Housing Benefits Irrelevant Questions

Pollycat

Bananas123 wrote: »

people can say things flippantly.

I assume you mean the OP in his first post.
If you word your comments 'flippantly' you get the sort of responses he/she appear to have taken exception to.

Bananas123 wrote: »

some people at my local jobcentre seem lovely, others not so much so if they were just venting etc, not massive problem imho.

Venting by being abusive to people doing their job is not acceptable behaviour - at least not to me.
The OP's poor attitude is clear from his/her second post.

Bananas123 wrote: »

conversely, you can feel bad for the OP, that he deems people, that can help, with negative mindset > not a nice place to be, if the people that are suggestively helping, appear to be hindering.

I don't feel bad for the OP at all
There is a choice.
Either comply with the rules and provide the information required to process your claim - or don't comply and do without the money.
Are you seriously suggesting that the 'local benefits jobsworth' is hindering the OP's claim by asking for proof?

Bananas123 wrote: »

just need to explain to them the proper process, of doing things the right way.

The OP has been told - by posters on here who actually do the job - what the proper process is.
And doesn't like it.

Bananas123 wrote: »

better to be completely above board, fill the forms in etc and keep on friendly terms, even if you don't neccesarily like persons.

things go alot smoother IME.

That's what the OP should have done.
Instead they've refused to supply the asked-for information resulting in HB being stopped.
That went really smoothly, didn't it.

Mersey_2

ibuprofen wrote: »

Hi all.

I'm starting a business and my income is extremely low. Hence I am living off credit cards.
I have been told by the local benefits jobsworths that I must supply "evidence" of what I am spending the credit card money on.

My problems with this are as follows:
1. Since my income is so low, surely it doesn't matter what my outgoings are.
2. Surely it's none of their business what I spend my money on.
3. I consider my business expenses to be proprietary information.

Since I have refused to supply the above information on principle, my housing benefit has been suspended.

Do they have the right to know the exact details of my personal and business expenditure?
Has anyone else been in this situation?

I think it's fairly standard to ask for 2 months' worth of bank statements. I've never hard of a local authority requesting credit card statements before - but I suppose they could do so.


Usually the self-employed claim Working Tax Credits from HMRC and if approved your council will see this - or ask to see your award letter and your HB/CTS claims should be straightforward.


Self-employed claimants are subject to compliance checks by HMRC & councils though, as some aren't genuine.


I sympathise with the 'jobsworths' thought - although I suspect many working for councils are as frustrated by the bureaucracy as you are.


Some standard HB/LHA forms by some councils are simply bizarre, ie because they're standard they may ask 20 questions which have no relevance to your claim, ie I once did a pro bono DWP appeal where the claimant had been asked how many windows their flat contained(!)


But apparently the Govt are to look into this, as several MPs said they couldn't understand the questions asked in some letters to their constituents.

Bananas123

@pollycat

i am saying that the guy obviously has been having a hard time at the job centre, as evident with the venting "jobsworths", which personally, i think is very low on the end of abusive comment list.

he/she is seemingly not aware of the process, as with MANY people > how do you learn if you have not been through the process ?? OK

i am SAYING, not suggesting, that anomosity towards the people / "jobsworths" suggests that he/she thinks they are not helping >

if the OP has been to the people at the jobcentre for help (which is hard for some people, to ask for help) (granted failed to help them, help him (and is not be aware of this)), does seemingly not know the right way to do things.

> then how about you JOBSWORTHS show some COMPASSION, and offer help instead of taking your bat home and saying all the nasty implications about not handing out money to people who don't know the process.

respect is earned through compassion.

missapril75

Bananas123 wrote: »

...venting "jobsworths", which personally, i think is very low on the end of abusive comment list.

Jobsworth is an extremely insulting term. It comes from someone having to explain (more than my job's worth) that someone's wish for them to act differently risks their employment.

Other abuse might sound worse, but it's generally the action of some thicko as opposed to the person coming accross as all superior and looking down their nose at 'the jobsworth'. They are contemptuous.

i am SAYING, not suggesting, that anomosity towards the people / "jobsworths" suggests that he/she thinks they are not helping >

I've seen the OP on at least three threeds making snide comments about benefits employees.

> then how about you JOBSWORTHS show some COMPASSION,

How about the OP cuts out the snide remarks, stops calling people smartarses (- I may have mis-attributed this part, apologies) and cuts out the stereotyping of people who work for a particular department?

Respect is a two way street.

Bananas123

no its not a two way street at ALL

it's about the learned helping the naieve, respect is earned by compassion, again.

with the one hand you take your bat home on being called jobsworth, with the other you hearl "thicko" at people ???? > the naive people who are asking for help ?

IMMENSE double standards, still no compassion.

"!!!!!!!!s" would be more apt then "jobsworths"

dippy3103

It's not the o/p using jobsworth that I take issue with. It's their attitude that sucks. They have been asked to provide evidence to back up their benefit claim, and appear outraged by this.

Pollycat

Bananas123 wrote: »

@pollycat

i am saying that the guy obviously has been having a hard time at the job centre, as evident with the venting "jobsworths", which personally, i think is very low on the end of abusive comment list.

Why is he been having a hard time at the job centre?
Maybe because he has been asked for certain documentation and doesn't think he should have to provide it.
I agree with missapril - the term 'jobsworth' is rude.

Bananas123 wrote: »

he/she is seemingly not aware of the process, as with MANY people > how do you learn if you have not been through the process ?? OK

Why is the OP not aware of the process?
He states that he was in receipt of housing benefit so he must have gone through some claim process in the past.
But - at the end of the day - if someone asks for certain documentation and you do not wish to provide it, don't be surprised that your benefits have been stopped.

Bananas123 wrote: »

if the OP has been to the people at the jobcentre for help (which is hard for some people, to ask for help) (granted failed to help them, help him (and is not be aware of this)), does seemingly not know the right way to do things.

I do not agree that the Job Centre failed to help him.
They asked for documentation, the OP refused to provide it.
Where is your evidence of 'non-help'?
I have a friend who is on benefits. she moans that she has to tell them when her wages increase. My reply is 'When you rely on benefits, you dance to their tune'.

Bananas123 wrote: »

> then how about you JOBSWORTHS show some COMPASSION, and offer help instead of taking your bat home and saying all the nasty implications about not handing out money to people who don't know the process.

Then how about the 'jobsworth' do his/her job according to the processes and procedures set down by their employer?
Oh! That's probably what they did do when they asked for documentation.

Bananas123 wrote: »

respect is earned through compassion.

I have no idea where you have got the above statement from.
People at the job centre have a job to do.
I doubt that the OP showed any respect to the person who was trying to deal with his claim.

tomtom256

As it's housing benefit he is having problems with, OP hasn't been to the jobcentre so all this talk of not being helped by the jobcentre is pointless.

If he had been they would point him to Universal Credit if single or to his LA to claim HB so would have got the help needed from the jobcentre.

The issue appears to be the fact they have to prove they need help, which they do not appear to want to do.

NYM

Bananas123 wrote: »

......
> then how about you JOBSWORTHS show some COMPASSION, and offer help instead of taking your bat home and saying all the nasty implications about not handing out money to people who don't know the process.

respect is earned through compassion.

An incredibly insulting comment!

The OP asked for and received advice. SHOW his financial paperwork if he wants to claim financial help from the State.

It's so simple....

missapril75

Bananas123 wrote: »

"!!!!!!!!s" would be more apt then "jobsworths"

Case rested.