Paul P Valentine The new rules have come into force full time and the government is pleased to announce a drop in the unemployment figures, total rubbish is what these figures are. The rules have always stated that you have to be actively seeking work, before that would involve asking companies, any company if they had any vacancies, NOT NOW, it seems that you can only include companies that are actually advertising for a vacancy, or face getting your benefits cut, and I mean all your benefits, and no you cannot claim anything else, if you have kids then you can still claim child benefit, this benefit will replace your JSA, and could be for up to 3 years. For me it was 4 weeks of no money and my friend buying me a weeks worth of food on 2 occasions so I didn't starve, I have no gas for heating, and am hoping to god my electric stays on till Friday, when the sanctions are finally lifted, worse of all no one at the jobcentre explains the new rules fully to you, the jobcenter in Luton alone is sanctioning something like 60 to 100 people a week. Appeals have failed and now I am behind on all my bills, Aldwyck is now giving me 7 days notice to seek a possession order for this place, I have no gas for heating, I am praying my electric will last until Friday when the sanctions are finally lifted. A recent maintenance case almost had me banged up for 6 weeks because I have no money, and will only be put off if I can pay 20 quid on Friday, so I am hoping to god that they don't muck up the payment I am due on Friday or a warrant will be issued for my arrest. I am now expected to live of £ 53 a week because they are taking out £17.53 a week out of my benefits, by the time they all claim their payments I will be left with 30 quid a week to pay all my bills, gas and electric, food and I am still expected to actively look for work. With the jobcentre in Dunstable closed all inquiries have to be made via Luton, some 4 miles away, and £ 3.50 bus fare, you are still expected to find this even though you have no money coming in. You have no access to the decision makers both when you appeal and at any time during the sanctions in place as it is all done behind a veil of secrecy. I was relieved that I did not go to prison but sitting here with my coat on indoors, no money for gas til Friday which wont last for the entire 2 weeks anyway, I am just wandering if I had not been better of just letting myself get banged up. Xmas, hm what xmas The jsa states that law sais you need 71 quid a week to live on, summit they forget when it suits them. as for getting it awarded due to hardship, no chance, so I AM SCHREWED As for the papers and mp's getting involved to help the voters, they are nowhere to be seen I have tried to explain to the jobcentre people and showed evidence to backup my case that due to having 2 prolapsed discs l4 & L5, nerve damage on left side of L5, scoliosis, and now developing sciatica on my left side mostly, and as such, cannot do manual handling ( something they accepted in my previous claim ), that I cannot apply for 80% of the jobs I see, that I still have to find 14 vacancies to apply for.