No payments, No money. No help.

Midge101

I have been claiming JSA FOR ABOUT 8 weeks now. For some reason I have to sign on every week and it's always at different times. My last few payments have been coming weekly, instead of getting £114 every two weeks I have been getting £57 each week.
When I asked about this they told me it shouldn't be happening and we're actually really rude and nasty to me about it claiming I was lying " no you haven't, do you think you're more special than everybody else that we would pay you weekly" after giving them proof they told me it wouldn't happen.

Basically I got paid last Thursday (seven days ago) £57 it is now one week later and I literally have no money left due to me having to spend £22 of it on bus travel to the appointments they have made me go to this week. This left me with £35 to live on, I had to pay £12 for a phone bill because I need my phone on to contact employers, family, jobcentre etc. I have other bills to pay and have been living off 20p noodles because I can't afford food on the money they give me.

I signed on, on Monday. I was expecting a payment today, either the full £114 or £57 and I haven't been paid. I am left with 20p go last me until next week/ possibly the week after. I have three more job nee appointments to attend to in this time and I am supposed to be going to a "youth hub" in a college this afternoon - they sent me on this because "people who have been on JSA for over 13 weeks have to go" when I told them I had only been on for 8 weeks they told me that the person who I'm meant to see will be on holiday by then so they're putting me on it early!?

I have no money and I can't even afford to leave my room, I can't afford to get to this youth hub today and I can't afford to get to any if my appointments. I need food and I need soap to wash with etc. I have been told as I got paid last week I will just have to wait until next week but they're not understanding that they only gave me £57! And I had of spend £22 getting to their appointments. They essentially gave me £35 to last me for two weeks! I don't know what to do nobody is listening to me on the phone etc. I have terrible anxiety and depression so it's taken a lot for me to even call in the first place but I'm desperate so I just had to do it.
Can anybody help me, how can I get a payment off them? What should I say etc...

Thank you.

Indie_Kid

You should be able to claim back travel expenses, apart from when it's a normal signing on day.

Your local council should have emergency funds.

tomtontom

Are your appts within walking distance? That would cut your costs down considerably.

With regard to your payments ask to speak to a manager and/ or log a complaint. If no joy then contact your MP, who will be able to get some answers for you.

Midge101

I have to sign every week which costs me £10 out of the money I get. Then they sent me to the youth hub which is another £4 in travel and I had an appointment this week which cost another £4 then next week I have to sign on once on the Monday then go to an appointment on the Wednesday which will cost me £10 - I have no money and they told me because it takes less than hour to walk there (45 mins) that I don't need to take a bus.
One person told me that I can claim back expenses but the problem with that is - I have no money to travel there in the first place to claim it back

Midge101

tomtontom wrote: »

Are your appts within walking distance? That would cut your costs down considerably.

With regard to your payments ask to speak to a manager and/ or log a complaint. If no joy then contact your MP, who will be able to get some answers for you.

The jobcentre is 45 mins away - if I walk quickly but the college I have to attend for the youth hub thing is an hours walk.

tomtontom

Midge101 wrote: »

I have to sign every week which costs me £10 out of the money I get. Then they sent me to the youth hub which is another £4 in travel and I had an appointment this week which cost another £4 then next week I have to sign on once on the Monday then go to an appointment on the Wednesday which will cost me £10 - I have no money and they told me because it takes less than hour to walk there (45 mins) that I don't need to take a bus.
One person told me that I can claim back expenses but the problem with that is - I have no money to travel there in the first place to claim it back

Is there a reason why you cannot walk? 45 minutes is not far, nor is an hour. You need to make this appt today so as to avoid a sanction.

Somerset

Midge101 wrote: »

The jobcentre is 45 mins away - if I walk quickly but the college I have to attend for the youth hub thing is an hours walk.

So why aren't you walking ?

Midge101

Somerset wrote: »

So why aren't you walking ?

First of all, there is no need to be so rude is there?
Secondly, I don't see why I should be expected to walk an hour when I should have been paid and I would have been able to afford travel.
Finally, I don't actually want to walk there today because I currently have a sprained ankle which my doctor has provided me with crutches which are really difficult to use, as well as the fact I have severe anxiety and I have panic attacks etc. when I am on my own in public. It is very difficult for me to even get a bus as I panic and feel very nervous and anxious but I do it because I know I have to and at least the bus is quicker and I don't have to be around people for a long time.

That is why I am not walking. (Today)

HappyMJ

Midge101 wrote: »

First of all, there is no need to be so rude is there?
Secondly, I don't see why I should be expected to walk an hour when I should have been paid and I would have been able to afford travel.
Finally, I don't actually want to walk there today because I currently have a sprained ankle which my doctor has provided me with crutches which are really difficult to use, as well as the fact I have severe anxiety and I have panic attacks etc. when I am on my own in public. It is very difficult for me to even get a bus as I panic and feel very nervous and anxious but I do it because I know I have to and at least the bus is quicker and I don't have to be around people for a long time.

That is why I am not walking. (Today)

Nobody is being rude. It's a question.

JSA is not enough to live on...you know that so you reduce your expenses to the bone which includes walking whenever possible. Borrow money from friends and family if you need to.

Why is a bus fare £10? A taxi would be cheaper.....at least it is around here at £3.50 each way which would be enough to cover a 45 minute walk.

Midge101

HappyMJ wrote: »

Nobody is being rude. It's a question.

JSA is not enough to live on...you know that so you reduce your expenses to the bone which includes walking whenever possible. Borrow money from friends and family if you need to.

Why is a bus fare £10? A taxi would be cheaper.....at least it is around here at £3.50 each way which would be enough to cover a 45 minute walk.

It was worded so it came across as rude.
I didn't say my bus fare was £10 I said it was £10 over the two days, I have to get multiple buses to get there and back which adds up.
I don't have family I can lend money off, sadly.

I do reduce my expenses etc. and I can live off it. The whole point is that I didn't get paid... So I don't even have any money to budget with?

Somerset

Midge101 wrote: »

It was worded so it came across as rude.

A question is a question, no more or less. But since you want to be a drama queen I'll leave you to it ............