Showing results for tags 'sanctions'.
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Just looking for some advice, recently I asked my work coach at my Job Centre if the worst comes and I do face a sanction in the future while I am on Universal Credit, will my housing element be affected as well, and he said yes, is this true? I thought housing element won't be affected while on a sanction, or his he wrong? I just hope I don't end up on UC for too long, I am aiming to get into work ASAP.
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Hello there, Hopefully someone can help with this. My understanding is that under the old system, if you had sanctions on JSA but then won ESA the sanctions you had on JSA would not effect the ESA payments. I'm on Universal Credit however, and it's just recently occurred to me that the UC basic payment is the same benefit whether you are fit for work or are found to have limited capability. So any sanctions from before a successful WCA would be the same as after. Is this correct? My story is a bit long winded. I started UC back in late 2015 but was suffering with depression, so I did the whole fit note thing and had a WCA in 2016 but was found fit for work as I had been trying anti-depressents which had given me a boost which coincided with the WCA. It didn't last much longer and I got worse, started getting sanctions for not meeting commitment. I eventually managed to persuade someone, somewhere that my condition was worse so should get a new WCA. I also managed to overturn some sanctions after this by providing fit notes and saying I had a new WCA on the way. However, as I still wasn't meeting the commitment they kept asking why I'd not met it and I said the same thing as before, that I was sending fit notes and waiting for the new WCA. I assumed that would be fine, as the sanctions had been overturned before because of this, but then one day I got about 7 letters through the door at once all saying I was being sanctioned for 91 days each, so about two years total. I thought it must be a mistake, so I was quite confident with the reconsideration request, but the decision maker phoned me up and told me the previous overturning of sanctions had not been correct and that the new 2 year sanction would remain. I was pretty defeated by this and clocked up more sanctions to hit the full 3 years because I wasn't managing to meet the commitment. Anyway, I had my new WCA in 2017 but was found fit for work again. I went ahead with the reconsideration and appeal and my tribunal hearing is coming up in a month. I seem to remember that my work coach had said after the first sanctions that a successful WCA would make the sanctions disappear, but now that I'm looking I can't seem to find anything that says that, and the more I think about it and look at the regulations the more I think it isn't correct and that winning at the appeal won't actually make any financial difference as I'm still under the sanctions from before the WCA. Anyone got a definitive answer? Any help much appreciated -
Hi all Have applied for UC and soon have our interviews. OH is self-employed and works part-time. She doesn't drive, which severely restricts the number of clients she can take on. Should she face sanctions for failing to increase her business, how does that effect our claim overall? Does it just impact on the joint monthly standard allowance? Does it impact on the child element?
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Hi, I have a few disjointed questions about benefits fraud - specifically relating to universal credit. Are all Universal Credit benefit fraud cases looked at by the Single Fraud Investigation service? And is it correct that they can only sanction you with an Administrative Penalty now for lower monetary amounts - and not a Formal Caution? And does this Administrative Penalty appear on the PNC/a enhanced CRB/DBS check? Also, who would the Investigation Under Caution take place with? Is it still local authorities or has the Single Fraud Investigation Service taken over?
