JSA stopped - appealing

princessdon

jamesfisher1989 wrote: »

I have been claiming for about 6 weeks - a fresh graduate on the scrap heap!

I have sent an appeal away with what I think is a decently argued letter, but I'm really not hopeful. I can deal with losing two weeks payments, it's not ideal but I'll live. The bit about not getting JSA after the sanction is lifted is worrying though. I'll need to speak to them. The annoying thing is they sent two letters to me - the first I opened said we've decided there is no need to sanction you, then I open the second one with this news!

I know I should have just said I had applied, but I think he saw my confused look when he asked if I'd applied because seeing it on the screen did jog my memory. So I'd been rumbled!

It is a ridiculous system though, for months you could go there having not applied for anything and just say 'Yes, I've applied for everything you've told me.' As I'm sure many people do.

Definitely appeal (not sure if will do any good but morally I'd do the same). Yeah - the reason I aksed was if you had been on JSA for 5 years or so I'd probably not be as harsh, but 6 weeks for me personally makes it very unfair indeed.

ALIBOBSY

morganedge wrote: »

If they were to stop your JSA, what do they expect you to live on out of interest?
I've always wondered about that.
I know they wont let you starve, so what is the procedure?

You can apply for hardship allowance where they pay a reduced amount of JSA and as I understand it this can be applied for even if you appeal.

Ali x

jamesfisher1989

The actual job itself was probably unsuitable for me anyway - it was an administrator role with the police, asking for admin experience, strong IT knowledge etc. Don't think my rudimentary grasp of Excel/Outlook would have cut the mustard!

..And don't get me started on my Housing Benefit claim, it went through on about the 22nd June I think and I've still not received anything. Having to go through a nightmarish level of paperwork and general bureaucracy. I sometimes think they hope I'll just give up after having to face another poorly worded form! It's getting backdated to the date I applied from I assume though (it better bloody be!)

If I didn't have savings, an interest free overdraft and a supportive family I really would be up !!!! creek....

missapril75

It does seem harsh to sanction but at the same time, people posting here seem to have been sanctioned more for less.

If the printer is shared, it's entirely possible to be missing some details. It doesn't seem unreasonable to me to expect prints for all jobs referred for.

I used to count how many I'd referred people for and make sure the prints matched, reprinting if necessary. But colleagues didn't.

If I'd referred someone for 6 or 7 jobs and there was just one they hadn't applied for I'd not refer them for a sanction. Aside from just not having the time because interview targets meant there was no time for anything outside of an interview, the guy at our office receiving submissions used to find the most ridiculous questions to ask people - more work, more delays - and sent referrals back and there was even less time. Unless you blocked out some interview spaces. But then you'd miss your interview targets.

jamesfisher1989

So would my advisor actually have had to refer me for sanction? He said that obviously as I admitted I hadn't applied he had to mark that on the system. He basically made it out like he didn't want to but had to, I believe his words were something like 'unfortunately I can't get away with lying to the system.'
Could he have marked me as having not applied, but not had to refer me for sanction?

missapril75

jamesfisher1989 wrote: »

So would my advisor actually have had to refer me for sanction? ....
Could he have marked me as having not applied, but not had to refer me for sanction?

I can't speak for now - there have been some changes in the last few years - but there was something I could record that meant it went no further.

I wouldn't be surprised if some discretion/advisor autonomy had been removed.

Voyager2002

James: I am sure that the letter about NI means that once the two weeks is over, they will not be able to pay you CONTRIBUTIONS-BASED JSA. You will then be in the same position as at present, since I assume that you have been receiving INCOME-BASED JSA.

I think that you have a fairly strong case for appealing against the sanction by saying that you were concentrating on making strong applications for the other jobs for which you were given the details. And perhaps during the fortnight in question you were also looking for graduate opportunities through other sources and working hard on applications for those? If so, that would also be worth mentioning. And you should also mention that you knew you did not have the required skills and experience for the police job, and so decided to concentrate on more promising opportunities.

jamesfisher1989

Ah, thanks for that, makes more sense now, assuming you're correct. Terrible wording by them though.
Well, I have just have to wait and see. I think in the Jobcentre's myopic view of things they will just see it as me not applying for everything I should, but hopefully they'll take on board my points. Highly doubt it though.
I've got a decent sized backdated payment through for Housing Benefit though so I'll live for now


EDIT - and yeah, in the two weeks most of my efforts have gone into jobs I've found myself. Whenever I mention them the advisor barely registers it. As long as you're applying for what he tells you he couldn't care less about my job searches. I didn't expect much when I first started claiming, but it quickly becomes apparent they are basically administrators. I had to explain to one of them the concept of a 'graduate scheme.' I don't know how you can ostensibly be employed to help others find work and not know at least a tiny amount about the graduate job market.

princessdon

good luck - I rarely subscribe to the "feeling in my water" that my beloved gran claims - but from your posts I can't see you signing on for long. I'd fight this sanction out of principle personally.

recoverydust

You can ring and ask for a reconsideration by a decision maker. They can do the same with ESA refusal before it goes to appeal. You will need to be persistent and ask for a call back if necessary. It helps if a "professional" rings for you.
This is NOT fair and increasingly benefit support agencies are hearing of underhand ways that people are being sanctioned. There is a lot of pressure on the staff and the JCP unions are vocal about the invidious position staff are put in.
Put your case calmy, explain as you have here and you are likely to get a result. Let us know how it goes
As for the other - you need to ask the DWP for clarification, their letters are notoriously badly put.
Assuming that you are unemployed, dont live with a wage earner and have no more than £6000 and are looking for work then you are entitled to £71 for as long as it takes you to get a job, go training, emigrate or just sign off cos its naff.
You are entitled to contributory benefit for six months irrespective of financial situation more or less, so long as you have the correct range of NI payments
good luck