Redundant - forced to sign on?

Valli

bodmil wrote: »

Is there any other way? My company went into administration last week and so I've been told that my unpaid salary and holiday pay needs to be claimed from the government pot. Because of this, I have to sign on, if I don't, any benefits I would have been entitled to are taken away from any awarded salary.

Rightly or wrongly, I am absolutely loathing the whole process of involving the government in my financial and work affairs. I don't suppose there is there anyway to avoid this process and still be awarded my outstanding salary?

But they already are - assuming you've been paying Tax and NI to date;)

bodmil

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ian103

that was my experience which is why I didn't bother. It feels that you would be better to fritter away all you earn, get a large amount of debt and then they may help. The second time I was made redundant through the business going into administration I didn't even bother trying to sign on.

Valli

bodmil wrote: »

You assume correctly, although it's rather a different matter having a rude woman ask me every single account balance, my savings planning strategy, my pension details, the current status of my relationships etc. I've done nothing wrong, I have worked hard and saved for such a situation and the impression I clearly got was that the more money I proved to have the more she berated me!

I just would have imagined there being a slightly different route, if you are obliged to 'go on benefits' due to a technicality as I see it.

With all due respect then grow a pair - you are perfectly entitled to support; you don't have to accept being spoken to like that - change the system from inside.
I would (and have) been utterly polite but also utterly professional in my minimal dealings with the DWP. IMO they are so geared to dealing with those they perceive as scroungers that they cannot see anyone as actually being a 'service user' and dealing with them properly.
And if you are spoken to in an inappropriate manner then point it out.

They are civil servants. Some of them need to be both civil and servile.

BobQ

On the one hand I can appreciate that working in a benefits office dealing with all and sundry and being abused on occasions is not the most enjoyable of jobs. On the other you are simply accessing your entitlement.

I agree with you that if you are claiming something that is not means tested its unfair to have to be put to the trouble and expense of providing "evidence" that is not material to your claim since its an entitlement. But I presume they are preparing the ground for the point at which you cease to be entitled to the non-means tested benefits or assessing whether you may be entitled to other benefits.

I think you should not be so sensitive about disclosing the information. I do not know if you have ever been assessed by HMRC. Its no different there where you can be asked for all financial information.

I would take the attitude that you are reporting to the DWP to claim something you are entitled to receive. Politeness costs nothing for you and they should treat you with respect. Its not like you are pleading for something that you may not be entitled to.

Also I agree its important to keep up your NI stamps.

Elvisia

I know signing on is not only unpleasant but it's very intrusive; however you'll get the money you're owed and JSA, so I used to see the time I spent going there and applying for all the jobs they wanted me to apply for as just hourly work they were paying me for by giving me my JSA. Then once I had completed all their tasks I would spend what I classified as my own time looking for jobs that I actually wanted and was likely to get!

I really wish the JC employed proper job hunters, so you could go and see an advisor who is actually trained properly in getting people into work. Otherwise they say "let's find some jobs for you" and they enter in your job search term and then ask you why you can't do the jobs it brings up. For example in my past I was a TV researcher so the advisor puts in 'researcher' which I said was too wide for a search term - the first job was a researcher in a chemistry lab in a university which needed a chemistry PhD and mine is in English, I was told to apply for even though I barely passed chemistry GCSE! I did it, got my JSA, and then applied for proper jobs.

Mojisola

bodmil wrote: »

But if JSA is non-means tested for 6 months, why do I have to give out all of my financial details just to get what I have already worked for?

This is a reasonable question. If you are entitled to contribution-based JSA, there's no need for anyone to know anything about your finances other than to confirm you have paid NI for the relevant period.

ILW

What have you got to hide?

meer53

What sort of environment would you like it to be ? Nice leather sofas and coffee machines and a selection of sandwiches ?

If you want to be paid what you're owed, then you don't really have much choice.

paulmapp8306

Depends on your circumstances - but could be a waste of time signing on.

In my case I wont get Contribution based JSA - because it ISNT contribution based. If you have income (like a pension) and savings - it effects if and what you get. In my case I get nothing

The jobcenter has NO means of finding you employment as my wife found out. She went for help knowing she wouldnt qualify for any benefits but neede the help. She didnt get any help really - just a list of places to look, all of which she was already using. They made her feel terrible when she had to miss an appoinment due to our daughter being sent home with a temperature - they threatened her and got quite nasty on the phone. Even when she asked what they could do as she didnt actually receive any benefits they were still nasty. I ended up making a fromal complaint.

Upshot - research what you will be entitled to, and what you wont (your wages arnt owed to you by the government, but by the company now defunct. You may have to jump though hoops to get those wages - or register as being owed by the company and taking your chances there).