What exactly happens under Universal Credit if you work part time, are you still expected to attend fortnightly signing so if I were working lets say 24 hours per week under UC, would I still have to go to the JCP each fortnight to make a declaration ?

Hi everyone, Story so far - myself and ex business partner owned a business back in 2011-2013. Business was closed in 2013 and this July i received a letter stating that i owe business rates. I contacted council and explained that it was not me personally liable for rates but company and provided all profs (bills, registrations, etc). They lost my first letter. After a months or so i posted a second letter with all proofs and explanations. Based on tracking it was delivered to them and signed. Council kept it quiet for 6 weeks after which i received a Court Summons this week. I have tried to call them and email - no reply or response. What is the procedure if i have to go to court as i haven't been in one and dont know what to do. Thank you in advance.

Hi, My brother is being summonsed to appear at Magistrates Court in June for not sending his two kids to school regularly. The School count the attendants twice a day and they are claiming that out of 154 possible attendances only 130 were attended which works out to 12 days (154 - 130 = 24 / 2 = 12 For each of the days, the council demanded a penalty fee of which was not paid as i advised my brother that they had no legal bases within the Education Act 1996 to charge such fees. Out of the 12 unattended days of which penalty notices were issued the council later withdraw them and sent a letter to my brother stating that after reviewing the evidence submitted by my brother that the penalty notices should not have been issued. The school had to be closed for a total of 5 days due to mice infestation in the schools kitchen. now my brother is stating that on both times of the school being closed a day or so before his kids were not well "being sick" 1st time for 4 days and the second time for 1 day (30 Nov and 13th Jan) the school was closed. they said the schools closure is not included in the attendance rating. they claim that the attendance level was 84% The council are saying that if they win the case, they are going to be asking for costs. The case is being tried under 444(1) of the Education Act 1996 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/444

I received a letter yesterday with the following wording: We're reviewing your benefits and circumstances You must come to an office interview. Dear Miss --------- We need to talk to you about some changes that may affect your benefits payments. You must be available for this interview and have all the information listed on page 1 and 2 with you. It asks me to bring something proving who I am which the bank statements will do. It asks to bring my latest bank statements. I saw at the bottom it has a code FESL2T which many people on other forums has said is from the fraud department. My circumstances haven't changed I have sever anxiety and agoraphobia and I receive ESA and am in the work related activity group. I share a bank account with my sister purely because we both don't handle money well and it's easier to manage the money if it's all in one account. It's been this way for the whole time I've been on benefits and nothing has ever flagged before. I also got a personal loan and wondered if maybe that could have flagged. I literally don't talk to a single person, I'm scared of people and have no friends so I don't know anyone that would report me unless my adviser said something. Please help, I can't sleep at all and the interview isn't until the 3rd of January. I'm worrying myself sick.

The following story has been heavily reported in the media this week: A 20-year-old student has been fined a staggering £562 for a £2.20 journey after she was caught with the wrong ticket. Parys Lanlehin was caught using a return train ticket on the wrong day - and going in the wrong direction - on June 4, 2014. The University of Nottingham student was issued with a £20 penalty ticket on the Nottingham to Beeston train, but the court heard it was never paid. Lanlehin, of Walthamstow, London, then signed a declaration stating she was unaware of legal proceedings taking place in Nottingham at Stratford Magistrates Court. On Wednesday, the student was found guilty of boarding a train without a valid ticket after she failed to attend the case at Nottingham Magistrates Court. She was fined £220 with £300 prosecution costs and a £22 government surcharge. She was also ordered to pay the £20 penalty, which had been imposed when she was caught on the train. Magistrates gave Lanlehin two weeks to pay and issued a collection order, which could lead to bailiffs removing items from her home to cover the payment. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/29/university-student-forced-to-pay-562-for-220-train-journey-after/

