Benefit Help

lilmissred

I suffered redundancy in January and have been looking for work ever since, while claiming JSA for the 1st time. I have however found that since becoming unemployed the benefit system does not really seemed to be geared to those that have worked since leaving school, have remained single and have chosen not to have kids.
Has anyone else found this?
I have found my local job centre very unhelpful (they have recently placed a sanction on my JSA for 13wks, which I have appealed against), and I have learnt over the last few days that i have been naive in thinking that working even part time hours, would be detrimental to me as i would not be able to claim working tax credit top ups?
Are there any benefits geared towards single, childless hard workers who now find themselves unemployed through no fault of their own??

Dunroamin

Why have you been sanctioned?

You can claim JSA, LHA/HB/SMI and CTB where appropriate.

lilmissred

I was given a vacancy by the job centre which i mistakenly thought was in a different location than it actually was. I included bus and metro timetables explaining my reason for not applying - ie - would have just over 90mins travel home, which would take me to nearly midnight and therefore did not feel safe.
Had the job centre had pointed out my mistake re the location of the job i would've applied, however they simply applied the sanction!
I have requested they reconsider this ASAP and have applied for hardship payment too

Edinburgh65

I too am a single working female with no children, but I didn't feel particularly maligned when I was claiming JSA for a few months, or find the jobcentre staff to be at all unhelpful. I certainly didn't feel penalised for being a singleton and childless, and nor would I expect any handouts to top up my current part-time salary.

Most single people are well practised at looking out for themselves, and tend not to rely on other people. Lots of us are very proud of our independence.

mynameistallulah

lilmissred wrote: »

I was given a vacancy by the job centre which i mistakenly thought was in a different location than it actually was. I included bus and metro timetables explaining my reason for not applying - ie - would have just over 90mins travel home, which would take me to nearly midnight and therefore did not feel safe.
Had the job centre had pointed out my mistake re the location of the job i would've applied, however they simply applied the sanction!
I have requested they reconsider this ASAP and have applied for hardship payment too

The sanction seems pretty justified - how did you get the location wrong?

missapril75

lilmissred wrote: »

I have however found that since becoming unemployed the benefit system does not really seemed to be geared to those that have worked since leaving school, have remained single and have chosen not to have kids.

I'm curious. What other experiences have you had to lead you to feel this?

I always found it more geared for this situation; Your living expenses plus rent if appropriate - ignoring whether it's enough of course.

No having to work X number of hours for an alternative; no variation on that if there's a partner; no joint claim complications; no caring responsibilities etc.

I don't mean that life's simple, just that there are loads of complications applying to benefit claims that won't come up for you. One only has to look at the questions on this forum to see the difficulties arising.

I have to say that sanction seems tough for just one non application. Maybe things have changed a lot in the 8 years since I left JC+.

Good luck with your challenge.