£100 back to work is a joke

DanJacobs

I was a teacher of drums in a school for 2+ years, then one day I was told that the new assistant head of music is a drummer, so will be taking over my students.

I signed on for JSA, lived (and still do) by myself in a small flat with no chance of ever using the heating as it's electric and too expensive. Once i'd been claiming for 6 months I had to attend 'Job Club', which I did but hated, as I was trying very hard to obtain work, just without luck.

I then found a job at a major supermarket, but as the contract was for 12 hpw the JobCentre told me I'd have to keep signing on as I hadn't reached the 16 hpw needed to sign off. I was earning a little over £2 a week more than JSA, so therefor was not getting anything from the JobCentre, but had to fill in so many forms about how many hours I work, and on what days. I gave them all my original payslips etc etc

Then, as I was paying out money to get to work each shift, and financially worse off than someone claiming JSA I signed a new contract for 16 hpw. Off I went to the JobCentre to fill in all the necessary forms and signed off.

I read than a single person should get a one off £100 back to work grant, to pay for clothing, commuting etc, however I waited and waited and nothing. I then had to phone them (average 12 mins per call as the automated speel made me want to throw the phone out of the window each time, and every time they refused to speak to me because apparently I'd given them my postcode incorrectly (I knew I hadn't, but couldn't argue). In the end, after three attempts, they called me back and told me I wouldn't get the £100 as I was actually claiming anything at the time of signing off.

I was at this time cycling to work at 4:30 am, as I couldn't afford to tax my car, and ASDA had issued me with a £75 cancellation fee on the insurance, so I needed the money just to pay ASDA.

I explaied that I was told to keep signing on by a member of the JobCentre, and I'd rather not have signed on to be honest. I was then told that had I signed off when I first started work (12 hpw) I would have gotten the £100. The DWP then advised me to appeal against the decision, and that they'd send me the relevant forms.

So, I filled the forms in, and wrote a lengthy explanation as to why the whole matter was extremely unfair, and that I should have been told to sign off as soon as I started work, three weeks later I received a reply telling me that my appeal had been rejected on the grounds that the decision made by the DWP wasn't one that could be appealed.

I'm still working, after six months, but worse off than someone who doesn't - also I'm freezing cold, and it just doesn't seem fair.

pmlindyloo

DanJacobs wrote: »

I was a teacher of drums in a school for 2+ years, then one day I was told that the new assistant head of music is a drummer, so will be taking over my students.

I signed on for JSA, lived (and still do) by myself in a small flat with no chance of ever using the heating as it's electric and too expensive. Once i'd been claiming for 6 months I had to attend 'Job Club', which I did but hated, as I was trying very hard to obtain work, just without luck.

I then found a job at a major supermarket, but as the contract was for 12 hpw the JobCentre told me I'd have to keep signing on as I hadn't reached the 16 hpw needed to sign off. I was earning a little over £2 a week more than JSA, so therefor was not getting anything from the JobCentre, but had to fill in so many forms about how many hours I work, and on what days. I gave them all my original payslips etc etc

Then, as I was paying out money to get to work each shift, and financially worse off than someone claiming JSA I signed a new contract for 16 hpw. Off I went to the JobCentre to fill in all the necessary forms and signed off.

I read than a single person should get a one off £100 back to work grant, to pay for clothing, commuting etc, however I waited and waited and nothing. I then had to phone them (average 12 mins per call as the automated speel made me want to throw the phone out of the window each time, and every time they refused to speak to me because apparently I'd given them my postcode incorrectly (I knew I hadn't, but couldn't argue). In the end, after three attempts, they called me back and told me I wouldn't get the £100 as I was actually claiming anything at the time of signing off.

I was at this time cycling to work at 4:30 am, as I couldn't afford to tax my car, and ASDA had issued me with a £75 cancellation fee on the insurance, so I needed the money just to pay ASDA.

I explaied that I was told to keep signing on by a member of the JobCentre, and I'd rather not have signed on to be honest. I was then told that had I signed off when I first started work (12 hpw) I would have gotten the £100. The DWP then advised me to appeal against the decision, and that they'd send me the relevant forms.

So, I filled the forms in, and wrote a lengthy explanation as to why the whole matter was extremely unfair, and that I should have been told to sign off as soon as I started work, three weeks later I received a reply telling me that my appeal had been rejected on the grounds that the decision made by the DWP wasn't one that could be appealed.

I'm still working, after six months, but worse off than someone who doesn't - also I'm freezing cold, and it just doesn't seem fair.

You keep saying that you are 'worse off' than someone who is claiming JSA. How do you come to that conclusion?

Have you applied for Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit?

Vincent_Buenisedes

I think the Job grant is being stopped in April. Probably replaced by a "discretionary" scheme to help those back into work financially.

notanewuser

Why aren't you teaching drums privately?

DCFC79

Have you asked about extra hours at Asda, whether on the dept you work on or another dept.

DanJacobs

I've asked for more hours at work, not ASDA, but as there's about 30 of us all doing the same thing, overtime is rare.
I do receive a small amount of housing benefit, but every pound I earn is deducted from this.

Also, I'm not teaching drums privately because I've leafleted over 2,000 large detached houses with glossy leaflets and only received two enquiries from magazines asking if I'd like to spend hundreds on advertising. I also don't have anywhere to teach from, but will happily travel to students homes and teach on the kit they're used to playing on.

I feel so cursed, as I do put in an awful lot of effort, but nothing seems to work, and I'm always skint. I used to teach privately, as I had a studio, but since this recession hit a few years ago every student left as music lessons are a luxury. This meant that I got behind with the rent, I sold all my drum gear but it wasn't enough, and had to move into a tiny flat - not much more I could have done.

I try to look on the positive side, but there really isn't one at the moment

AP007

DCFC79 wrote: »

Have you asked about extra hours at Asda, whether on the dept you work on or another dept.

The didnt say he worked at ASDA

Beckym

I was told friday that there is a one off payment of £250 and in addition an extra £40 per week for the first year and that you are also entitled to Matalan vouchers to get your clothes for work!!!!
Did not ask to what value as was slightly left speachless!

AP007

Beckym wrote: »

I was told friday that there is a one off payment of £250 and in addition an extra £40 per week for the first year and that you are also entitled to Matalan vouchers to get your clothes for work!!!!
Did not ask to what value as was slightly left speachless!

you are not a single person then with no children?