Nightmare benefits! :(

johnhorne2017

Well long story short I came out of prison last Monday, have been sleeping rough since, and not having a good time, put my claim for job seekers allowance in last week my first sign on isn't till the 22/08 and payday 25/08, so I needed a short term benefits advance they gave me £20?!?! to last from 08/08 to 25/08 I phoned them back today and no joy so life is bloody hard no money or home, done my time and now want to get a job and rebuild my life but how can they do this is this legal?

Bogof_Babe

No family or friends you can sofa surf with, and pay them back later?

johnhorne2017

No mate sorry, ive registered with CAPS and am waiting for a hostel, but this is day 7 of rough sleeping and no one seems to be that fussed I don't know what to do, how can I buy water for my meds and stuff the salvation army is closed on weekends. the benefits have taken the biscuit

Darksparkle

Have you tried speaking to local council?

dippy3103

Have you presented to the council as homeless? They may know of local food banks?
Present to the council today as homeless

https://www.norwich.gov.uk/info/20015/find_a_home/1139/homeless_or_at_risk

johnhorne2017

Yes I have been to the council 3 times they have point blank refused to help, I go to the salvation army mon-fri but im worries about weekends when I don't get paid till next Friday, there is no place to get drinking water its unbelievable.

powerful_Rogue

johnhorne2017 wrote: »

Yes I have been to the council 3 times they have point blank refused to help, I go to the salvation army mon-fri but im worries about weekends when I don't get paid till next Friday, there is no place to get drinking water its unbelievable.

A quick google of "Homeless in Norwich" brings up quite a few charities - This bing the first result.

>> http://www.stmartinshousing.org.uk

Just out of curiosity, how are you accessing the internet?

sangie595

Did you not receive the discharge grant? Are you released on license - in which case speaking to your allocated parole officer or NACRO may be of some use. I appreciate that your circumstances are not good, but there are a number of pre-release programmes for prisoners, and this includes being able to apply for benefits before release so that there is no delay. Did you not engage with one of these? The problem is that everyone applying for benefits had a time to wait before they recieve payments, and your circumstances don't make you any different to them. You aren't going to get special treatment because you left prison.

Darksparkle

johnhorne2017 wrote: »

Yes I have been to the council 3 times they have point blank refused to help, I go to the salvation army mon-fri but im worries about weekends when I don't get paid till next Friday, there is no place to get drinking water its unbelievable.

Why do they refuse to help? What reason have they given?

johnhorne2017

they say no priority need and to register with CAPS which I done I am waiting for a hostel. The more urgent matter is that I got a short term benefits advance of £20 to last from 08/08 to 25/08 you do the math and they saying nothing I can do now till I get paid

dippy3103

johnhorne2017 wrote: »

they say no priority need and to register with CAPS which I done I am waiting for a hostel. The more urgent matter is that I got a short term benefits advance of £20 to last from 08/08 to 25/08 you do the math and they saying nothing I can do now till I get paid

You mentioned medication?