Help with the brick wall of a benefits system

jimmylmorel

Hi all,

i am currently on JSA there is me my partner & 3 young children.
Just before christmas the Job Centre decided to sanction me and not tell me, i only found out because i recieved a call from our landlord to say that housing benefit has not been paid, (bear in mind i had been to sign on since and no one told me at the JC). so i phoned up to find out why, the lady on the phone said that yes i have indeed been sanctioned for not attending a work program appointment. i had never recieved any appointment or even confirmation of the provider of the work program, and that i need to lodge an appeal by going into the job centre. in the space of the phone call to me getting to the JC (under an hour) JC had closed my claim and i had to reclaim. my claim was then set up again with a sanction still in place. i had to make a claim for hardship to which i was awarded £2.50 for 1 week & £60.00 for another.

i then recieve a full payment of JSA, followed by a letter saying that i have failed to attend the work program again. this time i contacted the work program prior to my appointment to advise that i had an interview over 20 miles away from the centre and that i use public transport. however im now sanctioned until april. please can anybody offer any advice as this is now pushing me and my family below the poverty line, and although im not wanting to sit on benefits long term, this its my only option at this moment in time.


sorry for the terrible punctuation, and any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks

James

jimmylmorel

we were, but they are now claiming an overpayment and payment has been suspended, i have spoken to the council about this and they say that nothing will be done until im on an eligible benefit which doesnt apply because it has been sanctioned.

StormyWeather_2

You should still be able to get housing benefit based on income. Go to the office and take bank statements & the sanction letter.

Have you appealed the sanction? First ask for a reconsideration, if that doesn't work fill in an appeal form.

Do you have proof of the interview? A letter or email?

In the meantime apply for hardship payments again.

fluffymovie

The HB advice is absolutely incorrect - you are entitled to HB on the basis of your low (or in your case, nil income) and they really should know this.

Ring them again and ask for a team leader.

jimmylmorel

just spoke to HB and they have closed my claim ........ i am writing a letter asking for a reconsideration now.

yes i have e-mails from the company confirming the interview which i have provided to the JC 3 times and they keep saying they havent got them.

StormyWeather_2

You need to fill in the official form for the reconsideration, print off the email and provide this with the form as proof. Try to get a copy of your phone calls and highlight the call you made to let the WP know about the interview. Hand this in at the job centre. This for your JSA. Also ask for a form to apply for hardship payments.

Go to the HB office with 3 months bank statements and fill in a statement. HB would have received notification that your JSA has stopped but not why.

jimmylmorel

i did fill in the form for reconsideration twice before and each time handed it to the JC but then they say they havent had it,

StormyWeather_2

Then get an appeal form GS24. Fill this in, send it along with print out of your interview email and the phone records. Send by recorded delivery to the address on the sanction letter.