Handing in your notice

Pollycat

grummps wrote: »

Why don't the JC or the helplines advise people as to what their options are?

Did she tell them what her circumstances were?

grummps

Pollycat wrote: »

Did she tell them what her circumstances were?

Yes she told them that she thought that it wasn't fair that we should have to shoulder all of the care for her children. We didn't mind, but to be honest it was hard work.

She also told them that she was desperate to find another job that would allow her to look after her own children.

I don't know what they said to her, but I do know that they told her that she had to claim JSA.

She eventually received a couple of payments but then they stopped and she received a letter telling her that her claim had been sanctioned due to leaving her job without a good enough reason. As I said, it was 13 weeks before she started to get anymore money.

grummps

Caz3121 wrote: »

If your daughter is a single parent, she could have claimed Income Support instead of JSA as she has a child under 5. This means she does not have to sign on and there would have been no sanction

I have just had a look at the IS rules and yes she could have claimed it instead of JSA. However as she is now signing on and looking for a job, there doesn't seem to be any reason to change it bearing in mind that there is no financial advantage.

She has been told that she is going to have to go on some work scheme or something shortly, which puts us back in the same position of having to look after 3 children all day with no no financial help or support from anybody being available to us.

Pollycat

grummps wrote: »

Yes she told them that she thought that it wasn't fair that we should have to shoulder all of the care for her children. We didn't mind, but to be honest it was hard work.

She also told them that she was desperate to find another job that would allow her to look after her own children.

I don't know what they said to her, but I do know that they told her that she had to claim JSA.

She eventually received a couple of payments but then they stopped and she received a letter telling her that her claim had been sanctioned due to leaving her job without a good enough reason. As I said, it was 13 weeks before she started to get anymore money.

It sounds like she saw an advisor who didn't really know their job.

I came across one of these recently whilst helping a friend out with her benefit claim.

It shouldn't really be necessary but as far as possible you need to do your own research into benefit entitlement before you see an advisor.

just_trying

Well, perhaps your daughter would be better claiming income support just now since she fits the criteria. She can still look for work which suits her but she wont be forced to go on the work programme. I don't understand why she was left with no money she should have claimed hardship allowance as she has dependants.

grummps

Pollycat wrote: »

It sounds like she saw an advisor who didn't really know their job.

I came across one of these recently whilst helping a friend out with her benefit claim.

It shouldn't really be necessary but as far as possible you need to do your own research into benefit entitlement before you see an advisor.

Personally I don't think that that is reasonable. When you ask questions of someone that is supposed to know what they are talking about - hence the ' help line' you do expect to get an answer that is both correct and complete.

Is it getting to the point of having to do your own research and you think you have the right answer, but that is not the answer you get from the JC? Who is right? Did we ask the right questions?

Should we all diagnose our own illnesses from the internet and see what answer the GP comes up with?

Who can you trust or rely on if you have to have this carry on?

grummps

just_trying wrote: »

Well, perhaps your daughter would be better claiming income support just now since she fits the criteria. She can still look for work which suits her but she wont be forced to go on the work programme. I don't understand why she was left with no money she should have claimed hardship allowance as she has dependants.

She's got used to JSA now and besides which she is hoping that with the help that has been promised her by the JC - courses, training, on job experience etc she will stand a better job finding a job than if she claimed IS.

She asked about some emergency money, but it was turned down after they asked her how she was managing to live. She told them that we were funding her rent, council tax and day to day living expenses both for her and the grandchildren.
They said that she had other resources and wasn't entitled to any state assistance.

Pollycat

grummps wrote: »

Personally I don't think that that is reasonable. When you ask questions of someone that is supposed to know what they are talking about - hence the ' help line' you do expect to get an answer that is both correct and complete.

I didn't say it was reasonable.
Yes, you do (and should) expect to get an answer that is both correct and complete.
I said it shouldn't really be necessary to do your own research - but both my and your daughter's experience seems to indicate otherwise.

grummps wrote: »

Is it getting to the point of having to do your own research and you think you have the right answer, but that is not the answer you get from the JC? Who is right? Did we ask the right questions?

If your own research tells you one thing and a DWP advisor tells you differently then you seek clarification from another source.

grummps wrote: »

Should we all diagnose our own illnesses from the internet and see what answer the GP comes up with?

I'm sure some people do so that.
I'd rely on a doctor's diagnosis (given the number of years qualification required and probable length of time in the job) more than a DWP employee.

grummps wrote: »

Who can you trust or rely on if you have to have this carry on?

Yourself
Directgov website
Turn-to-us website
CAB