Being made homeless due to Job Centre

[Casper's Ghost]

What happens if they think I did this to myself? I had no choice, my debt was nearly in thousands, and I don't have that money. I am even selling my sofa and coffee table for money.

[LaughingGirl]

Let's hear what housing and the cab have to say first, casper. as soon as you've been to see them, let up know what they've said.

[Casper's Ghost]

OK

[san_d]

I am not depressed, just a bit disappointed as I've finnaly moved out of my mum's

house and now they've ruined my dreams. Can the council put me in a hostel?

 

Let me rewind this a bit. Your "dream" was living on the dole and get your own apartment paid by the Council?

[Casper's Ghost]

OK. They don't give me enough time to go there. Job Centre at 12, and they close at 3, I think, not sure. Also got to change address with Ingeus.

[LaughingGirl]

Maintaining your signing record is the most important thing, but it's really important that you get face to face advice about your housing and benefits. couldn't you go there before you sign?

[scotgal68]

Those comments were not meant to patronising in the slightest, I was trying to impress upon Casper the need to take advice given. I'm sorry you felt that. At least Casper is now attempting to get help from CAB. so my advice was useful. I took the time to read every single thread to see if I could offer anything else because I was shocked at the way Casper has been treated. It was only after I read

everything and realised Casper had been given lots of

helpful advice, did I chose to post in the way I did. I will think twice next time incase you're policing the posts ;-)

[scotgal68]

Let me rewind this a bit. Your "dream" was living on the dole and get your own apartment paid by the Council?

 

Omg! If this isn't patronising and worthy of the Daily Mail, I don't know what is

[Casper's Ghost]

To San_d. My dream was to move out of my mum's house since the age of 18. I have tried to find a job since leaving school. The council refused me help. My nephew has been living with us since he was 3. And aged 12 has NEVER had his own bed. That was the main reason for leaving. My poor nephew has never had a bed, the damn council didn't help my mum with that. She said move my nephew and brother in the same room. Excuse me. They can't. These rooms in the house are small and not enough room for 2 beds.

 

I phoned my dad and he is taking me to CAB, can't make an appointment as it's a drop in centre. If that is no help then I will go to my housing service. Also got to take photos of my sofa and coffee table to sell. Need money after all. Just glad I saved up £7-9 over the year.

[worried33]

Regarding your brother in law, if his job seekers agreement stipulates that he applies for 10 jobs a week and he doesn't, then yes...he can be sanctioned.

 

I can't answer your question regarding your council banding, I'm afraid. At the minute, I'm concerned that you've made yourself voluntarily homeless by giving up your tenancy before you've received a formal eviction order. If that is the case, it would have a negative impact on your banding.

 

It is completely essential that you seek face to face advice at this point. Whereabouts in the country are you?

 

Do you have any issues that might make you fall into the 'vulnerable' category? Do you suffer from depression or anything like that?

 

Seems a double edged sword.

 

Someone can wait till they formally evicted, so basically delaying the inevitable, it wont stop the inevitable just delay it barring a lottery win.

 

Or they can preempt such a situation and as you call it voluntarily homeless, but it means they dont have an eviction on their record which should logically make it easier to get back in with the same landlord in future. The system in this case is backwards and punishes responsible people.

 

I think moving out when eviction is inevitable but not yet carried out shouldnt class as vuluntarily and clearly the system has that wrong in my eyes.

 

Sorry for my rambling.

 

The way the system is setup tho yeah you would get the most help by been officially evicted and especially if homeless for 3 months or more as well afterwards.

[LaughingGirl]

To San_d. My dream was to move out of my mum's house since the age of 18. I have tried to find a job since leaving school. The council refused me help. My nephew has been living with us since he was 3. And aged 12 has NEVER had his own bed. That was the main reason for leaving. My poor nephew has never had a bed, the damn council didn't help my mum with that. She said move my nephew and brother in the same room. Excuse me. They can't. These rooms in the house are small and not enough room for 2 beds.

 

I phoned my dad and he is taking me to CAB, can't make an appointment as it's a drop in centre. If that is no help then I will go to my housing service. Also got to take photos of my sofa and coffee table to sell. Need money after all. Just glad I saved up £7-9 over the year.

 

Good to hear that you're going to get there, Casper. Please let us know how you get on.

 

Or they can preempt such a situation and as you call it voluntarily homeless, but it means they dont have an eviction on their record which should logically make it easier to get back in with the same landlord in future. The system in this case is backwards and punishes responsible people.

 

Unfortunately, not actually getting to the stage where a court order is required won't really help much in terms of securing alternative accommodation...they will still quote significant rent arrears on any reference they gave you.

[Casper's Ghost]

Went upto CAB after signing on. They gave me a phone number for shelter to make an appointment at the CAB.

