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universal credit and community work programme

afternoon guys
long story ahead but I need advice
I was claiming universal credit single person and was on the community work programme. I signed off sept 20th universal credit last payment was 24th august but was still doing mandatory work programme until 20th sept have been told that because I signed off 24th aug I would receive no further payments this info I got on 7th oct!! I want to know what I do next as it seems I was on a mandatory programme but getting no benefits for doing it. I lost universal credit and a months rent benefit. I have put in a complaint on 12th oct and got a reply back one page more or less saying tough!! I rang and asked did they actually listen to my phone call when I signed off as no one told me I would loss all my benefit. I was told by complaints agent they had not listened to it but apologized for taking 12 weeks to reply to me..i seem to be getting no where I have asked for the recording off the conversation but I'm betting its lost..


My only question is if I was not receiving benefits why were they making me do a community work placement please advise what to do next mp??
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Comments

  • Marktheshark
    Marktheshark Posts: 5,841 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I would look for a job, sounds like the games up.
    I do Contracts, all day every day.
  • tomtontom
    tomtontom Posts: 7,929 Forumite
    For what reason were you signing off? You're not new to claiming out of work benefits, surely you knew your money would stop when you did so.
  • asteraix
    asteraix Posts: 26 Forumite
    I signed off because I started a new job on oct 1st thanks.. surely if I do the work I'm entitled to something
  • asteraix
    asteraix Posts: 26 Forumite
    tomtontom wrote: »
    For what reason were you signing off? You're not new to claiming out of work benefits, surely you knew your money would stop when you did so.
    I found a job but why do mandatory work for a month under pretense off work for benefits and then get nothing?
  • tomtontom
    tomtontom Posts: 7,929 Forumite
    asteraix wrote: »
    I signed off because I started a new job on oct 1st thanks.. surely if I do the work I'm entitled to something

    Did you sign off on Sept 20th or 24th August? Did you continue seeking work until you signed off, and did you provide evidence of this to the Jobcentre?
  • asteraix
    asteraix Posts: 26 Forumite
    tomtontom wrote: »
    Did you sign off on Sept 20th or 24th August? Did you continue seeking work until you signed off, and did you provide evidence of this to the Jobcentre?

    I signed off 20th sept was doing mandatory work programme and job searches up until the day I signed off last payment was 24th aug think I will go to m.p
  • konark
    konark Posts: 1,260 Forumite
    If you signed off on 20th Sept then you should be paid to that date. They seem to think you signed off on 24 Aug, but your attendance on the waste-of-time course would suggest otherwise. You can make an SAR for the transcript of the phone call to prove what was said. I always find it best to 'sign off' when you 'sign on', or the signing on day before the date you wish to stop.

    With hindsight you should not have told them anything until the day you started work, in case it fell through.

    You need to appeal this, just go through the process and I'm sure a decision will be given in your favour, but it can be a long and tedious business, just keep all the letters they send to you.
  • asteraix
    asteraix Posts: 26 Forumite
    konark wrote: »
    If you signed off on 20th Sept then you should be paid to that date. They seem to think you signed off on 24 Aug, but your attendance on the waste-of-time course would suggest otherwise. You can make an SAR for the transcript of the phone call to prove what was said. I always find it best to 'sign off' when you 'sign on', or the signing on day before the date you wish to stop.

    With hindsight you should not have told them anything until the day you started work, in case it fell through.

    You need to appeal this, just go through the process and I'm sure a decision will be given in your favour, but it can be a long and tedious business, just keep all the letters they send to you.
    thanks I got the letter back on dec 17th they have rejected request I asked has any one listened to my phone call when I signed off I was told no....so they made a decision with listening to it.. I expected that asked for the phone call to be sent to me looks like I have to go to parliamentary umbanmans as they say case closed decision made and there is no appeal..i phoned and got the word regulations thrown at me about 12 times in 2 minutes...oh well more letter writeing I think.
  • konark
    konark Posts: 1,260 Forumite
    You have just 1 month from the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice, probably the letter you received on 17 Dec, to make an appeal, this has to go to the Courts and Tribunals Service.

    http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/GetLeaflet.do?court_leaflets_id=2724

    lets you download a pdf leaflet giving you guidance on making an appeal.
  • asteraix wrote: »
    afternoon guys
    long story ahead but I need advice
    I was claiming universal credit single person and was on the community work programme. I signed off sept 20th universal credit last payment was 24th august but was still doing mandatory work programme until 20th sept have been told that because I signed off 24th aug I would receive no further payments this info I got on 7th oct!! I want to know what I do next as it seems I was on a mandatory programme but getting no benefits for doing it. I lost universal credit and a months rent benefit. I have put in a complaint on 12th oct and got a reply back one page more or less saying tough!! I rang and asked did they actually listen to my phone call when I signed off as no one told me I would loss all my benefit. I was told by complaints agent they had not listened to it but apologized for taking 12 weeks to reply to me..i seem to be getting no where I have asked for the recording off the conversation but I'm betting its lost..


    My only question is if I was not receiving benefits why were they making me do a community work placement please advise what to do next mp??

    What you need to understand is Universal Credit is the merger of Dole Benefits & Tax Credits.

    So by signing off on the 24th of August you basically waved your right to Housing Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance, Council Tax Support and other entitlements. You also waved your right to your Tax Credits

    Even though you worked up until the 20th of September and did your part of the workfare obligation on the Job Centers record you ended the Universal Credit agreement before the agreed period was due to end. There for you face a sanction.

    The only way to get round this is to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. They will most likely deny you this.

    Then you need to appeal. They will tell you your unsuccessful.

    Then it will come to a Tribunal and this is where you explain how you wasn't informed that by signing off you are forfeiting your right to Universal Credit. You add you for-filled your obligation to do the work program and you provide proof of this by getting a letter from your ex work place employer.

    Ultimately this is your own fault I am afraid because you did not understand what the new benefit Universal Credit is. It is the merger of all benefits into 1 system.
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