Help with Extended Payments Question please

Swanseajack

After 2 years out of work I have finally managed to find a job (:j) although the start date isn't until 1st October.

JCP have told me that I will get the Job Grant and the Extended Payments for HB and CTB. However, my understanding is that to get these three things you need to have been claiming continuously for 26 weeks. Now, even though I have been signing on for 2 years (and on IB JSA since Dec 2010), in April this year I took a week's holiday abroad and was honest about it and told JCP, I was made to sign off and then back on again when I returned from the States. Now, by my reckoning, from Mon 9 April, when my claim started again, to 1st October, when I am due to start work, is only 25 weeks.

Question: will this preclude me from getting the Job Grant and Extended Payments? (even though, in total, I have been signing on for two years, apart from this one week away).

Does anybody know if this will go against me and it will not be deemed to have been a continuous claim? I am really struggling with this, was very excited at propect of new job but this worry is putting a bit of a damper on it. Would I really need to try and put my start date back by a week just to get the payments?

Can anybody assist please?

pandaspot

You wouldn't qualify for an extended payment in hb and Ctb as your claim to jsa has to be continous with no breaks in it I am afraid

Mersey_2

I think that's right, although it would depend whether they closed your claim. I think a sanction may also prevent extended payments too though.

However, in cases where JCP closed claims in error, extended payments were given after reconsideration by a Decision Maker.

Also, a claim has to be closed for over 1 week, to trigger a change in LHA, but again, this is more relevant for JCP maladministration.

Swanseajack

Thanks guys, I though as much. My claim was definitely closed and opened up again - I remember thinking that the week's holiday wasn't worth the hassle of it all, little did I realise the future impact it may also have.

If I speak to my new employer (who I know quite well) and see if the start date can change to 8 October would that solve the problem? Therefore, from Monday 9 April (start of claim) to Monday 8 October (start of work) would be exactly 26 weeks. Would that then make me eligible for both Job Grant and Extended Payments?

Thanks

Swanseajack

Another aside....someone just told me that if it was a rapid reclaim after my week's holiday - which it was - then you start at the same place you left off with no break in claim.

Does this now make a difference do you think, or should i just change my start date by a week?

Thank you

pandaspot

As long as that shows on the dwp computer. Often with the rapid reclaims there is still a break showing. It doesn't matter say if it's the same benefit week ie stops Monday starts back up 2 days later on the Wednesday. But if there is a break saying Sunday it stops and opens back up the next day on the Monday that's considered a break in the week.

Benefit weeks run Monday -Sunday

Does that make sense?

Swanseajack

Hmm, sounds to me like I'm a bit stuck here, unless I change my start date by one week.

In terms of actual dates, I signed off on Tue 27 March, I left the country on Wed 28 March, I rang and did Rapid Reclaim on my return on Fri 6 April. The claim start date on my most recent paperwork shows as Mon 9 April.

Looks to me like I need that extra week to qualify...?

pandaspot

Yeah I would change your start date for work tbh. Least you will get the extended payment.

You could ring them and check if there is a break, either the jcp or hb dept will be able to check this for you

duchesspink1

wouldn't you be better to start work sooner rather than later as you'll earn a weeks wages which will most likely be more than the back to work grant?

your housing benefit is a different payment and will be a week behind your claim closing anyway

Mersey_2

duchesspink1 wrote: »

wouldn't you be better to start work sooner rather than later as you'll earn a weeks wages which will most likely be more than the back to work grant?

your housing benefit is a different payment and will be a week behind your claim closing anyway

A week's wages would never be more than the 4 weeks' extended HB & CTB.

I realise it would be more than the £100 Job Grant though.