Unemployment Benefits - RANT

[Richard Bruvofetc]

As some of you may know, I was unfortunately made unemployed on 16th October. I informed the unemployment benefit office immediately and had an interview on October 23rd. I had all the documents except my P45 and was told that as soon as I got that I was to take it in. Anyway, my sign on day was Friday 27th October then Fridays every 2 weeks. So, including my interview I have been into the office 4 times. It costs me £4.80 a time on the train to get there. Last Friday (24th) I still hadn't received any benefit so I asked the question. The lady said she couldn't see anything wrong but my claim was now in Plymouth. Today I got a letter:

"We cannot pay you an allowance from 16 October 2006. This is because:

• 
  you have not given us the information we asked you for.

".

To cut a long story short:

I rang them,
I haven't given them my P45
I explained I still haven't received the P45 from my previous company
They've therefore rejected my claim.
I therefore have to claim again (initial interview etc)
I may not be able to back date the claim.
I'm out of pocket to the tune of £19.20 (4 trips at £4.80), I would like to claim my travel expenses back.
I have been advised to put in a claim for it but it may not be successful.

So having worked for 27 years without a break and paying more than the average in tax, I find myself unemployed for 6 weeks without being able to claim a penny and possibly out of pocket.

I am not very happy.

All this happened before I go for an interview today at 12.00. (interview went OK by the way).

Rant over.

 

[pokemon_master]

So sorry about this. Stupid Beuacracy for ya!

Hope things get better soon.

 

[natalielongstaff]

So having worked for 27 years without a break and paying more than the average in tax

thats where you went wrong..you should have started on benefits when you left school

i hope you get this situation resolved quickly

 

[mandymouse]

Sorry to hear that they are messing you around , but so glad that the interview went well - when are they getting back to you ?

 

[AndRu]

thats where you went wrong..you should have started on benefits when you left school

Many a true word spoken in jest? That's just it, if you start taking as soon as you can the system allows it to continue. If you start paying in they make it difficult to get it back.

Our friends parents have become ill; one has chronic arthritis and the other had a major stroke. They're having to sell their car and the house to pay for health care - this is after both of them worked all their lives. If they'd have got a council house and benefits from day one the NHS would be there for them now and they wouldn't be expected to pay. As it is, because they've worked, because they have a property they have to give it all up.

Richard - I hope you get the money you deserve after paying in all this time but more than that, I hope you get another job ASAP.

 

[jtlover]

Sorry to hear you lost your job - I hope you sort them out. That is out of order and they should pay you - that makes me mad, especially when they pay losers and you have worked and paid your taxes so long!

 

[Lisash]

I don't know why they have to make life so difficult for people It's not like you asked for any of this to happen. Good luck with getting things sorted

 

[alisonbestford]

Have you tried going to Citizen's Advice?

Occasionally they will be able to intervene (on 'posh' letter headed paper' ) and get you money that you shouldn't have lost if it's the fault of the benefits agency

I worked for Citizens Advice, as a volunteer, for a year and swear that the benefits agency exploit the fact that many people don't know/ understand their rights................. .

Worth a try maybe?

 

[daipp]

First of all the terms "Unemployment Benefit Office" and Benefits Agency" no longer exist and haven't done so for several years. The correct term is Jobcentre Plus.

Secondly, prior to receiving your disallowance letter did you tell Jobcentre Plus that you have not received your P45 from your previous employer? If so they would have "exepted" you from providing the evidence.

Thirdly, does the disallowance relate to Jobseekers Allowance (Contributory) and / or Jobsekers Allowance (Income based).

In twenty years I have never known a claim to be disallowed due to a lack of P45 so there must be another reason they haven't told you about.

If I can be of any further help, please feel free to PM me.

David

 

[TracyK]

How frustrating Hope you manage to get it sorted and GOOD LUCK with getting a new job.

Tracy

 

[fizz13]

So sorry about this, what a way to start the holiday season! keeping my fingers crossed for you for this job

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

First of all the terms "Unemployment Benefit Office" and Benefits Agency" no longer exist and haven't done so for several years. The correct term is Jobcentre Plus.

Secondly, prior to receiving your disallowance letter did you tell Jobcentre Plus that you have not received your P45 from your previous employer? If so they would have "exepted" you from providing the evidence.

Thirdly, does the disallowance relate to Jobseekers Allowance (Contributory) and / or Jobsekers Allowance (Income based).

In twenty years I have never known a claim to be disallowed due to a lack of P45 so there must be another reason they haven't told you about.

If I can be of any further help, please feel free to PM me.

