JSA NFA Proforma help please..

Gambini

Hi everyone. I wonder if someone could help me with my situation please?

I have been claiming JSA in a quiet part of the country of Wales for nearly six months, and visited Careers Wales to seek advice. I found a course in another part of Wales that I could sign up for, which would update my job skills and give me an up-to-date qualification in the ITP field.

Speaking with my jobcentre, they informed me that I would need to relocate to that district to get referred for this course, which made sense.

I found places to stay, though the persons I would be staying with did not want to be named for personal reasons. I was told by Jobseekers Direct that that would be fine and could use the Jobcentre address as a postal address.

I did the live transfer the next day after signing at the old jobcentre. Two weeks later I signed on without any problems. Three days after that when I would normally receive the benefit, I found that there were no funds in my bank account so I gave them a call. I was informed that I should have filled out an NFA Proforma before my allowance was released and I should have been given that on one of my previous visits. It wasn't a problem so I went into the jobcentre to pick up said form. Herein lies the problem...

The form wants to know where I have been staying, who lives there, where my belongings are being held, where to shower etc, etc. Understandable, except I have no details I can use.

What can I do?

Should I call Jobseekers and explain this?

I thank you in advance of any assistance you can give

jobseeking_help

Maybe it's different in Wales from England but Ive never heard of such a form.

You were given duff info, you cannot use a JCP office as a postal address. As far as the jobcentre is concerned there is no issue about JSA claimants being NFA. But you must have a care of address for post to be sent to. It does not have to an address you stay at nor within that JCP office area.

The main issue is with the BDC. If the BDC do not have a current postal address, post out to the old address and it is returned as not known / no longer at this address then the claim is closed.

It would be helpful to know if the JCP has formally refered you onto one of their contracted programmes or not and if the training is 16 or more contact hours p/w ( in JCP terms f/t )

missapril75

jobseeking_help wrote: »

Maybe it's different in Wales from England but Ive never heard of such a form.

I have. Standard procedure since at least the 1970s and in existence right through to when I left in 2004 and apparently continuing. It's used for establishing whether someone is no fixed abode/address (NFA) but could be living at different friends or was a person without accommodation (PWA).

Until 1988 an NFA living in other people's households was paid the non householder rate, whereas a PWA was paid a meals allowance which was a bit more.

From 1988 one might think it mattered less as the same rate applied whether one was a householder, NFA or PWA except when it came to premiums which were only due to someone with accommodation. (Someone signing on with DLA would qualify for the disability premium)

Obviously there could be other uses of the form affecting claims of other people.

You were given duff info, you cannot use a JCP office as a postal address.

People without accommodation sometimes have no address to give. Sometimes they might be able to use a drop in centre or something. Ever since the records were computer maintained an address had to be recorded and it was standard practice to use the address of the JC at which they were signing or the benefits office or if not signing on.

Decision letters and other mail had to be issued to somewhere and the job centre was the only choice for Personal Issue signers (those signing and collecting giros in person).

Now it may that Personal Issue claims no longer exist, but the JC could still be the only place where PWA's have regular contact and mail could still be issued and held in the JCs for issue on their signing days.

How else would they get their benefit related mail?

As far as the jobcentre is concerned there is no issue about JSA claimants being NFA. But you must have a care of address for post to be sent to. It does not have to an address you stay at nor within that JCP office area.

You're right about the NFA aspect (other than establishing the accommodation issue if Premiums would be involved) but it's not practical, for example, to have appointment letters going to the other end of the country if one doesn't get them timeously. Hence the practicality of using the JC address and holding/issuing them on the signing day.

But I suppose this part might have changed since 2004.

Gambini

Thanks for the responses folks.

It would therefore seem that a c/o address is irrelevant, I must provide information as to where I have been staying, and failure to provide this information will/has result/resulted in my benefit being withheld?

Would this be correct?

missapril75

The thing about the form is that it's trying to cover all possibilities, hence the very full details requested.

If you were temporarily with a brother, you'd answer one way; if you were sleeping behind bushes in the park and washing in the public toilets you'd be answering in a different way.

It sounds like you have people who are willing to put you up for short periods, so just say that.

If the job centre are okay with using their address then best to do so. Or maybe the course address? You don't want mail going to an address you just moved on from.

Gambini

Thanks missapril75, the problem is that I have no address to give them as the parties I am staying in do not wish their details to be known.

Would it be advisable for me to write this on another letter and submit this with the form?

missapril75

Gambini wrote: »

Thanks missapril75, the problem is that I have no address to give them as the parties I am staying in do not wish their details to be known.

Would it be advisable for me to write this on another letter and submit this with the form?

There's no right and wrong answer. Most people would probably accept that while others might think someone had something to hide.

If you were staying here for a few days and then there and then somewhere else...not knowing where you'd be in a few days time...there would be no point giving an address if you'd moved on by the time something was sent.

Whereas the job centre address or the training centre address is at least fixed for the duration.

Gambini

Hi all

The situation as it is now.

I completed the proforma at the jobcentre with an advisor who was savvy in these matters. The form was filled stating that my friends wanted to remain anonymous and that I would sign on a daily basis to show I was in good health etc. etc.

That was done on Monday and I have yet to have my payments, but they are still being processed according to an agent when I called the helpline this morning. I requested a same-day payment as I am now pretty much destitute.

Fingers crossed