Jobcentre monitoring of Amazon Accounts

Affynity

In spirit of the other comments, I would go in there and conditionally agree to disclose this information when they provide evidence of the legal framework entitling them to that information.

They need to be producing a web URL to a piece of legislation that is accessible and applicable to the present date and your circumstances.

You can't accept something like a letter, even with a dept. letterhead/watermark.

That being said, I can understand why it's daunting for you. The DWP have a very "be illegal first and see if we can overturn the law later" approach to sanctions and such.

SquiddlyDiddly

Thanks for all your comments.

I ws particularly interested by the FOI request stating that a claimant does not have to produce a bank statement and cannot be sanctioned.

I'm not sure why the Jobcentre is trying to make an example of me, but the advisor (who gets very angry and pointy-fingered with me) claims that he wants to see proof that I am not buying and selling on Amazon marketplace.

Well, in recent months I bought a present for my 81 year old father, a t-shirt for £2.99 and a 99p sim card for my NEA business plan. But I DID accept a free 90p mp3 music file from Amazon (the Te Deum by Tallis) which they gave me in order to encourage me to buy some mp3 files.

What is the betting that the Jobcentre will see the free Amazon mp3 file as undeclared income and sanction me for 4 weeks?

scooby088

First I have ever heard of this, I would be inclined to ignore the request and ask to see a manager and make a complaint.

Affynity

SquiddlyDiddly wrote: »

Thanks for all your comments.

I ws particularly interested by the FOI request stating that a claimant does not have to produce a bank statement and cannot be sanctioned.

I'm not sure why the Jobcentre is trying to make an example of me, but the advisor (who gets very angry and pointy-fingered with me) claims that he wants to see proof that I am not buying and selling on Amazon marketplace.

Well, in recent months I bought a present for my 81 year old father, a t-shirt for £2.99 and a 99p sim card for my NEA business plan. But I DID accept a free 90p mp3 music file from Amazon (the Te Deum by Tallis) which they gave me in order to encourage me to buy some mp3 files.

What is the betting that the Jobcentre will see the free Amazon mp3 file as undeclared income and sanction me for 4 weeks?

They're within their rights to investigate you if they had reason to believe you had an amazon marketing income and still claimed benefits.
But I would imagine an investigation would be conducted by a separate section of the JCP and not a generic advisor.
The most a FLA would possibly do is advise you of an investigation taking place.
I'm sorry to hear you have a misanthrope for an advisor. People like that have no business working with other people.

AP007

SquiddlyDiddly wrote: »

What is the betting that the Jobcentre will see the free Amazon mp3 file as undeclared income and sanction me for 4 weeks?

How? That's the same as a mate buying you a coffee. Its a freebie.

SquiddlyDiddly

Affynity is right.

I visited the local Citizen's Advice this morning, and they said the Jobcentre were within their rights to ask to see my Amazon receipts, if they suspect I've been trading on Amazon marketplace (which I haven't).

However, they also said the advisor's behaviour was unacceptable and that I could ask for another advisor if I submit a request in writing first.

Apparently some JSA claimants who are on the 8 week NEA business plan scheme have been caught out trading on Amazon before they've been accepted onto New Enterprise Allowance.

It still seems a bit silly and intimidatory; in my case I shall be very lucky if I have ANY money coming into my account.

AP007

SquiddlyDiddly wrote: »

Affynity is right.

I visited the local Citizen's Advice this morning, and they said the Jobcentre were within their rights to ask to see my Amazon receipts, if they suspect I've been trading on Amazon marketplace (which I haven't).

However, they also said the advisor's behaviour was unacceptable and that I could ask for another advisor if I submit a request in writing first.

Apparently some JSA claimants who are on the 8 week NEA business plan scheme have been caught out trading on Amazon before they've been accepted onto New Enterprise Allowance.

It still seems a bit silly and intimidatory; in my case I shall be very lucky if I have ANY money coming into my account.

Those receipts are purchases though, aren't they?

Where you on this NEA? Whatever that is.

Why are we all not being asked for bank statements?

SquiddlyDiddly

I'm not actually on New Enterprise Allowance yet; I'm on the 8-week business plan scheme, where you still receive JSA but the Jobcentre is (in theory at least) supposed to leave you alone.

I suspect that advisers at my Jobcentre are examining the bank statements of those who have finished the Work Programme and are on the dreaded scheme known as Post-Work Programme "Support". They seem to be doing it as part of their benefit review.

Anyway the good news is that I marched round to the Jobcentre this morning, requested a change of adviser, and was ushered in to a meeting with a very polite manager who apologised profusely for any trouble I'd been caused, agreed that my Amazon purchases were of no interest (and, frankly, quite boring) and wished me well with my business plan.

I'm hoping that's a 'result'. :beer:

ArtoDeeto

So are they looking at your bank statement and saying you must be rich to order stuff online? Sounds like clutching at straws to me...

Personally I would be more worried about why you have not been able to find a job in three years and address that.

You should be going in daily for help not being knocked back

imatt

From what I understand, the New Ent Allowance lasts for 26 weeks. 13 weeks paid at £65 and the remainder at just £33. This allowance is not JSA and is independent of JCP which is why they (JCP) will leave you alone whilst on the scheme.