David

First point: Technicality: we all know what I was talking about.

Second point: Third sentence of first paragraph of my opening post....

Third point: Jobseekers allowance (contributory).

Also, as said in my opening post, I asked the question on Friday 24th as to why I hadn't received any benefit (jobseekers allowance) yet. They couldn't see any problem.

I had a long conversation with different departments yesterday. The answer was always the same. They hadn't seen my P45 therefore my claim has been stopped. Even when I explained I hadn't received my P45 yet, the answer was still "I'm very sorry but you need to supply your P45 to make the claim". I have also asked for a JSA5 - can't remember the exact title of this, but its apparantly the form for emergency reclaims.

I also had to sit through the telephone conversation to give all my details again, because they are unable to access the details I gave 6 weeks ago. I now have to sit in this morning to await the telephone call to give all the "extra" details (bank account/post office etc) that I also gave 6 weeks ago. They will then arrange another initial interview where I have to take in all my documents I took in 6 weeks ago to arrange a new time for when I have to sign on. This will also mean another £4.80 on the train which I may or may not be able to reclaim back.

Of course, being the nice, gentlemanly, kind and calm person I am, it probably counts against me in these circumstances. Maybe I should just turn up in my scruffiest clothes, unshaven, 6 kids in tow and use unsavoury language to the people at the "Jobcentre Plus".

Sorry if my "words" appear a bit short but as you can imagine, I'm a tad annoyed about this. Luckily, I have money on which I can draw on to live. Imagine what it must be like for those poor soles who have nothing and also find themselves in this predicament.

 

[Minniespal]

Why do they have to make things so difficult for people. Hope you get it sorted out.

 

[carolfoy]

Its ridiculous that the system that should help people who are (hopefully) in a temporary situation like yours cannot when they help people week in week out who have no intention of ever working.
I've always felt that as a single parent I'd probably be better off at home doing nothing, yet I choose to work full time, but should I lose my job I expect the hassle I'd get trying to claim anything would be really difficult. I hope they work it out for you soon!

 

[Chilly]

I had problems with them as well a few years ago - the system is all wrong!

 

[catherine]

I hope that you get things sorted out quickly. It's bad enough that you lost your job, without having to go through all the extra stress and hassle!

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

I've just received another letter from the Jobcentre Plus (dated 28th Nov) from the same person I received the letter from yesterday (dated 25th Nov) that told me they had rejected my Jobseeker allowance claim.

This one states:

"We are writing to tell you that Jobseeker's Allowance can count as taxable Income.........".

So they tell me that they rejected my claim, but hey, if you'd got it we would have taxed you on it.

Sorry, I'm just speechless. Do they know what they are doing?

 

[carolfoy]

Sorry, I'm just speechless. Do they know what they are doing?

umm, NO!

 

[angel659]

Hi

Oh my god! What is going on? Its ridiculous. My fil had to go through several interviews to claim incapcity benefit basically because his skin so bad he can not work with it. His fingers always crack and bleed and he is in so much pain. They interview him regularly to check he is not illegally claiming. Yet a few other people he knows through people claim incapcity benefit for the wife and carers allowance they dont have any interviews.

There are many people illegally claiming. I bet the majority are those who have been on benefits all thier life. Sorry I am stereotyping. Its just stories I here all the time, especially with my job.

In 1997 I was made redundant and was given a months money. When I went to claim they spoke to me like I was a piece of dirt. Basically was questioning why I was claiming even though I was entitled to it. Telling me that I had to provide proof that I was seeking a job even if it was a cleaning job. They made me feel horrid. I was only 18 at the time. I started work at 16. My mum was with me. I was even dressed smartly. I then basically told them they can forget it. I would rather go without than have them make me feel like I am a chav for claiming. It was horrible. I was so scared and vulnerable. My parents stuck by me and said that they were not prepared to let someone talk to me and treat me like that. I never claimed. I vigorously looked for another job and started temp work within 2 weeks luckily and 2 months later I had job. If I could afford it, I doubt I would even claim again. Even though I am entitled to it.

I could not believe it. I was so shocked with thier attitudes. I had to take my friend to dss and the people in there oh my. They had beer cans in thier hands they were swearing etc. What annoyed me further was. People were talking about herion. Obviously the government pays them too much. This annoys me. The goverment would rather help these people than genuine people who has lost thier job. Yet will pay up to people who claim all the benefits in the world and yet dont blink an eyelid. Whats this world coming to aye. Sorry I am ranting now. Whoops.

 

[KayleeUK]

I think David was trying to help you Richard.