JSA - Arghhhh!!

[RedVixen]

Bit of a rant here

I finished my last full time temp contract end of November - struggled on as long as possible on wages form a casual job for as long as possible. SIgned on on 21st Jan as the hours had dried up. When I made the application i declared the casual job stating that the hours varied every week. But hey asked for an average which we worked out was 7 hours a week up until that point in January and the application was processed and they said I would be entitled to JSA and Housing benefit based on income.

I haven't had any hours for the last month and my benefit has been assessed based on this 7 hours a week and they were giving me just under £15 per week. So I fill my time sheet in with NO WORK written on it - AFTER I get the assessment letter and first payment I get told that my employer has to write a letter every fortnight if I don't do any work and that they will have to reassess my claim EVERY FORTNIGHT. Not at any useful time like BEFORE so I can get it sorted for signing day

So I apply for a crisis loan - get that until my next payment was due which was this Tuesday. Next payment was just under £25 because of course they have taken the crisis loan payment out - the level of which was assessed based on the numbers assuming I was working my one shift a week, so it is a bit higher than would be if I wasn't working - reassessment hasn't happened yet - today was the second day that someone form processing is supposed to have rung me back just to tell me if the actually got the damned letter I have no cash, don't know if I am allowed to apply for 2 crisis loans so close together or anything else for that matter.

The crux of the rant is - I am getting this aggravation because I was honest - the long term unemployed guy upstairs from me regularly works cash in hand spends the next couple of weeks rolling in drunk til he runs out of money and goes out to do a bit more doesn't get this aggravation. If its not sorted out I will have no option but to remove myself from the casual work list because I simply can't survive within this system. This costs the state more money. About 15 years ago they took the timesheets and worked directly off those no worries. I know the DWP is supposed to help people get into work but I thought that was elsewhere not by creating systems and procedures that are so complicated that they have employ extra people themselves - even the reception staff roll their eyes and open agree that the situation is ridiculous and demotivating

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[old_andrew2007]

Hi
Just replying to bump your thread, I wonder if there is a complaints procedure you could always ask

[RedVixen]

Hi Old Andrew

Given i have just been told that they haven't received a piece of evidence that was couriered between my local job centre and them i.e internally I think I will be asking just that

Turns out you can apply for several crisis loans but a word of warning don't do it on a Friday they fail to meet their target turnaround times - I can understand they will be busier on a Friday. I had to scab a tenner off an equally skint friend on the basis that I am pretty confident they will respond on Monday

They have managed to send a reassessment based on the fact that my crisis loan payment are coming out - my JSA is now £14 per fortnight

My only possible saving this week is if I actually do manage to pick up a couple of shifts that would meet the assessment for this fortnight

Still not quite so ranty at the moment

I have a horrible feeling I will be applying for my third in a couple of weeks