AIBU to be annoyed about repaying JSA after starting work?

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AIBU to be really annoyed that the one time I’ve ever been eligible for a tiny bit of benefits (outside of CB) that I’ve now been asked to pay it back!

I was made redundant last year, I applied for contribution based JSA and was awarded it. I was sent an appointment for the Job Centre to certify my claim, this was about 6 weeks after I made the claim. During the time I wa lucky enough to receive a job offer and start work.

I received two weeks of JSA in this time and then called them to say I had started a new job and please close my claim. At this point no one said you still need to attend the job centre.

Almost a year later I’ve received a letter saying it was incorrectly paid and I need to repay it. All the dates of unemployment etc are correct so I called them to ask why. Apparently nothing should have been paid before my job centre visit and if I have said I hadn’t been they could have tried to fit me in before I started work (but how was I supposed to know this?!).

I’ve appealed and apparently even their errors are recoverable.

In the grand scheme of money, it’s not the end of the world but it’s so frustrating that people can literally live on it for years having never paid a penny in. Yet I’ve paid more tax in a week sometimes then they paid me and I’ve got to repay it! Yes, I know I’m lucky to have got a job so quickly, I also worked very hard for that, attending multiple interviews a day etc.

Welcome to the world of jumping through hoops to obtain benefit you are entitled to. I had to claim UC for a limited period when STBEX stopped maintenance before court ordered interim maintenance pending divorce and financial settlement. Only a couple of months but uc wanted me to submit bank accounts for the previous 3 years. Never heard back because court ordered interim payments and uc account was closed. I never want to have any dealings with the DWP.

As she never attended to verify the claim they were unable confirm entitlement.

I would at the very least complain, make a big fuss if you like, because for some people this could be a massive problem, if they had urgent bills.

They can very much verify the claim by seeing my income tax end and start! They know exactly when I worked and didn’t. They written to my new address and my new employer to recovery the funds!

Yanbu. I had the same a few years ago.

Being honest & law abiding, I called them on the Monday that I started my new job, to close the claim. The letter demanding I repay the £150 I had received, hit my doormat on the Wednesday morning, three weeks and three days before I would get my first pay cheque.

It's things like that make me regard the whole system with contempt. It's a racket from start to finish.

Deep breath OP. Try and ignore them.

Yeah I get that. It's just annoying as she clearly was entitled in reality but the appointment just wasn't soon enough. I'm just happy for her she's got a job now.

First paragraph:
Your JSA interview If you’re invited to an interview, you must attend. It will be at your local Jobcentre Plus office. You’ll be asked some questions to confirm your identity and then you’ll make an agreement about what steps you’ll take to look for work

Last paragraph:
After your JSA interview The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will write to you to either: let you know you are eligible for JSA and how much you’ll get explain why you’re not eligible for JSA You will not need to do what you’ve agreed in your Claimant Commitment if you’re not eligible for JSA

Let you know you are eligible and how much

Sorry OP, but you really can't say it is their fault.

But they already wrote to me to say I was eligible and actually paid me ….

If I didn’t show up for the interview and still required the benefit then I 100% agree with paying it back.

Thank you! Sorry it happened to you as well!

Jesus. Just pay it back. In the time it’s taken to write this post you could have given them your card details and settled it. It’s not worth the hassle.

Ive already set up a direct debit thank you. Just because I’m now working doesn’t mean I always have a spare £180 nearly a year later to just give them back as and when they require.

People on UC find the benefits system incredibly tough at times too. You’re confronted because your stereotypes about the system aren’t matching with reality, but instead of changing your perspective you’re doubling down.

They can see any money you earned through paye, yes. But they also need to verify that it is you making the claim and that you agree to the jobseeker's agreement.