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Off to the jobcentre to discuss benefits etc...(help?)

112 replies

bronze · 20/03/2010 11:06

Going on monday with dh who is signing on. They will also be going through what we will be entitled to with us. What do I need to take with us?
Do I need to take details of tax credits, council tax etc?

OP posts:
onadietcokebreak · 25/03/2010 18:15

Another problem is that the jobcentre may try and get you to claim Income Support from when you are 29wks and until baby is 15wks. It works in a similar way except you are the claimant and your partner continues to receive JSA C (by signing on)which is taken into account.

This is because the JC are keen to get people off their books. They may not put pressure on you to do this as your partner will still be signing. However if they do and you dont want the change over im pretty sure you dont have to do it.

Personally I wouldnt as it would just be a pointless form filling exercise and more stress.

plum100 · 26/03/2010 10:25

thanks coke, can i just ask then , they automatically put him on cbjsa. If he rings them and says actually we want to go onto ibjsa, and they say we cant , what is our arguement for being on ib instead of the one they put us on ? what do we say ? Is it because he is married?

onadietcokebreak · 26/03/2010 13:43

Plum.

Your arguement is that as you work less than 24hrs per week you want an assesment done.

He is entitled to claim whatever benefit he wants.. No one can stop him- even if they feel he is not entitled/ its clear he doesnt meet the qualifying conditions. Ie someone without a child has every right to claim Child benefit...they would never receive it but is their right to make a claim.

It is only when a claim is assessed that a decision can be made. With a decision comes appeal rights and that is why no one should say someone is not entitled to claim.

jaabaar · 29/03/2010 14:04

Plum100:
I really really feel for you and just wanted to wish your family luck with the job hunt!
Your post reflects exactly what I think and feel too.

Me and my husband have always worked full time and saved for 9 years before we were able to buy a tiny house (2 bedrooms) and being able to afford to start a family. I have now given birth in January to our first baby. Always dreamed of having two children. Unfortunately this is not possible as we cannot afford it financially (and we are both working full time!) as we would have 2 children which need full time childcare. That woul cost 2000 pounds a month and we would not be able to pay for our living expenses!

It makes me very sad that I do not have the right to have 2 children.

I dont try to offend anyone either. Just wanted to state that I can really feel for Plum.

Again, best of luck and I really do hope that your husband finds a good job very very soon.

x

plum100 · 31/03/2010 13:38

Thanks Jaabaar. You sound so similar to us. We worried and worried before having our first child ,and when we did get pg I was so worried about finances and how we support ourselves. We waited to have a 2nd as well, concerned as it meant I would have to leave my job and find something else with less hours that would fit around dp's as we couldnt afford childcare x2.

I have to say though, now we are having a third I have worried less about this one. I think I got to the point where I just thought 'who knows what the future holds and I cant keep putting off completing my family just incase such and such happens. So what if dp loses his job and we lose our house, and the council have to rehome us (something I think they wouldnt actually do now that Ive had to deal with them) - at least we will all be together and healthy. People are in lots worse situations than that.

I lost my mum at christmas , and found out that my friend had cancer and also couldnt have more children and so i think comapred to those things the above situation was nothing.

However , dp lost his job , it was really scary, and when I wrote the orignal postI had just been dealing with the jc and BA and was so upset with how little support there was for people in our situation. It really does feel like the government dont give a stuff about the people who have tried to look after themselves, buy themselves a home, provide for their own kids. We are put to the back of the queue. The most unbelievable thing I heard recently was soemone we know got £250 from the government for getting a job!!! Well done - we'll support you when you dont have a job, and pay for your 6 kids, and then get a job and you get paid from both your employer and us. Will my dp get that when he goes back to work? No because he wouldnt have been on benfits long enough!! What a joke!!

I wasnt taring EVERYONE on benefits with the same brush, but like I said Im not blind. I know individual people out there who when there child gets to school age they think ooh I best have another, to get more money , otherwise I might have to go to work, and they dont actually want those kids, they dont play with them , or take them to the park or spend thime with them. They just shout and swear at them.

Jaabaar, I would think about your situation again. Its not fair that you cant complete your family, it really isnt. You may find it might be nmore affordable when your dc1 goes to school? I hope you can find a way to work it out. Thanks for your kind words.

Anyway some good news is that dp has temp work!! Yipee!!! very badly paid, but still better than £64 a week js allowance!! Im so please we are out of the benfits system - for now anyway.

Had to contact jc to inform them.....what a nightmare.... but thats another story!!!

onadietcokebreak · 11/04/2010 20:36

Plum...did you get this sorted?

plum100 · 12/04/2010 11:57

Hi Coke,

we've had some good luck so didnt need to take any further...dh got some temporary work and has now found a permanent job! YAY!! So pleased - it was the first time we've ever had experinece of needing help from the state - if you can call it help - and I hope to god we never have to call on them again. I pity anyone on benfeits for a period of time having to deal with it all.

Thank you for all your advice - i did get it in the end if a little slow to start!!

I do have one final question though - I wonder if you can help?

Dh went to 'sign on ' , and was due to go back 2 weeks later - but on the monday of that week he started his new job so we rang them and told them - so from the start of when they would pay his JSA claim to the date he started his new job was working days - will he still get his JSA for that period? Because as of yet he hasnt received anything. And I know it will just take me FOREVER to get through to them via phone.

THanks coke!!

plum100 · 12/04/2010 11:59

sorry i missed out the 8 - it was 8 days he was claiming for

onadietcokebreak · 12/04/2010 13:53

Do glad he found work!

Did he have his initial interiew and do all forms? If so he needs to return the back of his signing card stating that he started work. Then they should pay what ever is due. They are probably needing this in order to pay him.

plum100 · 12/04/2010 16:37

yes he did have his interview. They are so naughty arent they - they didnt tell us thet he needs to send that off!!!

Honestly - no disrespect - but where do they get these people? Theyre not exactly helpful are they?

onadietcokebreak · 12/04/2010 16:39

They get them off the street. Give them 4 weeks training and expect them to get on with it. Needless to say most leave within 12mths.

plum100 · 12/04/2010 16:45

so unfair on them and us. Thanks for all your help coke. xxx

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