PERSONAL EXPERIENCES - Leaving benefits and starting a job

ska_lover

Hi there

I posted a similar thread, but looking for peoples actual personal experiences as there must be a lot of people on here who have signed off of benefits and gone into work

Friend of mine has been on esa for 1 year+ and has no family to help (they are single)

I understand that CTR and HB may possibly run on - but their ESA will stop the minute they end their claim - and the job is monthly paid

What are your experiences? How did you eat and pay for gas/electric whist waiting for your first pay check?

What if they become unable to cope due to their illness and need to stop work?

My other thread has helpful people saying a few ideas of what they think may happen or sending links, but no one saying they have recently had a similar situation recently

many thanks x

[Deleted User]

I totally understand why people commit "benefit fraud".

My recent experience was being advised payday was just over 5 weeks away I'm fortunate in that I can walk the 50 minutes by foot to my work place so no getting there cost. I told my parents who gave me a cash injection covering council tax, phone and Internet, food. The job centre advised telling a family member on any money worries.

Before this:
I had the option of appealing a short term lender's decision and asking for a manual reconsideration where my circumstances had changed. Since holding a temp job before application to UC.

I could try and get the Provi in.

When I went to CAB they basically said to keep the wolves from the door you just tell creditors you are engaging with them. They couldn't give any more advice until I have a wage slip in hand.

Half of my first wage packet will be gone to service a debt the instance it's received so it will be a couple of months before things really start to look up for me. If it's to late I'll just have to deal with whatever comes my way.

I found gas/electric probably to be the most accommodating.

ska_lover

Deleted%20User wrote: »

I totally understand why people commit "benefit fraud".

My recent experience was being advised payday was just over 5 weeks away I'm fortunate in that I can walk the 50 minutes by foot to my work place so no getting there cost. I told my parents who gave me a cash injection covering council tax, phone and Internet, food. The job centre advised telling a family member on any money worries.

Before this:
I had the option of appealing a short term lender's decision and asking for a manual reconsideration where my circumstances had changed. Since holding a temp job before application to UC.

I could try and get the Provi in.

When I went to CAB they basically said to keep the wolves from the door you just tell creditors you are engaging with them. They couldn't give any more advice until I have a wage slip in hand.

Half of my first wage packet will be gone to service a debt the instance it's received so it will be a couple of months before things really start to look up for me. If it's to late I'll just have to deal with whatever comes my way.

I found gas/electric probably to be the most accommodating.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond with your experience - i really appreciate it

I can understand why people commit benefit fraud too, in these circumstances

I mean they want people to get into work, but there seems no HELP to get into work.

Can I ask, did you not get anything? No run on from housing benefit or council tax reduction - anything?

It really is shocking isn't it. The whole situation is diabolical.

No wonder food banks are so busy these days as this is the exact type of situation isnt it

I hope you manage to get sorted very soon.

Robbie64

If on income related ESA then there is the possibility of claiming a Budgeting Loan. One of the qualifying conditions is that you have "Essential travelling expenses and expenses due to you getting or starting a job". Of course it is important to claim as soon as possible and before ESA stops. But other than the above and the 4 week run on for HB and CTR there is little else: the council may run a local welfare scheme and may be able to help. This replaced Crisis Loans which often would help people who had started work and needed money to get them through the first few weeks. Most likely the council will refer the person to a foodbank, not a great way to be starting a job.

Sncjw

Maybe you could ask work for an advance of your wages .

Sncjw

Keep calm I thought you were going to get help for your anxiety over work than get yet another job.

ska_lover

Sncjw wrote: »

Keep calm I thought you were going to get help for your anxiety over work than get yet another job.

Hiya

Calm is the opposite of how I feel much of the time in all honesty - are you referring to another post or thread I have made with the anxiety comment?

This info is not for me personally - I am asking for a friend. Genuinely

Oh dear that sounds very corny, 'asking for a friend' - who has been very ill for a while and now clawing themselves better but struggling to navigate these things alone - its confusing. and no benefits advisers seem to tell you what you could get

Sncjw

I meant the user keep calm as I can’t quoye

tomtom256

Deleted%20User wrote: »

I totally understand why people commit "benefit fraud".

Benefit fraud is normally greed over need.

If you are starting work, you could ask for help with travel via the flexible support fund or you could just commit benefit fraud as it's ok in these circumstances.

KatrinaWaves

Sncjw wrote: »

I meant the user keep calm as I can’t quoye

Haven’t you worked out by now that their experiences always match whatever the OP is going through? They’ve been working for three weeks already according to a recent one, despite being sacked 3 weeks ago too...

SingleSue

What I did:

I always like to stock up on yellow stickered food so I worked my way through what was in my freezer, there were some weird and wonderful combinations I can tell you!

I cut all journeys down to only the essential ones (just to work and back) to conserve fuel, the rest of the time I stayed in the house (I'm disabled and can't go out anywhere without the car, not even to the post box down the road!)

Gas and electric were not a problem, I am quarterly billed and I timed it right for it not to be an issue.

Other bills I had to unfortunately let slide for a while and caught up later (I was without internet for a few weeks and mobile phone for a few days).


I have to admit there were a few days/times when I could only have a packet of crisps found at the bottom of the cupboard or a sandwich provided by parents over the course of the day as food and funds ran very very low/ran out.