Looking for some help, Wife was caught speeding doing 51 in a 40 zone. She has asked to attend court as they had the time at 8.46 (photo evidence) however where the photo was taken was at least 6 miles from where she works and starts work at 9am. The road was down to 1 lane due to the cycle lane being built and traffic was at peak time when she set off. She signed in at work for 8.59am and her case is that she couldn't have been pictured at the time stated as it would have been impossible to get the 6 miles in the allotted time they apparently caught her speeding. Not sure how this would hold up in court? I have warned her myself that the court could look at the view that the reason she got to work at the time she signed in for was because she was speeding. She has been driving for over 25 years and never had any speeding fines just lately she has had a spate of bad luck. in the last 12 months. She was caught doing 35 in a 30 by a road side camera and didn't notice the sign had changed from 60 to 30 in about 20 feet it was only me in the car with her at the time that suddenly clicked and said I'm sure that said 30 and we were crossing over the white lines as I said that and she hit the breaks but it was too late got the flashes from the camera. She took the speed awareness course for that one. She then got spotted by a mobile camera in Oct doing 48 in a 40 and took the points for that one. giving her 3 points She then got caught on the same stretch of road in Dec doing 51 in a 40 and this is the one she is going to argue over with the time. Start of Jan this year she was court doing 58 in a 50 after over taking a car doing 20mph and didn't notice it was a police van as there was no markings on it as it was facing forward. however when the letter came there was no photo evidence present as stated on the letter as she had slowed to 40 after overtaking the car and this could have been present on the image. I've asked the police for the photo but they said they didn't need to provide this as evidence for her speed but would produce it in court if they needed to. I have suggested that she just take the points for this one as well. This will take her to 6 points (not inc) the one she is going to court over that would take her to 9 points. She is worried and annoyed at the same time that in 25 years she's never had a speeding ticket and all these have come at once and scared she might lose her license. This would probably cause her to lose her job as couldn't get across the 7 miles journey to get our daughter to Nursery in time for her to start her job at 9am as 2 buses are needed to get where she works and in peak time wouldn't make it on time. Just wondering if anyone has gone through anything similar and could offer some advice.

Been going to Triage for nearly 2 years now, and I am in the work related group. Used to have to attend weekly and fortnightly sessions with other people till they put me onto monthly sessions quite some time ago, as they said they feel that I am not ready for work. So now I attend once a month, and it's a 1 to 1 with an adviser instead of a group. But, I was kept on the same ESA and not put into the support group. 3 weeks ago I had an appointment. It was scheduled for 10am. However, I was feeling ill the night before and didn't fall a sleep till around about 6.30am. I work up about 10.30am, and I immediately contacted Triage. They told me they would have to inform the Social that I had not attended my appointment. This is the 1st time, I have ever missed an appointment. Triage rescheduled my appointment for 2 weeks later, which I attended last week. They then said they wanted a quick chat with me yesterday, so I attended that too. So have had 2 appointments, and attended both since missing the one 3 weeks back. Received a letter from the DWP today saying that my ESA, has been stopped, till I start re attending my Triage appointments. I phone the DWP and told them that I have actually had 2 appointments, and been to both since missing that original appointment. he woman said that, they have had no word from Triage (I phoned Triage after the call and they said that had informed the DWP, but will call me later to see whats happening, to be honest, Triage probably hasn't informed the DWP, as they are not well organized) Anyway, the woman (at the DWP) told me that my payments will restart once they receive word. I said, so have I lost money? She said "Yeah, it's just a weeks payment so far" Just a weeks payment??? I am due Monday (always been paid on Saturday though) Starting to worry I won't even be paid if they haven't been informed from Triage that I have attended since missing the original appointment. But even if I do receive payment, they will deduct a weeks ESA from me for missing that 1 appointment. The first time I have ever done that, not by my own fault, and I phoned when I woke up. But they feel that's acceptable to take over £100 away because of this. Do they have the right to do that to me? P.S Just received a follow up call from the DWP, and the woman told me they have every right to take away 1 weeks benefit from me. I said well personally, that's crazy taking away £100 for missing an appointment. She said well, just like everybody else, if we miss appointments we lose money too by charges etc I didn't say this as it didn't cross my mind during the call but, who the hell would lose a weeks money by not attending a doctors, dentist, etc appointment? She finished off by saying, you only have to do minimum tasks such as attending once a month appointments, and you failed to do that. What a rude woman.

