JSA- sanctioned before I've even started?!

BonnieP

Hi
I have just made a claim for JSA as my youngest child turned 5 on Saturday.
I was previously on Income support, I had a job for 4 weeks that I gave up voluntarily due to medical reasons in Feb.
When I went for my JSA interview on Thursday the man said I may be sanctioned for leaving my job voluntarily?! I've had to fill in a form and they will investigate.
I'm a bit miffed about this as at the time I was on IS and wasn't under any obligation to look for or work.
I'm guessing there isn't much I can do about it but I was wondering how likely am I to be sanctioned and how long for? £140 a fortnight is a lot of money to lose out on. I'm panicking.

cattie

I think your problem is you voluntarily gave up a job in Feb when you knew that just a few weeks later when your child was 5 that you would need to be seeking work.

What you should have done is take sick leave from work if you were not fit enough to carry out your job. DWP take a much harder stance now on people giving up their jobs if they feel there was no good reason to.

I understand how stressed you must feel, but it's no good worrying yourself unduly until you hear whether you are to be sanctioned or not. If you do get sanctioned, then you can look into applying for a hardship payment and perhaps in the meantime, do a bit of research via google & see if it would be possible to make an appeal if you were to be sanctioned.

BonnieP

cattie wrote: »

I think your problem is you voluntarily gave up a job in Feb when you knew that just a few weeks later when your child was 5 that you would need to be seeking work.

What you should have done is take sick leave from work if you were not fit enough to carry out your job. DWP take a much harder stance now on people giving up their jobs if they feel there was no good reason to.

I understand how stressed you must feel, but it's no good worrying yourself unduly until you hear whether you are to be sanctioned or not. If you do get sanctioned, then you can look into applying for a hardship payment and perhaps in the meantime, do a bit of research via google & see if it would be possible to make an appeal if you were to be sanctioned.

I didn't give the job up for no good reason. To be honest, I really didn't think about it at the time, I was aware that when you are on IS you wont be sanctioned for voluntarily leaving your job, I've never had JSA before so really didn't think they would punish me for something I wasn't doing wrong at the time. I'm not unfit for all work, just that kind of work. I would not of returned to work so didn't think to take sick leave.
It's hard not to worry, like I said, potentially losing £70 a week is worrying, maybe I worry too much

cifpower

BonnieP wrote: »

I didn't give the job up for no good reason. To be honest, I really didn't think about it at the time, I was aware that when you are on IS you wont be sanctioned for voluntarily leaving your job, I've never had JSA before so really didn't think they would punish me for something I wasn't doing wrong at the time. I'm not unfit for all work, just that kind of work. I would not of returned to work so didn't think to take sick leave.
It's hard not to worry, like I said, potentially losing £70 a week is worrying, maybe I worry too much

What does that mean exactly? What reasons did you give to DWP for voluntarily leaving that job as they will more than likely check with the employer to confirm.

BonnieP

cifpower wrote: »

What does that mean exactly? What reasons did you give to DWP for voluntarily leaving that job as they will more than likely check with the employer to confirm.

I had to fill in a form because I left on medical grounds.
They can contact them, story will check out.

BonnieP

I could of got signed off sick, but I want to work, I've enrolled in a work experience placement that starts next week which is admin/office based and allows me to do the ECDL course along side it so I can get an office job instead of cleaning/care work. I have been looking for work and applied for jobs before I had to come off IS.
Hopefully I can find a job ASAP and not have to worry about it all.

BonnieP

Anyway, no point moaning, such is life, and it could be worse!

confuseddaughter_2

BonnieP wrote: »

Hi
I have just made a claim for JSA as my youngest child turned 5 on Saturday.
I was previously on Income support, I had a job for 4 weeks that I gave up voluntarily due to medical reasons in Feb.
When I went for my JSA interview on Thursday the man said I may be sanctioned for leaving my job voluntarily?! I've had to fill in a form and they will investigate.
I'm a bit miffed about this as at the time I was on IS and wasn't under any obligation to look for or work.
I'm guessing there isn't much I can do about it but I was wondering how likely am I to be sanctioned and how long for? £140 a fortnight is a lot of money to lose out on. I'm panicking.

