Leaving benefits, don't sign off too early.

Mupette

I signed off esa last Monday, been trying to get to speak to someone who made sense for a few weeks, but was given the run around lots by the benefits agency who didn't have a clue from one department to the next about how i go about it.

One said a letter
one said no that was wrong, you go into your nearest JC +
another said that was wrong you ring a special number, but they didn't know what it was.

Finally was told on the phone ESA helpline that they can do it there and then,

Last Monday i sign off as i started my new job yesterday, and i knew once i start work, wouldn't be able to make contact or be in a fit state to do so out of working hours.

Today i should of received my final esa payment, checked bank, it was not there.

fortunately i had time to ring esa before i went to work to be told...

I signed off tooooo early, it was flagged up, but no one picked it up, not a sorry, but more of an implication that it was my fault for signing off too early, not that someone failed to pick this up at the right time.

No one told me there was a 8 day limit

so just letting people know if you are signing off because of a new job etc, don't do it too early, otherwise you are the one who has to do all the chasing up again.

fortunately, nice lady on the phone today, explained that i would not be able to receive calls in working hours but if someone would be so kind to leave me a voice mail letting me know what has been done to correct this..

had a voice mail left a few hours later, informing me all had been corrected, minus any back to work additions i had filled in forms for..

But at least i got the final payment. :T

[Deleted User]

hows the new job going?

Mupette

my feet hurt..... i mean really hurt, so bad last night i bought some ballet shoes, stupidly thinking they would be easier but my feet are swollen

lots of walking from one part of the building to the other because of building work, i didn't realise how huge this company is. break times is when you do the walking to get out the building. I've very slow walking as it is, but right now apart from the usual pain from walking i have agonizing painful feet

training for the next month and that is going good, as in i can understand it.

Everyone is kind to us newbies.

It will get better as its full time for a month for training, then i will have my 4 hour shift which will be a lot easier, so trying very hard to stick with it.