JSA Payments reduced

thebennyboy

So for about 8 weeks i have been claiming income-based JSA at the rate of £57.90 per week. I work part-time hours at a local restaurant but do very few hours there per week, was told it was done on a weekly basis and my JSA payments would be £57.90 minus whatever i earned that week + £5.

I received a letter a week ago stating that they are permanently reducing my JSA payments to £40.25 per week! Really not pleased by this i phoned up only to be told that it was just a standard issue letter and my £57.90 weekly JSA would continue minus whatever income i declare. I also queried it with my signing on adviser last week and she said the same thing.

Received my biweekly payment into my bank yesterday which was £80.50 which is £40.25 per week. :mad:

I think they are wrong. My work hours are not set and very from week to week, some weeks i do no work and some i do no more than 4 - 6 hours. I'm on a ZHC (Zero-Hour Contract).

Should i appeal it? The letter says i have to request a "Mandatory Reconsideration" before i can demand an appeal. Is there anything else i should do? Also quite annoyed that i was told this should NOT happen. I just want my £57.90 weekly JSA!

tomtontom

What hours have you worked in the past few weeks? Keep in mind that JSA is paid in arrears.

If you feel the calculation is wrong then as the letter describes you should apply for a mandatory reconsideration - this is the first step in the appeals process.