me and my benefits

[Feebee_71]

Hi,

 

Can anyone explain why someone on contribution based JSA has to pay for their prescription costs when someone on income based JSA doesn't have to pay?

 

As far as I can see both people would receive the same amount of income (if you were to base it on a single person with no dependents and no additional income) which is what the government says you need to live on yet one person has to find either the full cost of a prescription each time they are given one or have to pay out the monthly charge for a pre-payment certificate.

 

I do understand that the person on contribution based JSA is on it because they have paid enough NI stamps over the qualifying 2 year period before benefits are claimed but that's all I know about it.

 

Feebee_71

[MARTIN3030]

Have a read here;

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?199500-Contribution-vs-Income-Based-JSA

 

also here;

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?204288-JSA-Income-vs-Contribution-based

[antone]

Help with prescription costs (as well as Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit) is means tested. For those on JSA(IB), the means test has already been done, but this is not the case for JSA© which is not means tested.

 

You can still apply for all of these benefits on the basis of low income if JSA© is all you have coming in. You used to be able to pick up the appropriate forms at the Jobcentre - possibly you still can.

[Feebee_71]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Will check with the JCP this week about help with NHS costs as I have a lot of prescription items and even though I have a pre-payment certificate it's just one more thing to pay for out of the small amount of money I get each month.

 

Feebee_71

[ErikaPNP]

What you need is an HC1 form. This is a form to apply for financial assistance via the NHS low income scheme. When your form is received, they will then perform the means test on your income, and respond with what you are entitled to - the link explains it pretty well.

 

You can get an HC1 form from a Jobcentre, your optician, most GP or Dentist surgeries or by calling 0845 610 1112.

[Feebee_71]

Hi Erica,

 

Thanks for that link. Although it's got lots of information it's still difficult to work out if I would qualify.

 

Do you know if someone with no savings or income (except JSA) and who is getting HB & CTB to cover full rent & C Tax would be likely to qualify? I understand they make all decisions based on the answers in the form but, if I could save myself having to pay out for the pre-pay each month it's a little extra towards things like utility bills!!

 

Will have to ask at JCP for the HC1 form on Wednesday when I'm in there.

 

Feebee_71

[ErikaPNP]

I can't give you a definitive answer because I don't know myself. All I can really say is that anyone I have dealt with who has contributory based JSA, HB and CTB as their only means of income and with savings less than £16000, has qualified for full help. so in the circumstances you describe, it would appear that, solely based on what I've seen that you would qualify for full help.

[Feebee_71]

Thanks a lot Erica,

 

I will get that form done asap, they do say decisions are usually within 15 days so, I shouldn't have too long to wait for a reply.

 

It's been a bit of a shock going from a very comfortable income to the pennies offered on benefits!!

 

Feebee_71

[Feebee_71]

Hi,

 

I recently started signing on after losing my job and received a letter from Newcastle Benefit Centre confirming the award of Contribution based JSA. This letter was dated the same date as the 2nd time I went in to sign on (2 weeks after taking all my documents in and signing the forms).

 

Today was my next date to sign on and I went in at the time as planned. When I was called to see the advisor he handed me a letter that he said he was asked to pass on to me. The letter stated that 'a dount has arisen on your claim for JSA because it appears that there were circumstances which caused your job to end'. It went on to say that a decision will be made as to whether payment of JSA will be affected and I will be notified of the decision as soon as it is made.

 

The advisor said this letter is fairly standard and he says they give them out to almost every benefit claimant. That I should continue to sign in on my allocated date and time until and unless told otherwise and that I will continue to receive my benefit until then, and that in any case, it may not be affected. I have been open and frank about the reasons for my job ending filled in the application form as requested.

 

What I wanted to ask is,

 

- was the advisor correct in that this letter is sent out to most applicants soon after they start claiming benefits (my initial appointment at the JCP was on May 4th)?

- should I be worried if I have been honest and open about the reasons my job ended?

- How long is it likely to take for them to make a decision about this 'doubt'?

 

Sorry for all the questions but it does worry me that I could lose what little money is coming in at the moment,

 

Feebee_71

[jadeybags]

Why did you lose your job?

[Feebee_71]

Was dismissed for GM.

 

Process through disciplinary was correct and decision was dismissal.

 

Feebee_71

[ErikaPNP]

When a person's employment comes to an end as the result of a dismissal, the DWP may place a sanction on payment of the benefit for up to a maximum of 26 weeks. If you have lost employment owing to misconduct, a sanction will be imposed if the DWP are satisfied from looking into it that you acted as alleged and that those actions amounted to misconduct and led to the end of your employment. They will consider statements made by you and statements made by your former employer.

 

This document covers it in more detail and provides some examples.

[flumps1976]

The letter is indeed standard issue for anyone who has lost their job or left voluntarily.

When you attended your New Claim appointment at the JCP office form ES85JP would have been issued to your former employer asnd they are required to complete and return the form within 7 calender days, so yes it can be a referral to the DMA team this quickly if your former employers have replied.

[Feebee_71]

Thanks for the information everyone,

 

Now I'm going to leap forward to see what I would do next if I were to be sanctioned for the full 26 weeks.

 

Does this mean all JSA will stop?

If so, what do I do for income considering I am single and live alone so have no-one else to support me financially?

Will I really be left without any money for up to 6 months? What will I live on?

