitled to benfit prior to the suspension/disallowance so call your BDC to chase this.

ulz

i hate being on jobseekers my sanction has just come to a end they left me with no money no food absolute crap hate it

topaztiger1983

I am going to have to claim hardship today as the JCP have sanctioned us as my partner forgot to sign back from holiday, but she did not have to sign in the time that she was on holiday, I really wish I had not bothered putting a holiday form in for her as this would not have happened

Anyway I am off to the JCP later (to have an argument, no doubt), to see if we can get hardship payments for the time we are sanctioned (until 01/07/2014), as I have to get food, electric, gas and pay top up on my rent so they can't leave me with no money until the sanction has ended, can they?

Not sure how much they will say that we are entitled to, but I am sure it will not be enough to cover all of our bills, but we will have to manage I suppose

So as many people say "Stupid Jobcentre", I swear its more like a jokeshop than a jobcentre these days

Horseunderwater

Ask for a food bank voucher while you're there, that would get you 3 days of food.
Has she now signed on? If not I would suggest that she goes with you. Be polite & do not shout at them.

topaztiger1983

She has signed on since the holiday and I will be polite, but it is hard when they give you a hard time, I have depression & CFS also, but I am not considered to be vunerable, as I am "able" to work

I am looking for work & I am currently doing a course through Potential 4 Skills to get a CSCS card so I can do some labouring work, as I say I am able to work as I can manage my symptoms with medication, so I want to work rather than claim benefits, but many employers won't employ me as I have CFS, in that case should I lie to a potential employer and say I have no medical conditions

I can't claim DLA as I am able to look after myself, although I get tired quickly, & I can manage my pain with medication, so I have to claim JSA

Sorry if I have gone a bit off topic, but I had to get that off my chest

@Horseunderwater: Thanks

p.s. I have not been to the JCP yet

missapril75

topaztiger1983 wrote: »

...."Stupid Jobcentre",.....

Probably better not to say stuff like that to them.

After all, they might wonder where the hardship is when a 'holiday' is involved. Of course it may not have been a week in Cannes for the film festival or something equally glamorous. :rotfl:

Horseunderwater

That's OK TopazT.
I too have a rare illness that is incurable & I am slowly getting back to being mobile agan so I do understand. Seems to be a long rocky road & some times the boulders seem so huge. But determination will get me there in the end.

topaztiger1983

@missapril75: when I say holiday, she went to see her family in Suffolk for 10 day, which her mother paid for in full, so no money was paid out by us, we cannot afford a proper holiday & we have not had a proper holiday in 4 years

@Horseunderwater: Thanks, & I hope you feel better soon, Determination is the key

Also I have been to JCP & they gave me a form, which I have filled in & returned to them along with a bank statement, & they said they would get back to me soon, so hopefully all is well