They also gave me foodbank voucher, which I thought I wasn't eligible for as I am staying with my mum.

I got emotional after going to the council. A nice woman saw me, she said fill in this council form so I can bid, while she gets someone to speak to me. When I saw the other woman she was the useless one who said my nephew and brother could sleep together.

She also said my mum was making me homeless.

She wasn't polite and said 'well, there is nothing I can do. You'll just have to move back home'. I said to her, 'CAB gave me a shelter number' her 'well we can refer you, but you'll have to wait hours'. Seriously! I didn't have the time to wait, had to pick up my nephew from school. And had no transport. I didn't wait there as I was crying. Stupid woman.

If I get this shelter room, there is nothing they could do. So I'm permanently homeless.

Mum or dad has no room for me. My dad lives in a retirement home.

 

What do I do? I can't complain about the woman, wish they got me another person to see.

[LaughingGirl]

OK, I'm getting confused again. The CAB gave you a phone number for Shelter so you could make another appointment with the CAB? I'm not sure what you mean here, Casper.

 

What did CAB say to you about your Job Seekers Allowance?

 

Don't worry about the lady at the Council, you've got bigger fish to fry than worrying about making a complaint about her.

[Casper's Ghost]

They gave me the number for shelter accommodation, but they do the interview at CAB. The CAB can't refer me to shelters, I have to do this myself.

[LaughingGirl]

OK, sorry Casper. I understand now.

 

I think talking to Shelter would actually be a good start. At the end of the day, they specialise in these situations, and they may also be able to help you with your JSA as well, or at least advise you. Really, until you get some kind of income it's very hard to see how you can live independently anyway.

[Casper's Ghost]

What do I do if they are full? I think there are some outside of town, but not sure. I can look and see.

[LaughingGirl]

To be honest with you Casper, when you talk to Shelter they'll present you with all the options that you have.

 

One thing that you could look at, for example, is getting a room in a shared house. Your housing benefit will cover that completely, and most often all bills are included which would be a huge benefit to you while you are still sanctioned. Then all you'd have to worry about is your food. They're also usually fully furnished, so that would be another weight off your mind.

 

You do have to sort out your JSA, though. I can't stress that to you enough, and Flumps has given you some really excellent advice on how to do that.

[Casper's Ghost]

I can't get hardship payment, CAB told me that. I was going to make an appointment a the Job Centre so I can ask if I can get my JSA back, as I have been going to all their appointments and Ingeus too.

[LaughingGirl]

Great stuff.

 

I didn't think you'd get hardship, but I'm glad to hear you're going to ask them to reconsider the decision on your JSA. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on that one.

[Casper's Ghost]

I'll phone the shelter line tomorrow as I came home late this afternoon.

I have no idea what to ask for, just an appointment? Don't know what shelters are like. My brother went to one. My dad said it's a simple bedrom, kitchen and living room. With bathroom. Unfurnished except for cooker and fridge.I think.

[flumps1976]

Casper you won't be offered an appointment at JCP to discuss your sanction and reconsideration sorry, you have already gone down the reconsideration and appeal process and as you are at work program they are now your adviser so there won't be anything else JCP can do for you.

 

My earler posts have directed you to go back to your work program adviser to discuss if there is anything you can do to have the sanction looked at again, have you done this?

 

I really wish I could offer something more positive x

[LaughingGirl]

Sorry Flumps...should have picked up that Casper needs to go back to her WPA rather than the JCP.

[flumps1976]

Laughing girl don't worry, I honestly think thaqt poor casper is struggling to work out what to do first.

Personally my advice is to get to shelter tomorrow to enquire what help is potentially available, then go to the work program before they shut down for Christmas to discuss the sanction but as long as they Casper is aware that the request won't be considered before Christmas even if the can request a reconsideration now that they are attending and complying fully.

With regards to the housing situation and possibly moving back in with Mum, they are suggesting that the brother and nephew should share a bedroom, thats probably due to the new rules for Housing Benefit isn't it where a same sex children under 16 are supposed to share a bedroom unless there is medical need for a seperate bedroom.

Also the local authority where I live advise people to stop put on their home until the eviction notice is served and d-day approaches before the can consider help with rehousing. Some local authorities are different I appreciate that but mst seem to be taking this line simply due to the length of te queues for accommodation requests.

[LaughingGirl]

Completely agree that Shelter should be the first port of call.

 

Also have to agree that generally, an eviction notice would usually be served before LHA help can be given but it's not always that simple. My gut feeling is that, in this situation, shared accommodation would be the best solution.

[Casper's Ghost]

Oh, I am shy. My dad has been trying to put me on his list, I mean for bidding. Which he was, he has been trying to bid on 2 bed bungalows.