JSA And Funeral Attendance

dseventy

If this funeral is so important to you, why not just go? If its that important to your friend, mentioned on the death-bed, and clearly means a lot to you, your friend and his mother, whats the issue?

If you do go, you will loose some of your JSA payment and jepordise your NHS programme.

If you earned your own way and had a job, you could take Annual Leave, special leave, whatever.

As you don't, and are reliant on the state, you have a decision to make.

What would your friend say knowing your dilemma? Would your friend (or his mum) knowing your reliance on the state and their rules (right or wrong) not understand if you could not go?

Decision, decisions...
.

D70`

Cate1976

First off (((((HUGS))))) to you for the death of your friend's Mum.

In your situation I'd be going to Citizens Advice, if I've understood the situation correctly JCP have made you use some of the 2 weeks holiday leave for some of your days having the day surgery? If so I don't think that's right so you might have a couple of days holiday leave left.

Regarding going to the funeral of your friend's mum and by the sound of it you were close to her so I'd say go and that leaves you 3 options:

1) If the time of the funeral and train times allow it get an ESA90 which will allow you to sign on at the JCP nearest to where the funeral is.

2) If your JCP won't give you the form, go to Citizens Advice and expalin the situation saying that although it's your friend's Mum who has passed away, you were close as well and that she mentioned you on her deathbed. CAB will be able to sort something out for you.

3) Not sign next Friday and on the Monday explain all to the decision maker showing evidence.

Even if your JCP won't give you the ESA90, I'd still go to JCP nearest to where the funeral is and explain situation to them, they will be able to do a search on jobs where you're looking for work. If you do this, then if you've had to do option 3, it'll show that you've still looked for work even on the day of being at the funeral of a close friend.

Don't know what others think of my suggestions?

dookar

Cate1976 wrote: »

Don't know what others think of my suggestions?

3 might work.

bazza5070

How much holiday have you had? Under certain circumstances you are not tied to the 14 days they try to tell you that you can have. Also if you have missed appts to attend hospital etc that should not matter at all, if you have proof of hospital attendance etc you would be excused from your JCP appt and re-booked at another time, you should not have to use 'holiday' for this.

Sounds to me that your JCP is the kind that gives the rest of us a bad name, we are there as public servants to help people such as yourself, sometimes we have to be what would be deemed harsh but we do look at each situation on its own merits. If you were signing with me it would be no problem at all.

Probably your best bet is to Fail to Attend and take your chances with the decsion maker, however if they side against you it will cost you a weeks money or if you have 'offended' before it will be 2 weeks. The other option is as you said, sign off and do a rapid next week, but again it will delay your money.

Best of luck :beer:

Cate1976

So I'm right in saying that OP's JCP shouldn't have taken time for medical apppointments from the 14 days holiday entitlement?

IF OP goes for my #3, my advice would be to still go to JCP nearest to where the funeral is in the hope that that will help when OP is in front of DM on the Monday after. My hope being that DM will see that OP has at least been to JCP and done a job search on the day of the funeral of someone close to them. JCP nearest funeral might be able to access OP's records and put a note on.

I don't know the rules so am suggesting things I can think of which will hopefully avoid OP losing any money or if they do, losing as little as possible.

I still think OP needs to go to CAB regarding the time for medical appointments being taken from holiday leave.

bazza5070

Yes you are right, if you have a medical appointment and have proof we would just re-book your appt for a different time or the next day. This is not just in my JCP that is the guidelines.

Cate1976

So OP's JCP has broken the guidelines?

Elvisia

I would also send a letter to your local MP, because this is really disgusting. It could have been that your friend's mother was like a mother to you, and since this just involves a bit of fiddling on their part so you can sign on another day it seems unfair. The MP probably won't be able to do anything in time, but they will forward your letter to the JC manager who will get in trouble. I wasn't allowed to change a signing on day (I wanted to come a few hours late) as I had a job interview - even brought in the written evidence - and was told a flat "no" too. When I said I might actually get a job I was told they couldn't change the apt time. It amazes me sometimes how these people operate.

I know they're benefits and we have to jump through hoops but this does seem very unfair.

Cate1976

Due to circumstances I've signed at JCP's in 5 different towns, 4 out of the 5 were really friendly. The exception was Broad Street in Birmingham. To start off with the layout was such that you couldn't do your job search while waiting in queue to sign on. Staff could have been friendlier or a bit more polite. Part of my feelings could have been that I wasn't in a good place emotionally so the slightest thing would knock my confidence.

bazza5070

It may be that the OP has had to take 'time off' or move appointments quite a lot in a short space of time, the JCP animal is by design a very suspicious creature, however, over time we do get to know our 'regulars' quite well.

I love my job and get a kick out of getting someone back into work or helping them through a difficult time, when someone comes back to the JCP to thank you for your help and sometimes just to thank you for listening, it makes the job worthwhile.

I am fortunate to work in quite a small JCP that is staffed by genuine professional people, it appears from some of the posts on here that it is not the case at a lot of JCPs around the country.

If the OP is going to a funeral they really should just let her go, I would do this for even the most obnoxious clients I deal with. We are not there to judge how close they are to family or friends, if they are lying it generally comes out in the wash further down the line.