JSA, how difficult can it be!

unkle

Applied for JSA online on the 1st August, didn't hear anything until a call out of the blue yesterday (10th) which was to arrange an appointment (via phone) for today at 10am.
Of course, 10am comes and goes and no call received and nothing by way of email or call to explain why.
So what should I do next? Rang numerous numbers none of which give rise to a human actually answering. 
Just sit and wait I suppose, good job i'm not waiting on/relying on the £74.35 a week!

poppy12345

As you can imagine they are extremely busy because of the amount of people still claiming benefits. You can ring them but a successful claim for New style JSA is currently taking about 4-5 weeks, slightly longer than "normal" times.

TELLIT01

poppy12345 said:

As you can imagine they are extremely busy because of the amount of people still claiming benefits. You can ring them but a successful claim for New style JSA is currently taking about 4-5 weeks, slightly longer than "normal" times.

I think you are missing the point being made by the OP.  DWP phoned them to set up an appointment for today and then failed to keep that appointment, without any form of explanation.  That is simply not acceptable behaviour.

another_casualty

They could still possibly phone anytime today , and apologise for the delay . I'd say just expect a call anytime over next couple of days . Hopefully , they'll contact you soon..

Jack_bauer24

TELLIT01 said:

poppy12345 said:

As you can imagine they are extremely busy because of the amount of people still claiming benefits. You can ring them but a successful claim for New style JSA is currently taking about 4-5 weeks, slightly longer than "normal" times.

I think you are missing the point being made by the OP.  DWP phoned them to set up an appointment for today and then failed to keep that appointment, without any form of explanation.  That is simply not acceptable behaviour.

I agree, if we missed the phone call we would get sanctioned! One rule for one and another rule for another. 

unkle

Well I did finally get a call (13th), took a lot of chasing of the original person who rang me to book the appointment. Not sure I would have had a call otherwise.
Have to say, was a rather bizarre call, a few questions about what I do, told I must let them know if I start a new job, but otherwise they'll 'leave me alone' as they know little about my line of work and no jobs would come through the job centre anyway. 

So I should start to receive my £74 a week soon, although starting to wish I hadn't bothered as it's taxable anyway  so i'll only see half of it, for max 6 months. Good job i'm not relying on any help to feed my family 

calcotti

unkle said: ...starting to wish I hadn't bothered as it's taxable anyway  so i'll only see half of it, ..

It is not taxed as source so you will see all of it. Depending on your total income for the tax year so e tax may be due a tax the end of the year. You have to be a very high earner to pay 50% tax. 

unkle

calcotti said:

unkle said: ...starting to wish I hadn't bothered as it's taxable anyway  so i'll only see half of it, ..

It is not taxed as source so you will see all of it. Depending on your total income for the tax year so e tax may be due a tax the end of the year. You have to be a very high earner to pay 50% tax. 

Correct, it's paid gross, just had my first £74 , just another thing to add to my tax return next year. If I work before the end of the tax year i'll likely hit 45% rate as had already earned 4 month money and was paid up 6 months notice, holiday pay etc etc.

kaMelo

unkle said:

calcotti said:

unkle said: ...starting to wish I hadn't bothered as it's taxable anyway  so i'll only see half of it, ..

It is not taxed as source so you will see all of it. Depending on your total income for the tax year so e tax may be due a tax the end of the year. You have to be a very high earner to pay 50% tax. 

Correct, it's paid gross, just had my first £74 , just another thing to add to my tax return next year. If I work before the end of the tax year i'll likely hit 45% rate as had already earned 4 month money and was paid up 6 months notice, holiday pay etc etc.

You will earn over £150,000 taxable income? 

Teahfc

unkle said:

calcotti said:

unkle said: ...starting to wish I hadn't bothered as it's taxable anyway  so i'll only see half of it, ..

It is not taxed as source so you will see all of it. Depending on your total income for the tax year so e tax may be due a tax the end of the year. You have to be a very high earner to pay 50% tax. 

Correct, it's paid gross, just had my first £74 , just another thing to add to my tax return next year. If I work before the end of the tax year i'll likely hit 45% rate as had already earned 4 month money and was paid up 6 months notice, holiday pay etc etc.

If it is just another thing you have to add to your tax return but will potentially add a few hundred pound to you for filing it then you are being rather ungrateful. There are 10’s of if not 100’s of thousands of people on benefits and low wages who would jump through hoops to have a few extra 100 pounds in their banks.
Pointless thread to moan about not receiving a call only to mean it was mere pocket change you were receiving.
🤷🏻‍♂️

unkle

Teahfc said:

unkle said:

calcotti said:

unkle said: ...starting to wish I hadn't bothered as it's taxable anyway  so i'll only see half of it, ..

It is not taxed as source so you will see all of it. Depending on your total income for the tax year so e tax may be due a tax the end of the year. You have to be a very high earner to pay 50% tax. 

Correct, it's paid gross, just had my first £74 , just another thing to add to my tax return next year. If I work before the end of the tax year i'll likely hit 45% rate as had already earned 4 month money and was paid up 6 months notice, holiday pay etc etc.

If it is just another thing you have to add to your tax return but will potentially add a few hundred pound to you for filing it then you are being rather ungrateful. There are 10’s of if not 100’s of thousands of people on benefits and low wages who would jump through hoops to have a few extra 100 pounds in their banks.
Pointless thread to moan about not receiving a call only to mean it was mere pocket change you were receiving.
🤷🏻‍♂️

Didn't mean to sound ungrateful, i've worked straight for 31 years without a single gap in employment which I am grateful for. I wasn't going to claim the JSA but lots of people said I should having paid into the system for all these years as I was entitled to it.
Was a little surprised that JSA @ £74 a week for max 6 months is classed as taxable income though. Is UC taxable? Just seems a ludicrous system TBH. There's much better and more efficient ways to provide a safety net.
What i'll earn this tax year depends on what job I get and when, but as above I did have a long notice period, other benefits etc paid up so have roughly earned what I would normally in the tax year.