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Hello. I will try and be as brief as I can as this follows on from a thread I posted in the employment section which has now been resolved so I won’t go in to any details. I resigned and get full pay for the whole of November as well as full pay (Gardening leave) for December. Overall this was the right thing to do for me based on the likely outcome. My full pay went in today and will also do so for December as confirmed by HR. I resigned on medical grounds as my A&D got a lot worse and have been to the GP about this and all disciplinary action against me has been dropped. If DWP write to my employers or indeed another employer writes to them there will be no 'resigned under investigation' mandated. Now, I am in a UC area but was advised I should reapply for ESA and HB. I will only get ESA if my condition has got worse, I am seeing my GP again on Friday to discuss this. If my ESA claim fails it will be Universal Credit where I get a lot less. When I previously signed on and claimed HB my total payment was around £660pm. Under UC it seems I can only claim shared bedroom rate as I live at home with parents (private rent 2 bed) so my UC rate is around £580pm (used an on line calculator) This would leave me a shortfall of rent and leave me very short as the rest of my rent (50/50 with parents) would need to come out of my JSA element of UC. I also understand that if you voluntarily resign the JSA element of UC would carry a sanction but as I intend to claim ESA and HB initially based on medical reasons (I have sick notes and will get an updated one this week) I do not think there is any sanction, however, if my ESA claim fails and I do have to claim UC (housing and JSA elements) even if I am looking for some form of work based on my health and demeanour at the moment and my resignation being on health grounds I also do not think I should have a sanction held against me as I still have rent and bills to pay. If I do not get ESA and have to claim UC is there any discretionary top up I can claim? If not I guess this is all my fault anyway and I will have to suffer and get on to gas and electric, credit card, SKY etc. and reduce payments and make a 'deal' with them until I can start paying more again. I have no savings either. Can someone also advise that if I am paid my salary on Dec 16th taking me to Jan 16th at what point should claim my ESA and HB or UC? As it takes 6 weeks can I claim anytime soon citing I am no longer employed from the end of December and funds run out on Jan 16th so that I can get my payments sooner rather than later? If I have nothing for 6 weeks (is it backdated?) not sure how I am going to pay my rent or bills! In addition to all of this I also have an overpayment of £1100 working tax credits to pay back but when I spoke to them about this they said recovery is based on circumstances and won'tbe until the next financial year anyway Many thanks in advance -
When a sanction is applied from what I have read there seems to be a waiting period of 15 days before people who fit into the non vulnerable group can apply for a hardship payment. http://www.cpag.org.uk/content/ask-cpag-online-can-you-claim-hardship-payment-jsa-or-esa you, or your partner, are pregnant; you are responsible for a child under 16 or a qualifying young person; you or your partner have a chronic health condition or you would qualify for a disabilty premium; you are caring for a severely disabled person.; or you or your partner are aged 16 or 17 and are in hardship. I do not fall into those categories, is this information correct or do they make allowances for claimants who have no family and friends they can borrow from nor access to pay day loans.
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CEOs of companies which fail to prevent problems with data security following cyber attacks face having part of their pay withheld under proposals outlined by a committee of MPs, which has also called for disclosure of data protection strategies in annual reports The Select Committee report recommended: Making advice on claiming compensation more readily available. Solicitors to provide advice to data breach victims Checking if existing measures are adequate. Clearer upfront info on cancelling contracts in the event of a data breach. Fines for companies that fail to guard against cyber hacks https://www.cchdaily.co.uk/mps-propose-tougher-ceo-sanctions-over-data-security-breaches The Select Committee's full report is here: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmcumeds/148/148.pdf -
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/benefit-sanctions-against-people-with-mental-health-problems-up-by-600-per-cent-a6731971.html 609% is a massive increase and shows how flawed the current system is. I have seen with my own eyes how the work program can affect people on ESA with mental health issues who have been found fit to work react to some of these pseudo psychiatric workshops they are now pushing on people. -
" The Department for Work and Pensions has admitted using made-up stories from fictional claimants to demonstrate the positive impact of benefit sanctions. A DWP leaflet featured one welfare claimant, "Sarah", who said she was "really pleased" a cut to her benefits had encouraged her to improve her CV. " But after a Freedom of Information request by website Welfare Weekly, the DWP said they were not real claimants. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33974674 -