None of this surprises me at all. The DWP seem to be wanting to find any excuse not to pay or award any benefit if they can avoid it. What would have happened if you had given up your job 12 months ago? Still sanction you?
Although it is of no help to you, but this gets me really mad when only those that know how to play the system or are experts in filling out claim forms are left alone. Most would have taken a part time job - any job on a very short term contract, maybe for a week and then claimed JSA. That way that would have been your last job and you would not have needed to disclose information about the one before that you left in Feb.

cattie

Just remember in future where DWP are concerned that if you are not able to do properly continue in a job at any future time due to becoming ill or for health reasons, you need to go sick & then wait for the company to dismiss you. They will need to go through certain protocols to do this.

The key is to never give up a job voluntary without another one to go straight into.

confuseddaughter_2

cattie wrote: »

Just remember in future where DWP are concerned that if you are not able to do properly continue in a job at any future time due to becoming ill or for health reasons, you need to go sick & then wait for the company to dismiss you. They will need to go through certain protocols to do this.

The key is to never give up a job voluntary without another one to go straight into.

I agree, but isn't that 'playing the system'? I know what you mean but there is another side to this - the employer's. Why should the employer be put to this time and expense?
When my dad started with his health problems in a big way he was 59. He knew that he could no longer do his job or in fact any job and explained that to the firm. Being the kind of man he is he told the firm that he would have to resign as it would not be fair to his employer to keep them on the hook for the next 6 years with them probably believing that he might go back to work sometime in the future. They appreciated his honesty and integrity. Thankfully he claimed ESA and didn't have to claim JSA otherwise he would have been in big trouble it seems. As for the author of this story, she also showed honesty and integrity, but unfortunately she was kicked in the teeth for just being a decent person.

MissMoneypenny

confuseddaughter wrote: »

Although it is of no help to you, but this gets me really mad when only those that know how to play the system or are experts in filling out claim forms are left alone.

If you read these forums for long enough you will see that those who know how to play the system, go self employed and claim Working Tax Credits instead of JSA. No having to sign on with WTC. Perhaps this is something that BonnieP should look into? An Avon round maybe?

As a single mother the OP would only have to work 16 hours per week and then she could claim Working Tax Credit. WTC is based on the hours you work and not the wage you earn. But be aware that this will change when Universal Credit eventually comes in.

I'm sure someone on here can advise the OP how this 16 works for WTC. And where she can calculate how much she would get if she went this route instead of JSA. If not, try somewhere like the mumsnet site.

EDIT. This seems to be a site that people recommend to put in different scenarios, to see what benefits you would get. http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

EDIT again. I just googled and found this for WTC.

If you're self-employed

Put down the number of hours you normally spend working in your business, either on work billed to the client or related activity, for example:

• trips to wholesalers and retailers
• visits to potential clients
• time spent on advertising
• cleaning the business premises
• cleaning a vehicle used as part of the business, for example a taxi
• book-keeping
• research work

If you work from home, include time spent travelling to see customers.
If you have only just become self-employed, use the number of hours you normally expect to work in a week.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/claiming/income-hours/work-out-hours.htm


AND THIS

What counts as work for Working Tax Credit?

Working Tax Credit is based on the hours you work and get paid for, or expect to be paid for. It doesn't matter if you're employed or self-employed, but unpaid work doesn't count as work when claiming tax credits. Check if your work can help you qualify for Working Tax Credit.


You have children

If you're responsible for children you need to be aged at least 16, and work the following hours to get Working Tax Credit:

• if you're single, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week
• if you're in a couple, your joint paid working hours need to be at least 24 a week, with one of you working at least 16 hours a week

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/workingtaxcredit/work.htm