JSA Stopped - Benefits Integrity Centre

sniggings

StormyWeather wrote: »

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.

I agree, it's totally wrong, all they have to do is prove they sent it, that is then enough for them to say you must have receieved it, how they get away with this I do not know.

Same with appointments for the work programe, if they send out a letter and you do not get it, they can still sanction you, so no money for a few weeks, all it would take is a recorded letter, why can't they do that!

StormyWeather_2

sniggings wrote: »

I agree, it's totally wrong, all they have to do is prove they sent it, that is then enough for them to say you must have receieved it, how they get away with this I do not know.

Same with appointments for the work programe, if they send out a letter and you do not get it, they can still sanction you, so no money for a few weeks, all it would take is a recorded letter, why can't they do that!

I agree. Someone makes a mistake and the claimant is sanctioned.

And if you aren't expecting a letter, you don't know that you've been sent something that hasn't arrived. So you aren't aware that there's anything to fix. Ridiculous.

mro

Darandio wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone.



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.

I'm sure you'll be ok.

They must send out masses of these unexpected review letters and quite a few must go missing.

sniggings

mro wrote: »

I'm sure you'll be ok.

They must send out masses of these unexpected review letters and quite a few must go missing.

sorry but the letter says they are sanctioned how are they going to be ok?

yes the letter has gone missing, misdelivered, not sent or lost, it happens all the time and people are sanctioned because of this all the time and can't appeal because of missed deadlines etc etc sorry not having a go at you but to say it'll be fine is not really helping someone which as just had their benefit stopped.

Darandio

Another development this morning, and it gets more ridiculous.

Just had a phonecall from the school informing me that the free school meals were stopped last Monday, meaning we owe for a weeks worth of school meals for two children and I was also told in no uncertain terms that the children won't receive a dinner today. Emergency packed lunch it is.

Once again, we haven't had either a letter or a phonecall about this, but considering it is the council we would be talking about here, I don't expect anything anyway. What worries me is if the housing benefit has been stopped as well, that could be the straw that broke the camels back.

Now, time to drop off the kids at school and then make some interesting phonecalls.

Darandio

I rang the number on the letter which incidentally, was nothing to do with the Benefits Integrity Centre, nor did the list of options have any way of getting through to them. I just had to choose the Jobseeker's Allowance option.

Initially, the woman I spoke to was unsure why I was ringing her, and was equally unsure who or what the benefit integrity centre was, until I explained who they were and what had happened.

She filled in a form over the phone and now I am awaiting a phone call sometime today, on the number that they apparently may or may not have tried to contact me on previously.

You really couldn't make this up. I'm now sat next to the phone, awaiting the call. The children are at school and won't receive the hot meal they are entitled to and the number you ring isn't actually the proper number, or if it is, the people on the end of the phone haven't a clue what you are talking about.

Voyager2002

Darandio wrote: »

I rang the number on the letter which incidentally, was nothing to do with the Benefits Integrity Centre, nor did the list of options have any way of getting through to them. I just had to choose the Jobseeker's Allowance option.

Initially, the woman I spoke to was unsure why I was ringing her, and was equally unsure who or what the benefit integrity centre was, until I explained who they were and what had happened.

She filled in a form over the phone and now I am awaiting a phone call sometime today, on the number that they apparently may or may not have tried to contact me on previously.

You really couldn't make this up. I'm now sat next to the phone, awaiting the call. The children are at school and won't receive the hot meal they are entitled to and the number you ring isn't actually the proper number, or if it is, the people on the end of the phone haven't a clue what you are talking about.

Nightmare!

Copy and paste what you have typed up here, and send it to your MP. Ask her/him to refer the matter to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

NYM

Darandio wrote: »

Another development this morning, and it gets more ridiculous.

Just had a phonecall from the school informing me that the free school meals were stopped last Monday, meaning we owe for a weeks worth of school meals for two children and I was also told in no uncertain terms that the children won't receive a dinner today. Emergency packed lunch it is.

Once again, we haven't had either a letter or a phonecall about this, but considering it is the council we would be talking about here, I don't expect anything anyway. What worries me is if the housing benefit has been stopped as well, that could be the straw that broke the camels back.

Now, time to drop off the kids at school and then make some interesting phonecalls.

I'm not sure whether housing benefit is stopped, but considering that the free school meals have been suspended, you really ought to contact the Housing Benefit people sooner rather than later.

It must be a nightmare for you

Voyager2002

Darandio wrote: »

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.

There is normally a right of appeal, as explained on the website. However, if someone fails to provide information that is needed to open or maintain a claim, then the claim is closed. There is no right of appeal against such a procedure, since the people who make the regulations live in a world in which letters do not go missing.

If you have not heard from them by this afternoon (Monday), I suggest that you visit your usual Jobcentre and make a complaint: that will at least ensure that the matter is investigated.

Voyager2002

NYM wrote: »

I'm not sure whether housing benefit is stopped, but considering that the free school meals have been suspended, you really ought to contact the Housing Benefit people sooner rather than later.

It must be a nightmare for you

And contact the free school meals team at the council: you are almost certainly entitled to the meals whether or not you receive JSA.