Mcall
-
Posts
51 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Post article
CAGMag
Blogs
Keywords
Everything posted by Mcall
-
Enjoy the month off signing! Spare an Xmas thought as you log on for 2mins to UJM in your little jimmyjams for those of us who have to do MWA EVERY DAY except Christmas/Boxing Day!!! I got a min.wage job last week to avoid the slave labour 9-5 placement 3hrs round trip from my home, but because my job is zero hours contract and they can only commit to 3 hours this week, unknown amount next week (but certainly less than 16hrs) then if I want to get ANY money before my first paycheck at end of Jan, I must keep signing on, jobsearching AND going to this MWA cluster***k! Pity poor Tiny Tim as you enjoy your "free" money
-
I thought a bailiff COULD force entry (drill locks, etc) in certain circumstances (Magistrate fine, etc)?
-
My understanding is that a birth certificate and a council tax/utility bill showing your name and address dated within the last 3 months should be as acceptable in place of a passport. Perhaps look on the Border Agency website to apply for an emergency passport (they charge for this), then print out the receipt and take that along with birth certificate.
-
If you are a UK citizen and have returned here to live with your partner for the past 16 months without needing to claim anything, then I don't see what the govt. issue would be. Have you and your partner suddenly become "disabled" or have you run out of money?
-
Sure, but prove it! (that's my point)
-
This sounds a bit strange "Crafty". Do the HB rules mean that my rich uncle who owns 3 properties outright, in London, can let me live in one of his empty properties then charge me the maximum HB allowance rent, then we split the payment 50/50? Surely this can't be right? Lovely deal for us if it is though...
-
Hi, I've got another question, if you don't mind, please. Recently I changed my JSA claim to another council (rapid reclaim, although no break in signing on). I had a liability order for unpaid council tax and a budgeting loan being deducted each week from my JSA. Both stopped being deducted when I changed council. I've now sorted the issue with the council tax, thanks to some of the advice received on here. But the DWP has also stopped taking my deductions for a budgeting loan I had in August. I owe the money and will pay it back, no question. But can "they" (DWP/COUNCIL) get a liability order and send bailiffs or add crazy fines for a budgeting loan? I have had 3+ years of hell dancing to the DWP tune, I've got a job at last starting next week and will sign off at my next signing. So I'm loathed to bring up the budgeting loan deductions, as I'll need every penny i can get to last me the month till my first pay day. BUT - if a budgeting loan qualifies for a liability order, etc, then I'll end up owing about £600 in fines with bailiffs, so best to not let sleeping dogs lie. Anyone know? Is it my responsibility to tell DWP that they stopped making deductions from my JSA even though I never stopped signing or changed my NI number, (and they've written to me on numerous occasions recently about other stuff, thus proving they have my new address, etc). Any advice really appreciated. I need the money in the short term, I will pay back the loan in the long term - but any excuse to play these people at their own game and be as troublesome as possible gives me a warm feeling that money can't buy!
-
Hello Pcombo, I can't really offer any advice but as someone who suffers from a crushing social anxiety, all I can say is that for me the worst thing is giving in to it. I went through a course of CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) in 2012 and it helped me a bit - but not like people would have you believe as some sort of magic wand. BUT, it really did help me get a handle on my panic. Tell your GP that you DEMAND a referral to CBT and don't take "no" for an answer. It's not a fashionable view on this forum, but when it comes to anxiety the worst thing you can do is just give in to it and accept you'll never get better. Maybe your GP was trying to give you some tough love (maybe in the wrong way) but if I hadn't been told to face my fears then I would have been someone stuck on ESA for the rest of my life. In a strange way, it's sometimes good to challenge ourselves and go out of our comfort zone - for me it helped to realise a panic attack couldn't actually kill me and after about 5mins of feeling terrible, my anxiety levels started to decrease and then I was ok in that situation. But the WORST thing you can do is "avoid" and give in. Maybe your GP understands MH issues better than you realise? Maybe not, maybe they are just terrible (and it IS possible). Either way, I sincerely wish you all the best. Be well.
-
My JSA deductions have stopped, who do I contact, council or DWP?
Mcall replied to Mcall's topic in Benefits and HMRC
Thanks for advice folks. I'll phone council tomorrow and see what's happened. -
Thanks Chester, but touch wood I think I've got a job now (find out tomorrow!) So, this whole MWA crapola can be avoided. If so, I'll then have to worry how I can survive for a month with no JSA till I get paid! But, one problem at the time for me at mo, cross that bridge when I come to it!!
-
My JSA deductions have stopped, who do I contact, council or DWP?
Mcall replied to Mcall's topic in Benefits and HMRC
PS/ the old liability order was over a year ago, I've no paperwork, no idea what my council tax ref number was or anything. -
My JSA deductions have stopped, who do I contact, council or DWP?
