Mum from Laindon claims she lost job after mix up over benefit payment (From Echo)

I totally sympathise with this lady as the same happened to me - BUT it was all sorted out over the phone, OK I had to call about 3 different numbers before it was resolved, but there was no need to actually attend the job centre. In fact, they actively discourage you from doing this.

She may as well just stay signed on for good. People on benefits seem to have the good life now adays.

This is not an isolated incident. The system is designed to automatically stop payment until the computers are updated by JC staff. Often the claimant is not aware the payment has not been processed until the day arrives when they need their money. There ought to be some kind of email notification, to explain when this has happened so ppl can fix the problem in advance. But if you have ever seen JC's IT systems you will know that their systems are antiquated, and in desperate need of updating.

I am sorry Lisa but are you that hard up that you had to take time of from a job you have been trying to get for six months to sort out a benifit claim. Sorry but you have your prioritys in the wrong place.

Agreed not isolated. My neighbour was given wrong info at a job centre but knew it was wrong - not this one - told to ring newcastle in front of them, did so, who said 'dont they know what they are doing there' obviously not. They are not trained enough and do not know what it is like to have to make ends meet when there is no money to fall back on.

jolllyboy wrote:
Agreed not isolated. My neighbour was given wrong info at a job centre but knew it was wrong - not this one - told to ring newcastle in front of them, did so, who said 'dont they know what they are doing there' obviously not. They are not trained enough and do not know what it is like to have to make ends meet when there is no money to fall back on.

So true - not so sure about Charlie the Clown behind the camera though, is it the same one who got the Belfairs silly shoes and lost dog pictures taken! Oh of course he is working on the Asda catalogue .....

i was claiming jsa when i got made redundant, when i cancelled claim after i got a job, i was advised final payment may be delayed. i never once felt the need to go into job centre to chase it up. Sorry but her priorities are all wrong. Not news, just another workshy blaming someone else for her inability to keep a job

Would really like to thank the Echo for bringing this issue to the public forum. I have been COMPLETELY misquoted, NONE of this issues I had expected to be raised have been, so now I am going to have my say.

I did NOT feel the need to go to the Job Centre to claim my outstanding Job Seekers allowance, quite the opposite in fact. I had endeavoured through Email and phone calls to get the situation sorted out - and the Echo have failed to inform you all that, yes, I WAS that financially strapped. And OVER THE PHONE I tried to claim the return to work benefit I was ENTITLED to, but could not do that because i could NOT attend the Job Centre because I WAS AT WORK. So I agreed to close my claim down then and there (on the phone) on the understanding that my last JSA payment would be available for me to draw on that fateful Friday so I COULD PUT THE PETROL IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK. And the jobCentre failed. I would also like to correct this article in that 1. NOBODY apologised to me. 2. I actually had to get my local MP involved to EVEN GET THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENT DUE TO ME SORTED OUT - which it was, granted. Just too late. 3. I certainly DID NOT WISH TO ATTEND THE JOB CENTRE - AND WOULD HAVE BY NO MEANS PRIORITISED THIS OVER MY JOB. I just wanted the funds that were due to me so I could get to work. Now - I am intrigued... those that are saying my priorities are in the wrong place, where exactly is it that they should have been? Do explain? Im intrigued.

here we go again within the forum attacking people on benefits saying that everyone who claims benefits is work shy!! false have you not read the article it says very clearly that she has worked but was made redundant!
Lisa you have my sympathy that the job centre failed you through no fault of your own.
Why do some people and Politicians assume that everyone who claims benefits is work shy?
Not everyone on benefits is work shy, single parents have a full time job looking after their kids, people with long term illnesses and disabilities and their carers (not every disabled person claims benefits lots are working, even more have been employed until places like Remploy closed).
Not everyone on JSA is work shy, there is not enough work for everyone, those who don’t actively look for work or who cant prove they are actively seeking work then they should lose their benefits.
Would like to point out that carers SAVE the U.K. Money in some cases having to work 24 hours a day 7 days a week, if they got paid MINIMUM wage of £6.08 per hour 24 hours a day 7 days a week they should be paid £1,021.44 before deductions a week compare that with just £56 per week they actually get. Also not all equipment is supplied, we have to buy them ourselves without any government funding these things can cost thousands of pounds e.g. its costing upwards of £35,000 to give an operation so a sufferer of cerebral palsy can walk.

