Please help! Re: going back to work

pineapplecrush

Hi everyone,

I am in a real dilemma right now and am wondering if you guys could give me some advice please? (I know the advice is awesome on here!! )

Ok, so (and please don't judge me!), but due to some pretty terrible personal circumstances, I was on ESA for a while (suffered with severe depression, anxiety and my epilepsy got much worse).
Anyway, I have now started a TEMP job through an agency on the 10th December and will work until the 22nd December.
This is where I have a problem, because I will not have any work until the 4th January.
I have informed the DWP that I am now working and they have just said that they have stopped my claim and that is the end of that. (I suspect that it is not that simple, but hey ho. I also got a missed call from them today so I am wondering what it is that they want! Haha!)
I still need to inform Housing Benefit, but I will do that tomorrow. I just haven't had the time (or credit on my phone)

So, my question is, for the period of time that I am not working, what can I expect to happen?
Do I have to sign on to JSA for just over a week (which seems ridiculous)
Or will HB take this into consideration? (I am in a council property)
I surely can't be expected to pay almost 2 weeks' rent when I'm not being paid?!?!
Do they take my salary into consideration too? (It works out to £16.6k/yr, but I am not on a fixed contract or anything)

Please help as I am terribly worried that I am going to be in so much arrears my rent and I am going to have no money at all!

Thank you all so much!!!!!!! :A xx

~Beanie~

pineapplecrush wrote: »

I surely can't be expected to pay almost 2 weeks' rent when I'm not being paid?!?!

I can't answer your other questions sorry but yes, you will be expected to pay your rent. They won't let you off because you have no work for two weeks.

BigAunty

Ask on the benefit forum.

asajj

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=139

Better to ask there probably

pmlindyloo

Depending on how long you have been claiming ESA you may be entitled to a 4 week 'run on' of housing benefit.

See here:

https://www.gov.uk/moving-from-benefits-to-work/support-when-you-start-working

If not then you can claim HB based on a low income. You will need to contact the council and explain what is happening and they will tell you what evidence you need to provide.

You can also put in a claim for JSA. Since you could, in theory make a rapid reclaim for ESA (within the 12 weeks of ending ESA) I do not know whether this will entitle you to a rapid reclaim for JSA. You need to ask them.

All this will take time so speak to your landlord and explain the situation so that they know there may be rent arrears which you will be able to deal with in a fairly short time. If you let them know they will, I'm sure be reasonable about this.

You need to put some money aside from your salary so that you can eat at the very minimum during the weeks you are not being paid. ESA is paid in arrears so you should get some money from this.

A separate issue is your employment which you need to check. Are you employed directly by an employment agency? Look at the contract (or ask or check with CAB) and see what it says about being paid when there is no work. Not being paid during the Christmas period sounds a little strange unless you have a services only contract. Even then there may be provision for being paid.

pineapplecrush

Hi guys,

Thank you all so, so much for responding! It is truly appreciated!

Beanie - thank you yes, I am not trying to shirk my responsibilities or anything! I have always paid rent and intend to do so, it is just that I have been behind on one occasion, something like £25 and received a letter from the council chasing me! I just don't want to deal with the stress, that's all. And if you are my problem, I am not receiving any income for ~10days (be it ESA or salary), but now I am off of benefits, my rent has gone waaaaaay up and I will be in a lot of trouble if I have no money to pay my rent. That was all I was saying

I did phone HB today and they have told me to email both mymy bank statements and my payslips over to them weekly and they will calculate the rent that I will pay based on those figures. So there you go - hehe

Thank you BigAunty and asajj I will do that tomorrow!

LindyLoo - thank you SOOOOOOOO mu h for your ever so thoughtful reply!!!! I'm so grateful!

Do you know if every council run the 4 week run on scheme? Just because I have been looking at that recently and my council's website shows nothing
Also, when I spoke to them today, they did not mention it!

Yes, I am not going to go out spending or anything! Just the bare minimum for now until I am settled.

ESA is paid in arrears? I was paid last Friday (11th), but started work on the 10th. The guy on the phone was being really quite rude and abrupt with me and just said "oh this is the end of your claim, you don't need to do anything else, bye", basically!!
Then today, while I was at work, I had 6 missed calls from the Job centre! *rolls eyes*
Does that mean that they owe me a payment or not then? Sorry if I'm being a bit stupid!!! I would have thought they would owe me up until the 23rd?
I am employed through an agency but I am an employee of a company. It is all very confusing!!! But basically, I do no get paid from the 23rd Dec - 3rd Jan. That's just the way it is!
I'll have to have a Word with the CAB or the JC I think, but I'll start with the Benefits forum I know they'll be a million times more helpful!
I will definitely look into the contract thing though, thank you:) X

Thank you all so much again for taking the time to respond to my post and I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a wonderful New Year xx

TELLIT01

Your job started on the 10th so entitlement to ESA ceased on that date. You have been paid to the 10th. There is no entitlement up to the 23rd and I can't really understand why you think there should be.