Fear of JSA being stopped.

Rainlight

Today I'd seen my adviser first time (made my claim on 19th November), and he made a referral to me to go to an interview out of town a little distance away.

I don't mind the distance anywhere long as it's with 2 hours distance even though my agreement says I need to look for work within 1 hour and 30minutes where I live but I usually like to look further still.

Now I rely solely on public transport as I don't have a license of any kind I've never felt I've needed one yet atleast, now the cost of the trip to where they expect me to go is £2.50 there and then ANOTHER £2.50 back which totals £5, that might not be a lot of money but in the end in my situation it is.

I haven't been paid once at all since leaving Carers alowance and I have no money at all literally NOTHING because my grandmother passed away and it dropped a lot of money issues on my family so I happily gave them the rest of my Carers allowance payments,
The adviser knows I haven't been paid yet because I've told him that already and he STILL expects me to go there? I mean seriously?

I didn't argue with him I was myself just calm and polite and smiled throughout, but when I left I started to feel horrible and worried, the interview I "have" to go to is THIS Wednesday, my first payment is "expected" as someone said to be on Thursday so it's virtually impossible to go because my father I live has no money coming in himself yet for atleast till after Christmas.

I'm not the ordinary job seeker, I've been on once before a long time ago when I was 18 till 19 and now I'm currently 20 years old, I have to fill my booklet with 3 things per week minimum but I ALWAYS fill mine up with more steps between 7 and 10 things each week, I hate the image that everyone on JSA just lays around because I'm not and a lot of others out there aren't and are equally good people as well.

I have no idea what's going to happen when I can't go on Wednesday, I don't feel like eating right now to be honest I'm that worried, I always give an do 110% of my best and now I'm terrified what's going to happen.

What am I supposed to do when/if I get some kind of sanction for it? How am I supposed to help bring in money and help feed my parents and then myself?

I'm suppose to pay digs as it's called to my father when money comes in and I actually want to do that as a way of thanks for giving me a roof over my head, but if it doesn't come in soon I don't know what's going to happen to me or anything.

The JobCentre are supposed to be there to help and all they've done is make me feel miserable and useless, I don't want to go Christmas starving or be without a home, I want to be able to get money in to feed my family, i would like a job if it's possible before Christmas even though there's a slim chance of that happening I still hope and look for work no matter what.

I don't know what to do with any of this or what to do if I'm sanctioned for something way out of my control

miduck

Is the referral to a WP provider? If so, they may be able to reimburse your fares. You would need to pay the £2.50 to get there, but they would then give you £5 to cover both journeys. Give them a call to ask if they will do this.

johnsons_baby

Ask at the job centre about travel expenses, when I went to my losn parent interview (I claim income support) they have said they will give travel warrants to get you to/from an interview or they will reimburse you, but do ask what help is available for you. Good Luck!

princessdon

So you have given your father/family your CA and you also need money to feed them and you?

Why did you give them all your money if you have nothing, can they not give you money or loan you it temporarily.

FBaby

You don't have one family member/friend who would be prepared to loan you £5 or if that's so bad, don't you have anything that you could sell them for that amount, just before Christmas?

Sorry if I am naive, but is finding £5 to insure you get £70 a week (or even better a job) really that hard?????

UKGuy

If the Jobcentre are the ones sending you for the interview then demand a travel warrant from them for the travel costs!

BigAunty

If you are struggling to put food on the table, look into a food bank. They are used to seeing people on benefits who aren't on top of their basic bills, like groceries, or who have experienced a sudden drop in income. You may need to be referred to them by a third party, such as Citizens Advice or similar. Google to see if there are any food banks in your area and what their criteria is to be able to collect a bag of groceries from them. The main one is Trussel trust but there are usually lots of other independent ones often run by charities or churches.

Rainlight

Thanks for informing me about food banks I had no idea anything like that even existed and I'll definitely look into that.

No it isn't a WP Provider it's Just your average ordinary temp warehouse position, I hear a lot of bad things about those types of jobs but hey to me some work is better than no work.

I care more for others than myself always it's just in my nature so naturally I gave my family the money when they needed it.

I have friends but not any that would give me even £2.50 let alone £5, they are tight themselves most of them paying off student loans an a few have kids to feed and I can't ask them for it because I wouldn't want to put them and their children at risk for food for themselves when they struggle already.

Naturally I would claim for fare back but you need proof of already paying for the trip to actually claim it back so I can't even do that which in effect is stupid when they know I need it to get to the interview and don't even have it to begin with ._.

RAS

Go to the job centre tomorrow and explain. They may be able to give you a travel warrant to get you to the interview.

jobseeking_help

Rainlight

Agree with all the previous posts - it's usually better to do something than nothing.

Hopefully you can contact the jobcentre / adviser and explain the situation. Often at a first interview the adviser hears your situation and then is so keen to help that they forget.

You could also contact the employer and explain the situation.

If you really cannot get to the interview because you have not yet received JSA ( and JSA is specifically for that purpose ) then it is unreasonable to expect you to travel. But do what you can beforehand to warn the adviser and or employer that you will not be able to attend.

Travel warrants / travel to interview may not be forthcoming if the interview is not outside your expected travel radius.

All the best

ditzyat50

Rainlight wrote: »

I didn't argue with him I was myself just calm and polite and smiled throughout, but when I left I started to feel horrible and worried, the interview I "have" to go to is THIS Wednesday, my first payment is "expected" as someone said to be on Thursday ....


..............., I don't feel like eating right now

What am I supposed to do when/if I get some kind of sanction for it?

The JobCentre are supposed to be there to help and all they've done is make me feel miserable and useless....

I don't know what to do with any of this or what to do if I'm sanctioned for something way out of my control

First of all if you can't face food, drink milk. It's a food in itself. Do not make yourself ill. The job centre staff just want to get you into work because that is their job. You are just another number to them so please do not take anything too personal and definitely do not let anyone make you feel useless because you are not!

How about ringing the interviewer to ask if you can be seen after Thursday? Be enthusiastic but apologetic. Many times enthusiasm can outweigh a list of qualifications.

And lastly, there is totally no point in worrying about being sanctioned because however much you worry it will not change the outcome. So on the off-chance it happens, then worry. And appeal. You have good cause.

Now go eat something. :xmassmile