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?

[kloofnek]

Keep on at them...it is not as if you just did not turn up.
You must appeal.
I have never heard of this sanctioning thing but then I am and pensioner.

[albaqwerty]

to be brutal about it Corby, (please don't be eating) my tummy flipped, nerves, and I hadn't taken my loporamide (imodium) before I'd gone out that morning.

Have made appointment with the doctor to see if she can help too.

[albaqwerty]

Kloof, you're too young! xxx

[kloofnek]

.... a pensioner.

[kloofnek]

Oh yes,very young at heart!!!

[THECORBYLOON]

Did you not tell them all this when hey asked you why you had not attended on time? Can I ask if this was the Work Programme or was it a Jobcentre appointment?

[THECORBYLOON]

KLOOKNEK, not being picky here but you cannot go straight to an appeal, you have to have a Mandatory Reconsideration first.

[THECORBYLOON]

sorry that shoud be KLOOFNEK...

[albaqwerty]

I did Corby. I explained on the phone on the 25th October, and offered to be there before 3pm instead.

[Cloverjo]

This is terrible. How are you supposed to live? Surely someone at the office you phoned on the day could have used a bit of common sense and seen that you had tried to get there.
I read about a situation where a young couple who had learning difficulties had their benefits stopped and they didn't understand why. Maybe they just didn't understand what they were supposed to do or where to go, or letters arrived too late or something, and didn't have the capability to do anything about it. They had to rely on food banks. Terrible!

[Peter Pedant]

BC has it alba - see above

put shortly - appeal appeal appeal

You have enough reasons

[albaqwerty]

I fully intend to, thanks Peter xx

I am not work-shy or wasting any benefit payments btw, just thought I'd mention before anyone else did.

Once again, many thanks for advice and the shoulder to lean on x

[THECORBYLOON]

ALBA, was the appointment with a Work Programme provider or with the Jobcentre?

[tonywiltshire]

If anything involves benefits I would take note of what the TheCorbyloon has to say his knowledge is excellent.

[albaqwerty]

Sorry for not getting back sooner, Corby, it was the Work Programme.

Thanks Tony.

[THECORBYLOON]

The Work Programme providers are not allowed to decide if a claimant has shown good reason for failing to participate in the Work Programme (WP), that is up to a Decision Maker. I apprecite you offered to attend later at 3 o'clock but if they had arranged for you to attend at 2, they may not have been able to do everything they had to do with you in the time available. They sometimes let folk arrive up to ten or fifteen minutes late but any later, it's too late. As the providers cannot say a claimant had a good reason for not participating, the WP advisor MUST refer it to the DWP for a decision. A DWP Decision Maker then notifies the claimant of the failure either by letter or 'phone and asks for the reasons. If those reasons are not good reasons, a four week or a thirteen week sanction (for subsequent failures) is imposed.

[albaqwerty]

Many thanks Corby x
(sorry about the x)

I just wish someone had notified me prior to 6th December about this.
When I phoned to Benefits Agency on the 23rd, I was told it was the WP who had sanctioned me. Someone is getting their wires crossed somewhere.

However, I will appeal it but to be honest, I don't expect to get anywhere.

Very many thanks for your help and info, very much appreciated. Thank you.

Is is too soon to wish you all the very best for 2014?

[THECORBYLOON]

The Work Programme provider raises the referral but it is only a Decision Maker at the DWP who can impose a sanction. There are different types of Decision Maker (DM), a payment DM who makes decisions about the entitlement and Labour Market DM who decides if a claimant is available and looking for work, whether they had a good reason for leaving work voluntarily and the like. The Labour Market DM also makes the decisions about sancrions so it would be a Labour Market DM that sanctioned you. It may be that the person you spoke to wasn't clued up about the Labour Market side so assumed the provider made the decision. Best thing to do is 'phone up the DWP on Monday, tell them you want a call back about the decision and when they 'phone back, go into as much detail as possible. Tell them where you were and at what time the incident happened and how long it took to sort it out. If you would have been able to attend on time if it had not been for something outwith your control, a sanction should not be imposed. It goes in your favour that you 'phoned the provider before the appt so if you can, tell the DWP what time you 'phoned and who it was you spoke to (if known) as it's all extra proof.

[albaqwerty]

You learn something new everyday! Your time is much apprecaited Corby.

I can certainly tell the DWP what time the incident happened, what time I phoned and who I spoke to, also the time my adviser returned my call and what was said to me.
The only witness to the incident was my husband, who presumably won't be believed anyway.
I'll update after Monday (it's such a pain, as I could have advised the Council about a change of circs before the 23rd)

[murraymints]

Speaking as an ex job centre manager ..I'm saddened by what is going on these days...my staff kept to rules but tempered with leniency in such scenarios...goodness I even handed over £200 of my own dosh one Christmas eve cos there had been a c##k up...Got it back but couldn't let a man be unable to provide at such a time....