No Longer Claiming JSA - Do I Need to Inform Council?

pennypincher3562

Hi

I was claiming JSA for 8 weeks, but have found employment.

I have phoned the benefits office and told them that I am now in employment.

Do I need to also inform the council (they reduced my council tax due to unemployment.)

I was thinking once I told the benefits office that I am employed, then they might inform the council on my behalf?

Thanks
PennyPincher3562

weedave111

I would tell them just in case they try and have you done for fraud! You can't trust them!

Diary

If you don't tell them straight away they will use it against you in years to come.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Yes - failure to do so might mean you lose your 4 weeks Extended Payment Benefit - where a further 4 weeks HB and Council Tax Support is paid after commencing work if you have been in receipt of a qualifying benefit continuously for 26 weeks. It is your duty to notify of any changes to household or financial circumstances. We have yet to employ any telepaths.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

weedave111 wrote: »

I would tell them just in case they try and have you done for fraud! You can't trust them!

Yes you can't trust them to read someone's mind that they have started work - especially if they have failed to notify the Council of their change in circumstances.

pennypincher3562

The issue here, is there 'telephone hotline' is very difficult to reach (especially if you are in employment.) I don't have time to sit on the phone for 40 minutes, to see if they will answer it.

I even phoned once first thing in the morning, and was told I was the first in the queue - it still still took them 10 minutes to pick up the phone.

My only realistic option here, is to send a letter.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

Mersey_2

Yes, just email them.

paragon909

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

The issue here, is there 'telephone hotline' is very difficult to reach (especially if you are in employment.) I don't have time to sit on the phone for 40 minutes, to see if they will answer it.

I even phoned once first thing in the morning, and was told I was the first in the queue - it still still took them 10 minutes to pick up the phone.

My only realistic option here, is to send a letter.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

Just go into the council office and tell them, They will alert the appropriate department probably benefits.

pennypincher3562

I will try and find an email for them, but I'm not walking miles to their office due to their totally dysfunctional 'telephone hotline.'

I'd walk miles for anything else though.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

Diary

'My only realistic option here, is to send a letter.'

Yes and you've got proof then 'in years to come' when they come knocking.

weedave111

Housing benefit officer - mistakes happen all the time esp with council. They can't be trusted to do their job right most of the time coming from experience. Someone said in a different thread they told the council numerous times they were no longer entitled but still failed to deal with it then went chasing them for money through a court order! So they can't be trusted! Send a recorded letter, email and call them just to cover yourself pennypincher.