JSA Stopped - Benefits Integrity Centre

Darandio

Good morning

I have just received a letter this morning from the 'Benefit Integrity Centre' to tell me that they have decided to stop paying JSA from 21st January, claiming that I failed to respond to a telephone review letter and to contact them within one month. It makes no mention of how long this will last, only that if I don't contact them, they may cancel any entitlement to benefit.

The first thing to clarify is that I have received no other letters on the matter, no warnings and I am unaware of missing any phone calls. Given that I have three young children, there is absolutely no way that I would ignore such a letter, we cannot afford to just have money taken away like this, it would be suicidal to do so.

Another thing I have noticed on the letter is that it states quite clearly that I cannot appeal about this decision, however, the government BIC page states 'You have the right to appeal if you disagree with a decision made by a BIC. You will be told how to appeal in the letter the BIC sends you.', which it didn't.

Obviously I will have to ring them at the earliest opportunity on Monday and possibly get in contact with the CAB as well, to see what they can do, but has anyone else had any experience of their benefit disappearing without warning like this?

Given there are at least two conflicting pieces of information here, does that provide an advantage for me? That the website states something completely different to that of the letter in regards of appeal, or that they have decided to stop paying from the 21st, yet the second paragraph claims they will cancel this entitlement if I do not contact them within one calendar month?

Confused of Redcar

Darandio

Thanks for the speedy reply.

smithy999 wrote: »

You need to contact the Benefit Integrity Centre on Monday, advise you've receive this letter and get further details from them. It sounds to me like they might not have sanctioned you - yet. So it is imperative you contact them asap.

I'll quote the first lines of the letter, as this is what has me completely unsure.

I am writing to tell you that we cannot pay you from 21-Jan-2014.

We have decided to stop paying Jobseeker's Allowance because you failed to respond to a telephone review letter.

That to me sounds like the claim has been stopped with immediate effect. However, it then goes on to say

Please reply to this letter within one calendar month of the date on this letter. If you fail to do so, we may cancel your entitlement to benefit.

So I am not sure if it is just me reading it wrong, or that the two do indeed conflict.

Now, I completely understand that they hear it a million times, but with three young children, there is absolutely no sane reason for me not to adhere to everything they require and I have never had an issue previously, nor have I ever done anything less than what they have requested of me.

I also am not aware of any problems with our mail, apart from an issue a couple of months ago where our mail was going next door, and vice versa. We get on fine with our neighbours, and all mail was exchanged.

Likewise with telephone calls, we don't intentionally ignore any and if for some reason any are missed, we always check all voicemail on a regular basis.

mikey_bach

sounds like they have suspended your JSA.
make contact Monday and arrange the telephone interview.
Your money for the children is not effected as you will still get the CTC for them.
When are you due to sign again ?
I wouldnt leave it till then best get it sorted Monday.
Ring the contact center and ask for a call back they will get the BIC to ring you back

mro

Darandio wrote: »

Good morning

I have just received a letter this morning from the 'Benefit Integrity Centre' to tell me that they have decided to stop paying JSA from 21st January, claiming that I failed to respond to a telephone review letter and to contact them within one month. It makes no mention of how long this will last, only that if I don't contact them, they may cancel any entitlement to benefit.

The first thing to clarify is that I have received no other letters on the matter, no warnings and I am unaware of missing any phone calls. Given that I have three young children, there is absolutely no way that I would ignore such a letter, we cannot afford to just have money taken away like this, it would be suicidal to do so.

Another thing I have noticed on the letter is that it states quite clearly that I cannot appeal about this decision, however, the government BIC page states 'You have the right to appeal if you disagree with a decision made by a BIC. You will be told how to appeal in the letter the BIC sends you.', which it didn't.

Obviously I will have to ring them at the earliest opportunity on Monday and possibly get in contact with the CAB as well, to see what they can do, but has anyone else had any experience of their benefit disappearing without warning like this?

Given there are at least two conflicting pieces of information here, does that provide an advantage for me? That the website states something completely different to that of the letter in regards of appeal, or that they have decided to stop paying from the 21st, yet the second paragraph claims they will cancel this entitlement if I do not contact them within one calendar month?

Confused of Redcar

Sounds like telephone appointment letter has got lost in post.

Benefit Integrity Centre send out claim review forms, which check standard details of claim, to check for change of circumstances etc.

I had one few years ago. I remember my form said if I don't return form my claim would be stopped. It was processed very quickly in a few days and I got letter confirming no change.

Maybe they are now doing telephone reviews, rather sending out paper forms, as most details are likely to be same.

Phone them and I'm sure it will be sorted.

Let us know outcome.

sniggings

would it be so hard for them to email this stuff out or phone or at least send these letters recorded, Royal Mail looses millions of letters every year, yet they think a letter as important as this can be sent normal post and if it gets lost tough luck, you're sanctioned and people say the Tories are not the nasty party!

dookar

What on earth does it have to do with the Tories?

sniggings

dookar wrote: »

What on earth does it have to do with the Tories?

they are running the country so probably has something to do with them :rotfl:

jasonwatkins

dookar wrote: »

What on earth does it have to do with the Tories?

the tories are the ones who implemented sanctioning and taking away people's benefits to "encourage" them back to work .. so it's got everything to do with them IMO ..

Darandio

Thanks for the replies everyone.

mikey_bach wrote: »

When are you due to sign again ?

Not until the following Monday, like you said, no good waiting that long.

I'll let you know what happens.

Also forgot to ask, does anyone have any more information on this right of appeal, should things go even more sour? Referring mainly to the fact that the letter states I cannot appeal, yet the website says I can.

Hopefully there will be no need for an appeal, they will just press ahead with whatever checks they need to make with me and let me continue my life (and jobsearch) as normal.

sniggings

if the letter says no appeal i would be inclined to believe that, as you most likely have got the standard letter with the correct advice regarding an appeal, a web site could be out of date or referring to a different stage in the process.

as said unless you have so evidence apart from your word I would save your time, maybe worth firing off an email to your MP.

StormyWeather_2

sniggings wrote: »

would it be so hard for them to email this stuff out or phone or at least send these letters recorded, Royal Mail looses millions of letters every year, yet they think a letter as important as this can be sent normal post and if it gets lost tough luck, you're sanctioned and people say the Tories are not the nasty party!

In other situations it's the sender's responsibility to get the item to the receiver. It's strange how the DWP are able to avoid this.