How long does a reconsideration of a sanction take?

[snoid01]

If your JSA is sanctioned you first submit a reconsideration form, then if that is rejected an appeal form.

 

So i submitted my reconsideration form 2 weeks ago, i forgot to ask at my signing today if there was ny news though, but I've heard anywhere between 2 weeks and 6 months. But I've also heard that the reconsideration should be quite quick as it's the appeal that takes forever.

 

I was also told that i would receive something in writing as to the decision, but i also appealed for hardship and was told over the phone when i was inquiring about something else that the hardship request was rejected even though i have nothing in writing about the hardship as of yet. I guess they will come to a decision one way or another but just wondering time scales?

 

Well all these new(i assume) JSA sanctions for missing back to work appointments will certainly keep the DWP on their feet, that's for sure they must be inundated with paperwork.

[flumps1976]

There is no specific length of time involved I'm afraid, it depends on staffing levels, firstly at the JCP office where the paperwork needs to be put together and invoiced to the DMA team and then sent via courier to the DMA team.

The DMA team will receive the request and it will be referred to a different memeber of staff that made the original decision who will look at the new and additional information that you supplied before they can determine if the decision can be changed or not.

If the decision can't be changed then it will go appeal which is approx a 6 months wait.

[snoid01]

There is no specific length of time involved I'm afraid, it depends on staffing levels, firstly at the JCP office where the paperwork needs to be put together and invoiced to the DMA team and then sent via courier to the DMA team.

The DMA team will receive the request and it will be referred to a different memeber of staff that made the original decision who will look at the new and additional information that you supplied before they can determine if the decision can be changed or not.

If the decision can't be changed then it will go appeal which is approx a 6 months wait.

 

 

Thanks, why does it take 6 months?

[flumps1976]

The appeal is heard by an independant tribunal I don't know the reasons why it takes 6 months (approx) to hear the appeal sorry.

[flumps1976]

Are you on the work programme at the moment and was it a WP appointment that you missed?

Hardship is not payable to WP participants unless they fall into a vunerable group.

Hardship for customers who are not yet mandated to the WP is different and is usually payable from the 15th calender day of the sanction unless a member of the benefit claim falls into a vunerable group and then it is payable from the first day of the sanction.

[snoid01]

Are you on the work programme at the moment and was it a WP appointment that you missed?

Hardship is not payable to WP participants unless they fall into a vunerable group.

Hardship for customers who are not yet mandated to the WP is different and is usually payable from the 15th calender day of the sanction unless a member of the benefit claim falls into a vunerable group and then it is payable from the first day of the sanction.

 

It's A4E and your right they said i wasn't vulnerable, so how come if your not on the WP you don't need to be vulnerable for hardship whereas if you are you do, i think having no food is vulnerable?

 

Do you work for the JC?

[flumps1976]

Yes I work for JCP, once you are with the WP the rules for hardship change and you only qualify if you fall into the vunerable group.

I don't know the reasons behind it but I suspect it's to ensure that you do attend the meetings with the providers and if you eventually hit the (current) 26 week sancton you have to show that you have re-engaged with the provider and they can the refer back to DMA for the sanction to be reviewed as you are now participating in full but they can actually request that you attend weekly or more frequently for a period between 4 and 8 weeks before they refer back to DMA.

If hardship was payable during that period there would be no financial incentive to return to the programme.

The sanctions are changing and it will eventually be increased to a maximum of 3 years as opposed to the current 26 weeks!

 

With regards to the food issue they would state that you could attend a food bank and could be given a referral for that.

[snoid01]

Yes I work for JCP, once you are with the WP the rules for hardship change and you only qualify if you fall into the vunerable group.

I don't know the reasons behind it but I suspect it's to ensure that you do attend the meetings with the providers and if you eventually hit the (current) 26 week sancton you have to show that you have re-engaged with the provider and they can the refer back to DMA for the sanction to be reviewed as you are now participating in full but they can actually request that you attend weekly or more frequently for a period between 4 and 8 weeks before they refer back to DMA.

If hardship was payable during that period there would be no financial incentive to return to the programme.

The sanctions are changing and it will eventually be increased to a maximum of 3 years as opposed to the current 26 weeks!

 

With regards to the food issue they would state that you could attend a food bank and could be given a referral for that.

 

 

Thanks again, are these sanctions a new thing, i take it it's the "old Tories" again, or have they been in for a while?

 

26 weeks is long enough, might as well be 3 years. So i have been asked to take a course at A4E and then a possible job relating to this new skill, something i wouldn't even have considered, i know within myself that i won't last long at a job at the moment, i technically probably could claim ESA(but maybe not, i'm not sure), so i don't have much choice but to take this course and job. I won't last long in it that is for sure anyway. So what happens then if i get fired or whatever?

[flumps1976]

It all depends on how long you remain employed, as you are mandated to the providers for a 2 year period if you are dismissed or leave within that 2 year period and reclaim JSA you will be referred directly back to the provider to continue with them until theend of your provision.

DMA may look at the reasons why your job ended and you could receive a sanction but as the scenario hasn't yet happened noone can give you a definite answer with regards to the DMA part.