Don’t target the vulnerable in society, target those who avoid paying tax, M.P.s if you think state benefit is too much to live on, I suggest you try living on it for a MONTH see how you cope going without food some weeks just so you can have heating or electric, and no dipping into your vast savings or mp expenses!
Stop paying £millions in overseas aid to countries that don't need it, stop wasting money on foreign criminals (not just the high profile cases) who cant be deported because it breaches their human rights, what about the victims human rights?

Lisabelle wrote:
Would really like to thank the Echo for bringing this issue to the public forum. I have been COMPLETELY misquoted, NONE of this issues I had expected to be raised have been, so now I am going to have my say.

how strange, the press miquoting someone, Oops my mistake they do it all the time, they report things out of context, don't tell the whole story, then put a spin on the story.

Its shocking - when you read how the Echo have twisted the story leaving out the salient point that someone on benefits NEEDED petrol to get to work. Not cheap that petrol is it?

As for the idiots who think being on benefits is easy - like Lisa I've done this after being made redundant, during my pregnancy and again a year ago when I had to leave a job as I was having a breakdown. Its damned hard - its not enough to live on and spare cash goes on your kids not on petrol.

Lisa is lucky that its the first time she's been out of work since she graduated. Not something many people can say.

to all thoes that are attacking other people on job sekers allowance yeah i dont agriee with the way the job centre works i am on it as well and it was done to me but for thoes that are working if u loose your job u would have no alertnivite to turn to benefits to support your self as it is very hard to fing a bloody job in essex the only possable job people can get in these towns is being a drug dealer which half if south essex is a drug dealer and it fuuckks of on the way the govement works enough said about it i do feel sorry for the people that are having a hard tome with the goverment but no matter how much we argue about it wont get anything done i hope this lady sorts it out good on you lady for taking it to the papers

Return to work benefit? I returned to work a fortnight after being made redundant having never sought nor received any benefits. What is return to work benefit? Is that not wages?

Lisabelle wrote:
I did NOT feel the need to go to the Job Centre to claim my outstanding Job Seekers allowance, quite the opposite in fact. I had endeavoured through Email and phone calls to get the situation sorted out - and the Echo have failed to inform you all that, yes, I WAS that financially strapped. And OVER THE PHONE I tried to claim the return to work benefit I was ENTITLED to, but could not do that because i could NOT attend the Job Centre because I WAS AT WORK. So I agreed to close my claim down then and there (on the phone) on the understanding that my last JSA payment would be available for me to draw on that fateful Friday so I COULD PUT THE PETROL IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK. And the jobCentre failed. I would also like to correct this article in that 1. NOBODY apologised to me. 2. I actually had to get my local MP involved to EVEN GET THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENT DUE TO ME SORTED OUT - which it was, granted. Just too late. 3. I certainly DID NOT WISH TO ATTEND THE JOB CENTRE - AND WOULD HAVE BY NO MEANS PRIORITISED THIS OVER MY JOB. I just wanted the funds that were due to me so I could get to work. Now - I am intrigued... those that are saying my priorities are in the wrong place, where exactly is it that they should have been? Do explain? Im intrigued.

How did The Echo find out Lisa? I am sincerely sorry for your situation but when you find people at the JobCentre in tears with similar stories it beggars belief - can you put a smiley face on Facebook now please!

