Benefits Sanctioned.

[albaqwerty]

I was unable to make an appointment for 2pm in October, phoned them about it.
It's one of the government get you back places.

Apparently, the Jobcentre has preference on those days anyway.

Had a slight medical hiccup going home. Phone the place to say I would be late, apparently that's not good enough.

Heo ho, long and short, I found out on the 23rd December that I'd been sanctioned from 6th December til 2nd January. but I only found that out after I'd phoned the DWP.

The DWP hadn't sanctioned me, it was the other government agency, does anyone know if they have a charter as I really would like to question it?

[wolf63]

and speaking as a ex-DWP person I can say that I am totally confused by the benefit system these days. I am so glad that I rampaged through the office with that axe and was sent to graze on the nearby pastures.

Good luck alba.

[albaqwerty]

Many thanks for your good wishes Wolf xx (how are your bosses, both well I hope?) x

Wolf and Minty, I've come across some most helpful people in the Jobcentre, and a couple who I could quite willingly wish evil thoughts upon.

One cracker told me 'it says jobcentre above the door, not charity!'

Jeez, come to think of it, haven't seen her in there for a couple of months now....

[murraymints]

Wolf ...that was you ? Heard about it ..Lol. how many managers get invited to funerals now..? I helped loads off clients to get out of system and into more appropriate benefits ...etc. alas ..aids / hiv was big deal...but I did what I could to help...

[wolf63]

alba - the management are in their cardboard boxes (with furry lining) next to the bedroom radiator. There was a battle earlier and Frankie, as usual, got wounded.

mm - I started on 09/09/80 and my final day was 31/10/03. I was off sick quite a bit, after 1997 and my Bipolar disorder diagnosis it all went a bit to pot.

alba - I hope that you get a job that suits you. I do voluntary work and some of the guys (with degrees) have been unemployed so long that they are unemployable.

I think that I will go and see if Frankie's face looks less bloody. Stupid male! He should know that his sister is evil.

Later ladies - whatever that means.

[albaqwerty]

Minty, you mentioning more appropriate benefits has just reminded me our Council has a department which offers advice on suitable benefits.
Why on earth don't the JC or WP do the same? (rhetorical question)

[Peter Pedant]

very useful thread,
facing this with a few relatives

alba it is worth noting that the DOSS will allege things - we think you have not taken enough care - or whatever when they in fact know you have.

contrast the IR which cannot allege things they know to be untrue

so appeal appeal appeal.....

[DaisyNonna]

Have you got a local newspaper? Worth a letter to them.

[THECORBYLOON]

PP I'm not sure why you say the DWP allege things known to be untrue whilst HMRC are not allowed to do so. Both have to weigh up the evidence in front of them and make decisions based upon that evidence and to say that, in effect, the DWP DMs are liars is out of order. It is often the case that following a disallowance or a sanction, the claimant elaborates upon the evidence previously given or provides fresh evidence and it is only then that the original decision is overturnt.

[Svejk]

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you, Alba.
My heart goes out to you, caught up in this, especially at this time of year.
On the face of things you have a good, straightforward case that should, hopefully, be resolved asap. However, despite the Corbyloon's protestations, some DWP staff have only the merest nodding acquaintance with the truth. To that end its very important you keep a very detailed record of any and all dealings with them, henceforth.
Good luck and don't let them get you down. And please do keep us informed as to how your case is progressing. It'll be a good way of letting off steam as I'm afraid you might need one.
Hope not. All the best. Svejk xx

[THECORBYLOON]

SVEJK, no-one, not even folk at Jobcentres, is perfect and it may surprise you that even some claimants later come up with information that you'd have thought would have been mentioned when first asked about something they had or had not done and the DM then has to weigh up the evidence and decide which version to believe

[THECORBYLOON]

ALBA, any updates on what's happening about the sanction?

[albaqwerty]

sorry for the terrible delay in replying, not only interweb problems but had to get me mood under control.

Phoned them from the jobcentre. (They can pay for the call to an 0845 number)
Asked them for an explanation as to their decision for the sanction, they said that I'd been aware of the appointment since 4th October and should have re-scheduled it.
I told them, at that time of receiving the appointment, I was able to make the 2pm time. Was delayed at the jobcentre on that day.
The person who signed me was **** and the person she transferred me to was ******.
They can check their records about that if they wouldn't mind.
Was asked 'do you have any evidence of the incident'
Not held on to my knickers for that length of time is what I wanted to say, but replied that the only person who was aware that shortly after 1pm that there was an incident was my husband.
Told them (again) that I had phoned the WP and what time, and who I spoke to and what time I'd received a phone call back.
Their reply was, do you have a medical certificate? The WP sanctioned you.
My reply was then, 'no, it was a Labour Market Decision Maker who sanctioned me'
Their reply was 'what's one of them?'

I despair at times, but am taking it up with my local CAB, still have a few days to go to put it in writing.

[albaqwerty]

also sorry about the long guff ^^^^

[Svejk]

A trillion apologies,alba. I, too, tootled over from the other thread (hope the romantic meal went OK, lol) but I've had interweb problems myself.
Congratulations on getting through on the phone. I believe they found the cacophony of ringing phones interfered with their Facbook/e-bay searches. To get around this, they gave them phones with flashing lights but the staff covered them with, unopened, clients files. ;)
Apparently, several people suffered mental breakdowns on hearing Vivaldi's Four Seasons after spending several days being tortured by it while trying to contact the DWP. Don't give up or let the barstewards grind you down,Alba. I'm sure I won't be alone in rooting for you. So keep us informed or just come back here to let off steam. Kindest regards, svejk. Xx

[THECORBYLOON]

ALBA, whoever it was you spoke to, it would not have been someone on a Labour Market team, it may have been a Contact Centre. Did you tell them you wanted a Mandatory Reconsideration? You should 'phone again, say you want a mandatory reconsideration, tell them what happened and ask for a call back from the Labour Market team. Can I ask if it is ESA you get rather than JSA? If it was an ESA person you spoke to, they may not be as clued up about Labour Market stuff as a JSA person is. As for having a med cert, you could have had food poisoning for all that person knew and you'd not have bothered to see a doc. It looks like you are not speaking to the right folk, it's the Labour Market team you need to speak to and pronto.