JSA And Funeral Attendance

JustJinny

I have just been told that my friend's mother has passed away. I was requested to attend the Funeral. I agreed, and my friend was very audibly relieved, as apparently his mother mentioned me on her deathbed.

It wasn't until I had put the phone down, that I realised that her Funeral falls on my JSA sign on day. I have been looking online, and even posted on another forum about this - but can't find anything like 'compassionate leave' for Funerals, when you sign on - just the 2 days for times like you are sick, or go on holiday in the UK. I no longer have these available to me.

I can't sign on in the morning, and go to the Funeral, as I am in London, and the Funeral is in Hull. I wouldn't get there in time.

Also, I am on the NHS Prescription To Exercise programme, and this says that I am to attend 8 weeks of twice weekly exercise in the gym. At the time of being booked in, I was told, if I miss one day, then it will jeopardise my place in the programme, and I really want to continue. However, I am more worried about the JSA, as with the Gym, I will simply see if I can swap days and go the day before.

Does anyone know the score with JSA and Funerals?

rogerblack

I vaguely recall there is specific permission only for funerals of close family.
Relatives of friends would not count.
I wonder if it's possible to simply sign off for that one day, and then rapid reclaim afterwards.

stroodes

A boy I worked with 19-20, his foster mother died, he was no longer being fostered but had an attatchment to said lady, was told no chance of time off from work to attend funeral.
Disgusting I think but it is what it is.

kizzie_nikita

If you tell the job centre you're going to a funeral, they will let you off, heard it happen many a time.

missapril75

There always used to be a system where you could go to another job centre and sign there as being unable to get back for regular signing. Form ES90?

It resulted in a late payment but it kept everything going. A quick google shows a few results on it.

Alternatively going in next day, say you couldn't get back and why.

JustJinny

I rang up the DWP, and also dropped in to my Job-centre to confirm. They both said a flat "No!". They said as it wasn't a family member, or a friend, then under the JSA Rules and Regulations, even if I could prove I was still looking for work, and had attended the Funeral, that I was not able to go, and was expected to attend to sign the random bit of paper I usually end up signing, because they keep losing my unit, as usual, without exception, on the day of the Funeral. The 'helpful' Jobcentre lady even entered my visit and query on my notes, so they would know why if I didn't turn up, and stop my money. I am so upset! Wish I'd just lied to them all, even though I don't have any sick or holiday days left over, as they were used for day surgery appointments - which I appealed, and failed to overturn their decision to do that.

I asked about signing at a different centre, and was told that this was not possible under these circumstances. I guess it simply does not pay to be honest and tell the truth, these days!

Anyone know of anywhere that would take on immediately, a disabled Customer Service/Admin person, with a strong work ethic, and excellent and provable reputation for helping people and solving problems, but who has memory issues, PTSD, and Aspergers, and who needs time out of work, for therapy appointments to deal with memory issues, and PTSD, anywhere in London?????


Thanks for all your replies anyway. Now to break the news to my friend...

bazza5070

You have been told complete rubbish!!!!

If it is a close family member it should be deemed as a Domestic Emergency, excused attendance and an appointment to sign booked for your return.

If it is just a friend etc you can complete an ES674 'Going on Holiday in Great Britian' form (I know its not a holiday but it just means 'going away'), as long as you state you are still Actively Seeking Work and are able and willing to return immediately should a job offer be forthcoming there will be no problem.

If your JCP tell you that you cannot do this ask to speak to the JCP Manager and get him to check his guidance. We are specifically told not to challenge people who say they are going to a funeral, it is common courtesy and good Customer Service, and after all, Customer Service is our business! :j:beer:

lowlitmemory

JustJinny wrote: »

I rang up the DWP, and also dropped in to my Job-centre to confirm. They both said a flat "No!". They said as it wasn't a family member, or a friend, then under the JSA Rules and Regulations, even if I could prove I was still looking for work, and had attended the Funeral, that I was not able to go, and was expected to attend to sign the random bit of paper I usually end up signing, because they keep losing my unit, as usual, without exception, on the day of the Funeral. The 'helpful' Jobcentre lady even entered my visit and query on my notes, so they would know why if I didn't turn up, and stop my money. I am so upset! Wish I'd just lied to them all, even though I don't have any sick or holiday days left over, as they were used for day surgery appointments - which I appealed, and failed to overturn their decision to do that.

I asked about signing at a different centre, and was told that this was not possible under these circumstances. I guess it simply does not pay to be honest and tell the truth, these days!

Not doubting you at all as I have no experience of these things... but if true (and I really hope you have been misinformed and are able to take the advice of the poster below) then this is truly disgusting. How inflexible can they be?! Why can you not just sign on on a different day?! You have my sympathies, for what it's worth. As for entering it on your notes... what happened to basic humanity?

busy_mom_2

Works both ways bazza5070 is correct and a domestic emergency can be done, provided you haven't already used up all four.
I was refused leave to attend a friends funeral, I had to take holiday leave and I work for JCP, one rule for one and one for another!

JustJinny

bazza5070 wrote: »

You have been told complete rubbish!!!!

If it is a close family member it should be deemed as a Domestic Emergency, excused attendance and an appointment to sign booked for your return.

If it is just a friend etc you can complete an ES674 'Going on Holiday in Great Britian' form (I know its not a holiday but it just means 'going away'), as long as you state you are still Actively Seeking Work and are able and willing to return immediately should a job offer be forthcoming there will be no problem.

If your JCP tell you that you cannot do this ask to speak to the JCP Manager and get him to check his guidance. We are specifically told not to challenge people who say they are going to a funeral, it is common courtesy and good Customer Service, and after all, Customer Service is our business! :j:beer:

Thank you so much for your reply.

With your information, I went back to the JCP, and was refused to speak to the Manager as he was busy. I asked to speak to the on duty Manager. I spoke with him, he looked at the system, typed in some stuff, read my notes, and then I was told that as it wasn't a friend - but a friend's mother, and as I also have no holiday entitlement left, or sick time left (due to the day surgery appointments), that they are really sorry but they cannot reschedule my Sign On day. It was a complete no and that was that, even though I offered to get a hold of copies of the funeral booking invoice, and her death certificate.

I asked him, if I could have a job there, as Disabled Employment Advisor - immediate start - but I have a prior 'holiday' booked for next Friday, to which I was told "Oh you're not even funny! We shall see you next Friday". And with that, he got up and left without even saying goodbye, and as he didn't come back after 8 minutes, I left too.

End result... it's still a no.

I very much appreciate your response though. I'm just tyring to decide whether I should just shut the claim completely on Friday morning, and rapid reclaim on Monday, and go through all that mess, and lose a day's money, or mess up the patterns, etc. Last time I had a rapid reclaim it took 8 weeks for them to unravel all the admin errors... and it's still not entirely sorted out...this was from Sept 2011. My JCP office is notoriously inefficient and very very very strict.

Thank you so much in taking the time to reply though. Very much appreciated.... Oh how I wish that you were my Advisor! Lol.

dookar

The staff in the job centre can decide if you may be excused attendance or not, although they're not very good at it.

So, they've made their decision, that you must attend. If you don't attend they don't get to decide whether your benefit is affected, that falls to a decision maker.

You will have good cause for attending the funeral of a close friend. When considering what is a close friend they will consider the depth of the friendship - being named on a person's deathbed would lend itself in your favour. If you tell them the deceased was a close friend and they accept that, your benefit will not be affected by your non attendance