Calling the Job centres etc can be very frustating.. Whilst been off sick from work I have made several complaints about the way my claim had been dealt with, my payment day is thursday ,once my payment was not paid in, I called the offices and was told it would be in my account within 24 hours, it wasn't, I called again, told it would be paid within 2 hours, it wasn't, Called the offices again, was on hold (in a queue) for over an hour, the recorded voice informed callers the offices were open 8am-5pm, I hung up at 5.15pm
Monday morning I called again, was told no one answers calls after 4pm on a Friday , so going home at 5pm isn't delayed!!
The money I recieve is money Ive paid in over 25 years of working!
I have sympathy for the lady.

Lisabelle wrote:
I did NOT feel the need to go to the Job Centre to claim my outstanding Job Seekers allowance, quite the opposite in fact. I had endeavoured through Email and phone calls to get the situation sorted out - and the Echo have failed to inform you all that, yes, I WAS that financially strapped. And OVER THE PHONE I tried to claim the return to work benefit I was ENTITLED to, but could not do that because i could NOT attend the Job Centre because I WAS AT WORK. So I agreed to close my claim down then and there (on the phone) on the understanding that my last JSA payment would be available for me to draw on that fateful Friday so I COULD PUT THE PETROL IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK. And the jobCentre failed. I would also like to correct this article in that 1. NOBODY apologised to me. 2. I actually had to get my local MP involved to EVEN GET THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENT DUE TO ME SORTED OUT - which it was, granted. Just too late. 3. I certainly DID NOT WISH TO ATTEND THE JOB CENTRE - AND WOULD HAVE BY NO MEANS PRIORITISED THIS OVER MY JOB. I just wanted the funds that were due to me so I could get to work. Now - I am intrigued... those that are saying my priorities are in the wrong place, where exactly is it that they should have been? Do explain? Im intrigued.

I'd have thought it reasonable to expect that when you get a job that you would have fares to pay to get to work, normally for a month until you get your first salary. That you have not made provision for that shows a lack of planning.
Don't know how you got the job, but if it was through the job centre then couldn't you have got a train, then you would get free fares and only need the car to get to the station
http://www.c2c-onlin
e.co.uk/about_us/pre
ss_centre/latest_new
s/jobs_seekers_recei
ve_free_rail_tickets

You can't save money for an event you don't know might happen, I had to go on job seekers years ago, the money I used to live on, travel to interviews etc. then I got a top job in London, but had exhausted my savings. Travel for the month was £300 alone!

Luckily I was able to borrow this and pay it back. But it shows that those on the benefit should be given support to get back into work. If I'd have gone in and been offered a travel to work loan for the first month it would have been appreciated...

Honestly the ignorance out there is completely breathtaking! No. I didn't have a months worth of money behind me because I had been unemployed for six months. And paying over 800 a month in rent alone, when the goverment will only pay 650 a month in housing benefit for a single parent. So my jsa was making up that deficit. I currently have an outstanding ccj for an unpaid water bill, my mobile phone and sky tv have been disconnected, and now my car insurance is unpaid, so the balance us outstanding. How. Tell me how. Was I supposed to put that months worth if money by???

And coincidentally. Why should I have. I was earning 35k+ for over 15 years so feel I paid my way into society. Work shy I am not. A benefit sponger Ivan not. I just wanted to go to work and could not afford to do so so hoped the 100k plus I have paid into society in my time might help me out with the mere 50 quid I needed at the time to put petrol in my car.

How did the Echo find out please ......

Nebs wrote:

Lisabelle wrote:
I did NOT feel the need to go to the Job Centre to claim my outstanding Job Seekers allowance, quite the opposite in fact. I had endeavoured through Email and phone calls to get the situation sorted out - and the Echo have failed to inform you all that, yes, I WAS that financially strapped. And OVER THE PHONE I tried to claim the return to work benefit I was ENTITLED to, but could not do that because i could NOT attend the Job Centre because I WAS AT WORK. So I agreed to close my claim down then and there (on the phone) on the understanding that my last JSA payment would be available for me to draw on that fateful Friday so I COULD PUT THE PETROL IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK. And the jobCentre failed. I would also like to correct this article in that 1. NOBODY apologised to me. 2. I actually had to get my local MP involved to EVEN GET THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENT DUE TO ME SORTED OUT - which it was, granted. Just too late. 3. I certainly DID NOT WISH TO ATTEND THE JOB CENTRE - AND WOULD HAVE BY NO MEANS PRIORITISED THIS OVER MY JOB. I just wanted the funds that were due to me so I could get to work. Now - I am intrigued... those that are saying my priorities are in the wrong place, where exactly is it that they should have been? Do explain? Im intrigued.

