Rapid reclaim. It's a big fat lie!

ditzyat50

The title says it all.. I have been declaring my part time hours but went over the 16 JSA hourly allowance. Told to do a rapid reclaim online. Twice as many questions as original claim. Took nearly 2 and half hours to complete. Meantime, my JSA adviser shut down my claim so any and all benefits flew out of the window and I'm now starting from scratch. Have to see new claims adviser and again take all the same paperwork. ID, CV, bank statements. I'm actually no better off financially by working part time and am trying to get off benefits. But at this moment in time I am feeling I have shot myself in the foot and there's not much incentive to work part time unless you have kids. From peedoff.com.

Horseunderwater

Are you not claiming for council tax and housing benefit? Sounds like you should qualify - obviously age does come into it. If you truly want to help yourself off benefits - you should be over 25 and work 30+ hours per week - this gets you working tax credit entitlement. When claiming JSA as you have found out - a part time job does not really help - there are some disregards involved, but it still very hard. Also the extra expense of travelling to/from the workplace, unless it is near enough to walk or cycle to - do you qualify for a job seekers bus pass? Some will do purely for income levels alone - worth asking.

busy_mom_2

Sounds like you didn't select the rapid reclaim option more like the full claim.

ditzyat50

busy_mom wrote: »

Sounds like you didn't select the rapid reclaim option more like the full claim.

I think you are right. The very first time I signed on I saw a rapid reclaim option, but this second time I did not see it. I don't know if I wasn't looking properly or that they changed it, but honestly it took soooooooo long with so many more additional questions. At the risk of sounding like I wanted to commit fraud, I wish I hadn't declare the extra hours.

busy_mom_2

This is causing problems JCP end as we have different slots for full claim and rapids, we have targets to see customers within a certain amount of days. We are finding lots of customers are being booked full claims instead of rapids, this is effecting how quick they are seen. i have raised this and told the contact centre book the claim that is selected online.

ArtoDeeto

Well if you go over 16 hours your claim has to shut - thank the government.
Two and a half hours sounds steep - must have messed up your day.