Hi. I had a medical last month with ATOS, and got a letter recently putting me in 'work related activity group' . I then got an appointment with the job centre which I went to last week. It was basically a woman talking what to me, with what sounded like jibberish for 10 minutes before handing me a paper leaflet called 'work programme' , it didn't really have a lot of information on it. Yesterday I got a phone call from another lady from a company called 'prospects' we were on the phone for about half an hour whilst she reeled off bizarre questions which had no relevance to my situation whatsoever, she also didn't really know why I was on ESA . and said I had been found fit for work which is why I'm on the work programme . But if I had been found 'fit for work' then would I not be on JSA instead ?! I have been told to expect a letter or a call next week from my 'new advisor' who will arrange an appointment with me. I a!m ever so confused now. Theres no way I can sit in any 'group inductions' or go off on any courses, not at the moment anyway. I'm trying to remain calm but this has panicked me no end. Am I suppose to be on a 'work programme' so soon? And what does it entail? -
Received a standard letter template from the Co-op, hopefully attached? However, it wasn't until I re-read their missive that I noticed the wording they used. "Continued misuse of your account means that we can impose restrictions to your banking facilities, including your debit and credit cards, or even close your account" Now considering this is only the second time I have bounced a direct debit, I find their language very threatening, quite how depriving me of £30 is ever going to force me to not "misuse" my account is totally beyond me? After all, isn't the reason why these DD bounced because I didn't have enough money in there in the first place? No wonder the finance industry is in such a mess, I rang them (Truecall) and spoke to a pleasant enough lady who told me they can only waiver bank fees once in a 12 month period, when I told her that the only payments going into my account between now and their attempted 'charge' of £30 is going to be my benefit money, it sort of fell on deaf ears, 'it's in the terms and conditions' yadda yadda yadda, 'were allowed to take money out of the account' yadda yadda yadda. So letter of complaint is going out first thing tomorrow, along with my thoughts on why I feel their charges are unfair, and if they wish I will send them a letter of appropriation. In the meantime I'm looking for another bank! -
I ain't sure if i can post this here so plz delete if not allowed? If allowed then brilliant because I KNOW that this affects alot of us (even me)! So please sign and let's hope this can stop this bully advisers from doing this! OR AT LEAST TRY TOO! :/ https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/benefit-sanctions-must-be-stopped-without-exceptions-in-uk Make ur vote count!
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It Has been announced that the Work and Pensions Committee is to conduct an enquiry in to benefit sanctions imposed by the DWP. Further details: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news/benefit-sanctions-launch/ Anyone who has had to fight an unjust sanction, either instigated by a WP/CWP provider, or imposed by the DWP is urged to make a submission to the enquiry - If enough evidence is submitted, there may be a chance that the whole process will be subjected to a radical overhaul. -
Reviewing some of the running live memos issued to all Work Programme providers, and I came across WP138. The DWP have kindly issued a WP08 (sanction referral form) with embedded "helpful hints and tips" along with an "aide memoire". A few nuggets of information hidden in there that could be used to appeal against an unjust sanction - One that springs out is on the issue of posting a Mandatory Activity Notice: If you receive a MAN, the envelope should always be kept and the date & time it dropped through the letterbox noted on it - Worthwhile if the WP provider pulls the "send the MAN out Fri. for a Mon. app. at 9AM). On a more worrying note, The DWP hints at looking at making the issuing of a MAN by way of email or text message an acceptable method of delivery - Personally, I don't have a mobile phone, and do not regard emails as a reliable means of communication. In addition, electronic communication is a low cost route. Paper and stamps cost time and money which eats in to the WP providers profit margin Copies of the documents attached.
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Spotted this thread on rightsnet.org and it might be worth keeping an eye on it. http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/6844/ Early days in the thread yet, but it seems, as ever that there's a great deal of floundering and confusion about referrals for repeat ESA assessments being deferred. This is the first mention I have seen anywhere about possible use of the Equality law to defend against future claims of discrimination made by sick and disabled ESA WRAG claimants who are all in the firing line for sanction. First attempt at posting a link, hope it's approved!
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A friend of mine had a 13:00 appointment with the DWP. When he got there, he was told the appointment had been changed to 10:00. They claim to have sent him a letter, but he did not receive one (I know this as a fact - we live at the same address). Now they are threatening him with sanctions. While he was there, someone else had the identical problem and received the identical threat. What can my friend do?
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hi, i was sanctioned for 3 months, but i appealed against it, & won.. could anyone tell me what happens now thank you in advance.
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I got sanctioned twice during the last tax year 2013/2014 these sanctions were later overturned will the ni credits which were stopped during the time i was sanctioned untill the sanction was overturned be credited
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Can I be sanctioned for insulting my rude JCP advisor?