I'd have thought it reasonable to expect that when you get a job that you would have fares to pay to get to work, normally for a month until you get your first salary. That you have not made provision for that shows a lack of planning.
Don't know how you got the job, but if it was through the job centre then couldn't you have got a train, then you would get free fares and only need the car to get to the station
http://www.c2c-onlin

e.co.uk/about_us/pre

ss_centre/latest_new

s/jobs_seekers_recei

ve_free_rail_tickets

Oh Nebs, what a safe, secure life you live. I suppose that is because you didn't factor in any of life's unexpected mishaps when you scheduled it all out. Isn't it good when a plan works out?

caroljb wrote:
I totally sympathise with this lady as the same happened to me - BUT it was all sorted out over the phone, OK I had to call about 3 different numbers before it was resolved, but there was no need to actually attend the job centre. In fact, they actively discourage you from doing this.

I agree. Staff at Job Centers cant help you deal with issues such as payments as its all done by the central center Basildon BDC in Chelmsford, all the Job Center will do is ask you use the phone to phone up. So I sympthasise too but she hasnt shown any need as to why she had to visit the job center in person and as she says it was eventually sorted out by her local MP (who no doubt didnt visit the job center in person).

While I have no doubt that the Job Center do make endless ****-ups, Ive been the victim of them but if I was at a new job I'd be there every day and just phone up the central job center delivery center as others have suggested.

J_blond wrote:
You can't save money for an event you don't know might happen, I had to go on job seekers years ago, the money I used to live on, travel to interviews etc. then I got a top job in London, but had exhausted my savings. Travel for the month was £300 alone!

Luckily I was able to borrow this and pay it back. But it shows that those on the benefit should be given support to get back into work. If I'd have gone in and been offered a travel to work loan for the first month it would have been appreciated...

To be fair, if you get a job in London you can get 3 months free travel on C2C but you do have to have been signing on for a while, 6 months I think. It was very useful for me, although I do sympathise when going from benefits to work as it can be very difficult especially given the amount of times the JC make a mess of things. Although there is no way I'd take days off work from a new job to go to the job centre as its just isnt neccassary as the problems can be fixed over the phone, incendently the exact same thing has happened to me, I ended up bunking my train journey just to get to the job.

I work in recruitment and this situation is by far from an isolated incident!, I advise all candidates that i place who are currently on JSA that the job centre will most likely make a total hash up of your final payment!, why? because it has happened to me and i am well into double figures of people who have had it done to them.

The system over there requires the manual closing of your claim, this is put to one side when you telephone to close a claim, and then surprise surprise its "forgotten" or simply not seen through at the right time.

strange though when a claimant makes even the smallest mistake regarding a claim, they will find themselves sanctioned on no benefits for six months!!

disgusting service, but what more do we really expect

KonArtist wrote:
She may as well just stay signed on for good. People on benefits seem to have the good life now adays.

kon artist put down your sun and mail come smell the poverty of benifit land by the way iam on a shared computer

Lisabelle wrote:
And coincidentally. Why should I have. I was earning 35k+ for over 15 years so feel I paid my way into society. Work shy I am not. A benefit sponger Ivan not. I just wanted to go to work and could not afford to do so so hoped the 100k plus I have paid into society in my time might help me out with the mere 50 quid I needed at the time to put petrol in my car.

Whilst i have every sympathy with your situation knowing how bad the job centre can be. At 35k+ for 15 years surely there would have been a redundancy package that should have lasted far more than the six months of unemployment. Even if there wasn't a large pay out, there are statutory minimums.