Finally managed to find a ES567SJP form online that I have printed off and started to complete. As I have MWA hanging over me, not sure how to answer some of the questions as not sure whether MWA counts as a job opportunity. Question 6 in part one asks - Are you willing and able to change the hours of your course so that they do not overlap with the hours you said you are available for work in your Jobseeker’s Agreement? Now if I answer yes to that will it be claimed I can do MWA and fit college around it? I have attached the form and the guidance they use. If anyone can shed any light then please help. I have a feeling that because I was referred to MWA the same day I found out I had an interview for college then they will use this to say the MWA takes priority and will have to give up the college course Thanks

A quick run down of my case. August 2012, started claiming ESA IR. Initial WCA appointment March 2013 (Missed due to severe illness), so our ESA was stopped, we appealed citing the reasons and providing proof and the decision to stop the benefit was overturned and our benefit continued. Then it took a good 5 months (Aug 2013) until I actually had my assessment. I was awarded 0 points, the assessor made up lies in the report and said I could do stuff that I was not even asked to do etc etc etc. So we appealed this, I must have put in the worlds biggest appeal papers, about 20 odd pages, braking every single descriptor down and how I believed I should have x amount of points. DWP re-looked at the decision and desided NOT to change the decision, so to tribunal it goes. I have been sending paper work an forms off to the tribunal ever since and actually thought I was getting quite close to my day in court with it being about 8 months since I appealed. Anyway, Yesterday (05/04/2014) I received a letter from DWP and it goes sort of as follows. Now, I know I should be happy that I have finally won, but I can't help feeling short changed here, I meet the descriptors for the support group regarding walking 50m etc etc. Now my questions I suppose... a) I am now due to be backdated £26 to week 14 of my claim which is around Dec 2012 until April 2014 (17 months @ £26pw = £1700 give or take) If I appeal the group placing will this put a hold on the backdated payment which can tke upto 6 weeks. That is my main worry as this money really could come in handy right now. b) Would appealing to the support group be cutting my nose of.... I do meet the descriptors to be in the support group! c) Does it look like DWP have re-looked at my case and thought that on balance they would lose at tribunal and have stopped it early??? Or are they trying something on to get me away from the support group which I truely belive I should be in? Any advice would be brilliant, and sorry for the long winded post. Dawn

Hi, I'm looking for some help. I have an outstanding parking ticket notice from October last year. I didn't have the money to pay so stuck my head in the sand and ignored it. Got a letter through saying a bailiff had been to my house and that I needed to pay by the next day or would take my goods. Rang the bailiff and said I don't have the money to pay it can you give me a week to find it which he did. After reading through lots of things im thinking I shouldn't of done this. the original charge is £200 but the bailiff has now added charges of £300 and wants £500 from me by Tuesday. Can I refuse to pay those charges as they are excessive? How would I go about doing this? Should I pay the ticket charge straight to the council? And finally im afraid they will take my car the car is in my name but is on finance which is in my mums name are they legally allowed to take it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

About 3 weeks ago a bailiff knocked my door to collect a council tax debt (£930) from approx 18 mnths ago (i totally forgot). I received a letter yesterday stating that they were coming to seize goods and the police will be accompanying them. I did not open the door to the bailiffs 3 weeks ago where he wanted to come inside to discuss the matter, I told him no and that he was to go away, he wouldn't go and started threatening locksmith (actually on the mobile phone with the locksmith) but he never came. The bailiff was at my place for about an hour sitting in his car and coming back to try again, I just told him to go away again and eventually he did. I am now waiting for him to come with police which could be anytime today, any advise please.

Following on from my other posts..... I've had three previous meetings with my employers over a grievance I raised almost a year ago. After the last meeting (I recorded it) and especially with the run up to it, enough was enough and I have now escalated it to an ET. Since starting my ET and on the same day they would have recieved a copy of ET1, I've had three different requests to attend three meetings, with three different people including capability and gross misconduct. I've already told them I hold no trust and confidence in them and I believe they are clearly incapable of following the rules and procedures and are making it up as they go along. With regards to the third meeting. I have already confirmed that I wanted to make a formal complaint when I had the last meeting that I recorded - I've told them numerous times I want to go ahead with it and have put it in writing at least 4 times, but they keep saying I need to do agree that I do want to go ahead and keeps going around in circles The question is, do I have to attend these meetings or even allow them to amend things now I have started an ET claim? I hold absolute no trust or confidence in them and IMO they have shown they are incapable of holding fair and honest meetings without malice and discrimination. On a last note. When I had previously requested a copy of policy and procedure on grievances, I was told that no such thing existed. I now have a copy of what they say did not exist in my posession