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Signing on for months but payments stopped without warning
polymath1
Posts: 6 Forumite
Hello there,
I've been in receipt of JSA for a few months now and everything has been fine. I had my payments paid into one of my mum's accounts, which she doesn't use anymore, because I haven't got one yet, after having worked abroad for a couple of years. At the time it seemed the easiest way to set up payments.
In March I had an unexpected inheritance come my way (£3600), which was paid into the same account. Being a bit lackadaisical with keeping up-to-date with my finances, I started living off the account balance, without keeping an eye on my JSA payments. This is why it has taken me until now to realise that my payments have stopped being paid into the account in May. I've been signing on without problems the whole time until now.
Once aware of the situation, I immediately tried to get to the bottom of the reason why my payments have stopped and to try to get the back payments paid. I have an inkling that the problem may be due to me having signed with a different office and due to the joys of government bureaucracy I may still be affiliated to that different location.
The only answer I could get from the Jobcentre Plus and DWP Canterbury PDC was, that the payments should not have stopped. I find, however, that no person wishes to take ownership of finding out why they were stopped and when I can expect any back payments. I have been passed from pillar to post and been promised 'call backs', which never happen. I have clearly been placed in the box marked TOO HARD TO DEAL WITH. I am at the end of my tether, not to say finances.
It seems nobody is able or willing to push my case along, or to tell me who I need to speak to or what I need to do.
Can anybody give me any advice how to resolve this? Is there an Ombudsman or some such? Do I need to make a complaint?
Also, how long could it take until I can reasonably expect resolution?
Has anyone else ever had similar experiences? If so, what happened?
Many thanks for reading.
Even more thanks for any suggestions.
Polymath1.
I've been in receipt of JSA for a few months now and everything has been fine. I had my payments paid into one of my mum's accounts, which she doesn't use anymore, because I haven't got one yet, after having worked abroad for a couple of years. At the time it seemed the easiest way to set up payments.
In March I had an unexpected inheritance come my way (£3600), which was paid into the same account. Being a bit lackadaisical with keeping up-to-date with my finances, I started living off the account balance, without keeping an eye on my JSA payments. This is why it has taken me until now to realise that my payments have stopped being paid into the account in May. I've been signing on without problems the whole time until now.
Once aware of the situation, I immediately tried to get to the bottom of the reason why my payments have stopped and to try to get the back payments paid. I have an inkling that the problem may be due to me having signed with a different office and due to the joys of government bureaucracy I may still be affiliated to that different location.
The only answer I could get from the Jobcentre Plus and DWP Canterbury PDC was, that the payments should not have stopped. I find, however, that no person wishes to take ownership of finding out why they were stopped and when I can expect any back payments. I have been passed from pillar to post and been promised 'call backs', which never happen. I have clearly been placed in the box marked TOO HARD TO DEAL WITH. I am at the end of my tether, not to say finances.
It seems nobody is able or willing to push my case along, or to tell me who I need to speak to or what I need to do.
Can anybody give me any advice how to resolve this? Is there an Ombudsman or some such? Do I need to make a complaint?
Also, how long could it take until I can reasonably expect resolution?
Has anyone else ever had similar experiences? If so, what happened?
Many thanks for reading.
Even more thanks for any suggestions.
Polymath1.
0
Comments
-
You have every right to complain.
See here on how to do it:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_benefits_introduction_ew/problems_with_benefits_and_tax_credits.htm0 -
Can I ask why were the payments not being made to your own bank account ? (Do you have one even ?) and
Did you tell them about the windfall ?
It maybe they have been informed of the £3600 and cancelled your claim.
Any more questions, please ask again !0 -
OP - Type www. into the address bar then writetothem.com (I can't post links - not enough posts) then enter your postcode, choose your MP, fill out the form and copy and paste your thread-starting post here to him or her and perhaps add a little to it to highlight more your utter frustration and financial worries incurred through no fault of your own.
The DWP can somehow summon the energy to do things at lightning speed when notepaper headed with House of Commons lands on their desk.
Don't fret about the £3,600 unless that together what savings you already had took you over £6,000 total.0 -
Can I ask why were the payments not being made to your own bank account ? (Do you have one even ?) and
Did you tell them about the windfall ?
It maybe they have been informed of the £3600 and cancelled your claim.
Any more questions, please ask again !
Not enough money to stop a claim.The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head. Terry Pratchett
http.thisisnotalink.cöm0 -
-
A different location?
Do you mean you have signed on twice?
It does not seem very wise to use your mother's account - once in her account the money is legally hers.
Could the DWP possibly be thinking that some kind of fraud is going on?0 -
BurnleyBob wrote: »OP - Type www. into the address bar then writetothem.com (I can't post links - not enough posts) then enter your postcode, choose your MP, fill out the form and copy and paste your thread-starting post here to him or her and perhaps add a little to it to highlight more your utter frustration and financial worries incurred through no fault of your own.
The DWP can somehow summon the energy to do things at lightning speed when notepaper headed with House of Commons lands on their desk.
Don't fret about the £3,600 unless that together what savings you already had took you over £6,000 total.
Yes, it is amazing how quickly the DWP responds to matters when addressed by an MP. I had an ongoing dispute which was very speedily resolved once my MP dashed a letter off to them.0 -
If they have not notified you in writing that your benefit is to stop, then they are not legally entitled to stop it.
(The letter may however been lost in the post)0 -
rogerblack wrote: »If they have not notified you in writing that your benefit is to stop, then they are not legally entitled to stop it.
(The letter may however been lost in the post)
But by law it is deemed to have been served two days after it was posted (even if you never get it).0 -
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