Mcall replied to Mcall's topic in Benefits and HMRC
Do you think I should contact DWP and ask why deductions have stopped, or phone old council and explain that I'm still signing but in a new part of town? My concern if I phone council direct is that they might say "well, you started a new claim (?) with new council, it was your responsibility to let us know, not DWP to continue taking deductions, it's now with bailiffs, etc" (I'm catastrophizing here, but everything's so bad in my life at the mo, this is just how my luck will go) -
Hi, I got a liability order for unpaid council tax last year. The arrears were £70, but then they added court costs of £120 for liability order (great!) So I owed £190 which I was informed by letter they'd take each fortnight from my JSA. This deduction has been coming off since around January, but I recently changed the London Borough I sign on and for the last two JSA payments they haven't taken any deductions (and I've been paid full JSA). I've read horror stories over on the Bailiff forum that councils don't need to contact people anymore but can just send in the bailiffs incurring a further £310 fee without notice. Ending up owing £500 from an original £60 arrears is worse than Wonga interest and should be illegal, but we know DWP and councils seem to make their own rules these days. So my question please is do I need to phone up DWP and ask why they have stopped deductions, or phone up my previous council and tell them DWP has stopped taking deductions, or should I just leave it because I haven't stopped signing on, and DWP database must be linked centrally? I don't want to kick the hornet's nest and say "Oh please can you take my money", but likewise I don't want bailiffs turning up. Thanks...
-
Amen to that.
-
Yeah, I used to read the Daily Mail too. Never actually MET one of these "some" though.
-
I agree to an extent, but if anyone thinks surviving on £70 a week is an easy life-style choice long term, I suggest they try it for a year, and once the system has spat them out and left them in debt, ill with stress, borderline alcoholic from trying to shut out the increasingly draconian and bizarre demands of the DWP, with council tax bills, rent arrears, utility bill red letters stacking up, bailiffs knocking - it's not a "something for nothing" - it's a definite "something" - misery, fear, hopelessness and crushed self-worth. I'm speaking personally, and apologies for the rant.
-
This is what I'm talking about mate: "If all the thanks that those who took the time and trouble to give you the benefit of their opinions and judgements is to throw it back in their faces then perhaps the pubs and the dens frequented by the criminal fraternity would be more suitable places to cater for your needs" "No amount of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth make you right if you continue to act outside the law." I'm not a criminal, nor do I see how I am "continuing" or have even started to act outside the law? Anyway, to those who have offered advice, thanks, and just to let you know the letter arrived in mail this morning, checking my phone, Seetec appear to have not even tried to call, which means the adviser must've written up my objection as I asked. I've got to attend a [removed] camp about an hour on the train from me next Thursday. But, fingers crossed, I had an interview today for a paid job, (only minimum wage, zero hours, but hey-ho, a job's a job when it PAYS real money!)
-
Lapsed - I'm afraid I find your tone pompous, assuming and unhelpful. I'd be grateful if you could take your high-handed sneering to another thread please, and leave it to those who are offering constructive and non-judgmental advice. Thanks. The reason I had to sign the MWA form was that refusal to sign would incur an immediate sanction. No ifs, no buts.
-
Sure, but that'll be in the New Year and I'm hoping I'll have sorted out a real adult paying job by then to avoid this waste of my time bull placement
-
Well please let me know if you come up with anything. Everything I've read seems to show they've now got it locked down tight after that Cait Reilly Poundland ruling a few years back. Best of luck.
-
MWA = Mandatory Work Activity. As it was explained to me by my "work coach" adviser - you CAN refuse to do it by signing off. If you want to be paid JSA we have to do it. Failure to "engage" (IE, turn up) leads to 4 week sanction. Don't turn up again, it's 13 week sanction. Nice, huh?
-
Hello SuperG, I'm in exactly the same boat at the moment. I started a thread yesterday and there's a useful link from a Mr.P which outlines what they can and can't do on a MWA. Have a read. I agree with you that it's slave labour and disgustingly cynical this close to Xmas to get us slaves to do jobs for free that should be fully paid. Sickening in fact, but there's no way out of it - except to get a paid job, but then if we could do that then we wouldn't be signing on. Catch 22. Good luck, and as they said in "Midnight Express" - May your sentence pass quickly!
-
Brilliant, thanks Mr.P.
-
Can anyone answer my question please. If I wanted just personal opinions and judgement I'd go down the pub (if I could afford to!)
-
Also, who decides what is a "suitable placement"? My previous work experience is all in Education, so if they offer me a placement working in retail (which is most likely as that's where the free slave labour is needed this close to Xmas), can I say "not suitable", - I'm guessing they'll reply, DO IT OR SANCTION! What do I then do please?
Latest
Our Picks
Reclaim the right Ltd
reg.05783665
reg. office:-
262 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End
England
HA5 4HS