Flagstaff posted a topic in Benefits and HMRC
Hi, first post and I wouldn't normally sound so rude, but today's situation has really got my blood boling. I'm normally the most polite woman you could ever meet. But my JCP advisor has had it in for me ever since I was assigned her a few months ago. Sometimes people just take an instant dislike to one another, nothing can be done. However, she has all the power. She always keeps within the rules and so do I. But recently she's been coming across to me as really insulting, denigrating and suspicious when I talk about my anxiety issues. She dismisses them like I just need to stop indulging myself and pull myself together. I'm on JSA at the moment, and reading some of the posts here it sounds like I might have an easier life if I just went to my GP and got a sick note for anxiety to get ESA (?) and get her off my back. What I want to know is if I explain to her next time I sign why exactly it is I think she's a nasty *****, as long as I've done all my jobsearches, fulfilled all my jobseeker directions, can she STILL sanction me for being insulting and rude? I don't want to spite my nose, but I don't think I can bite my tongue much longer with her. Any advice really appreciated as what used to be normal life stress is fast becoming something I think I deserve ESA for. -
A Selection Of Especially Stupid Sanctions - article dated July 2013 You can read much more by following the link.... http://birminghamagainstthecuts.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/a-selection-of-especially-stupid-sanctions/ -
Hi, I have some questions that I could do with some advice on if you good people would take the time to read the following. A bit of background first. I have had severe agoraphobia for the past 20 years and am currently on ESA in the support group. I was initially put in WRAG but appealed and won the tribunal that was held in my home. DWP were not contesting that I had agoraphobia just the degree to which it affected my daily life. My retirement age is 66 but I have a private pension that will start paying out later this year. It's not a huge amount and I do understand that it will be deducted from my ESA, which I have no problem with at all. I'm trying to mitigate possible future problems to try and ease the anxiety I constantly feel about future assessments in case I'm put back into the WRAG group. I would not be able to attend any WFI's but DWP might insist and then sanction me. So the question is, can they sanction my pension? i.e I believe as things are now they can remove the personal allowance part of WRAG as a sanction but not the WRAG component. That would leave me with £28.75 WRAG component plus my pension which would give me a weekly amount a few pounds short of the £72.40 that the law says you need to live on. Does anyone know what would happen given this scenario? Could they take my private pension as well and leave me just the £28.75? Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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I signed on this morning and my advicer gived me a leaflet about payments been sent early but don't understand when my payments will go in my bank and just wondering if anyone know from this: Expected Issue date Payment for Period Ending 15/03/2013 15/03/2013 27/03/2013 29/03/2013 12/04/2013 12/04/2013 I know the top one as I signed on today and it will go in my bank on the 20th (on wednesday) But when will the 27th go in? is it on the 29th it will go in my bank or the 3rd? I should signed on the 29th of March but due to been good friday Jobcentre is shut. Any advice would be great, cheers
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How long do I need to wait for them to decide if I require a sanction I was given a form to reclaim my benefits but that's all she did how will I know what the decision is as it already been 2 weeks without money
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Im currently attending Maximus on the work programme.On Friday they sent me a letter saying that i had missed an appointment on the previous day.The problem is i had no notification about this meeting.They did not tell me face to face and they never sent me a letter out by post.I emailed my advisor on Friday about it and all she said was a letter will have being sent out and that it is out of her hands.She also said she has notified the jobcentre. So is there much i can do or do i just wait for the sanction letter from the dwp.How long should i wait for the letter? Am i also sanctioned straight away and my jsa payments stopped immediately or do i have a chance to give my side to dwp?
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Hi, myself and my partner have both been claiming income based JSA for a short while now. We've always had the same person in our 'signing on sessions' and have never had any issues until today when we went to sign on. We had a different person from before, and when examining our job search asked my partner if she had been using Universal Job Match. She told them she hadn't as she had better luck finding more appropriate jobs elsewhere. Her job search sheet reflected this, she has always applied for at least 3 jobs every week and had managed about 3 or 4 interviews with different employers over a 5 month period. She told her that she would unfortunately have to refer our case and possibly have our benefits docked, just because she hadn't used Universal Job Match? Is this right? I can't for the life of me understand how this is fair. We both apply for a combination of about 12 jobs in total every two weeks, and always check job sites daily (such as Indeed, Reed etc. ones with better functionality than Job Match) we put our reference numbers down and everything can be very easily traced and backed up if calls were made etc. So why just because my partner hasn't used the Universal Job Match site would we have our money taken off us? As long as we are applying for jobs and writing down the steps we are taking in detail to find work, surely there shouldn't be an issue? Or am I totally off the mark here? Any help or advice is very much appreciated. Henry.
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