 

Sorry for all the questions but this is worrying me,

 

Feebee_71

[flumps1976]

If the worst case scenario happens and you are sanctioned, then that saction can be any period between 2 and 26 weeks.

During this period you can request a claim for hardship but you will need to satisfy the qualifying conditions to receive this payment and if you are sanctioned hardship cannot be paid forthe first 2 weeks of the sanctioned period. You will not be eligible for a crisis loan during that 2 week period either.

I can't find the coniditions of entitlement to receive hardship on the internet sorry.

I would also recommend that if you are sanctioned then you will need to consider requesting a reconsideration of the decision but you will need to provide frther information than you have already provided as to trhe reasons that your job ended. A reconsideration is typically decided within 4 weeks of receipt at the DMA section but if you automatically request an appeal via form GL24 then that can take months for a decision to be made.

[Feebee_71]

So, effectively, I could be expected to live on no income for (possibly) 26 weeks when the government has already determined that the minimum I need to live on is £67:50 a week if the DM decides that I don't qualify for a hardship payment.

 

I can't see that, if I am sanctioned, I would get a review overturned as they've got all the information from me about my job ending from starting my claim.

 

It does make me wonder why you pay NI every month for more than 20 years - sorry I'm being a bit negative today at the thought of being expected to live on a negative sum of money (considering I'll still have outgoings!!)

 

Feebee_71

[flumps1976]

Yes sorry but that is correct, if I get a chance to go hunting tomorrow I'll locate a form and check out the hardship qualifying conditions but can't make any promises I'm afraid if the rest of this week is anything to go by I will struggle to draw breath let alone anything else

Not all cases for Gross Misconduct lead to sanctions as what some employers describe as gross misconduct is not treated as such for benefit purposes.

The letter is general in terms that you either get a letter to state that a doubt has arisen because you left your job volutarily or that you were dismissed for misconduct.

Try not to worry about it too much as no decision has been made yet and feel free to shout out if you need further advice I'm about most days (some posters on here may not like it purely because I work for JCP!) I'm not an adviser but I do cover the majority of other job roles in the JCP where I work so may be able to help!

[RaeUK]

... I'm about most days (some posters on here may not like it purely because I work for JCP!) I'm not an adviser but I do cover the majority of other job roles in the JCP where I work so may be able to help!

 

flumps, desist! You're a Godsend to this site ...

[Feebee_71]

Thanks for the information Flumps1976,

 

I hope your week improves and I will look out for the information when you get the time.

 

I also appreciate the time taken by people such as yourself and Erika who use the knowledge gained through their work to help people on this site work their way through the minefield that is benefits and tax credits!!

 

Feebee_71

[ErikaPNP]

This is a link to the DWP's guidance on hardship. Flumps may have something more but it's all I can offer/find.

Chapter 35

[Feebee_71]

Hi Erica,

 

Many thanks for that link, and the one last night, I have read through them both and, as far as I understand them, things may not be as bad as I was thinking they could be.

 

Obviously I'm still worrying about this letter and it's implications but I will now wait until I get the decision letter from the DM and then will come back for more advice (if I need to) and let you know where I will be going from there.

 

Feebee_71

[flumps1976]

The link provoded by Erica covers the conditions for claiming Hardship.

What rate of JSA do you currently receive? If it's JSA © then you would need to complete form JSA3 to determine if you would have entitlement to JSA (Income Based) to be considered for hardship payments, and then you would be assessed to see if you fall into the vunerable group if you do then you case will be considered from the date the sanction was imposed and if you are not in a vunerable group then you would be considered for hardship but no payment for the first 2 weeks of the sanction.

This is of course the worst case scenario.

Good luck x

[Feebee_71]

Hi Flumps,

 

I'm JCA (CB) and get £67:50/week. I get this one because I've paid enough NIC for the past 2 years (in fact, have paid it for last 20 years without a break).

 

I assume that I have to wait until after I receive a decision letter about sanctions before I can fill in the JSA3 form? Looking at the list of what is classed as vulnerable group I'm not sure I qualify although I do have a long term health problem (arthritis) but can still work if I can find a job.

 

So, if I don't qualify as vulnerable and am sanctioned from date x but have signed on and am due to get my previous 2 weeks payment, would I get the payment due and then nothing 2 weeks later or would they stop the money that I should have got on the next payment date?

 

Thanks for answering all these questions, I have so many!!

 

Feebee_71

[flumps1976]

Yes you will need to wait until you get a decision before completing form JSA3.

If you are sanctioned then you will be sanctioned for a date in the future. e.g sanction applies from 09/06/11 for 26 weeks, so you will be paid up to 08/06/11 and would then complete form jsa3 and jsa10 (hardship form). If you arthritis can be classed as a long term health condition under the vunerable group then you would be considered from the date the sanction is applied from , if not then you will then have a gao of 2 weeks before any payment of possible hardship can be paid.

[Feebee_71]

Hi Flumps,

 

Thanks for your support and information, I appreciate you all helping on here when you're busy doing your day job as it is and then giving up your free time to assist people like myself who get themselves in knots about the benefits system!!

 

Ok, so now I have to find out whether the arthritis is classed as a long term health need under the vulnerable group. I am assuming I can find that information out from the 2nd link Erica gave me.

 

Off out to do my CV today through New Start organisation and then off to the hospital to see the rheumatology team - just glad the weather is good as I'm walking everywhere at the moment.

 

Feebee_71