Claiming the Brew

[Pogues Mcgogues]

Okay, I'm finally redundant, not got the payment yet though the cheeky buggars, but I went to the jobcentre plus to make a claim for some hard working taxpayers money, and I got given a leaflet and told I have to have a 30minute phone interview with the office in London.

I was just wondering, what kind of info do I have to have in front of me during it? Don't want to scrabble around on the phone. I'd imagine National Insurance number and what not? Anything else?

[saratink]

umm, national insurance number, p45, bank account details i think thats it!

The phone interviews teedious, they then ask you to go for another interview down the dole shop and you dont get any money for like 2 weeks! I think you've had to have gone down twice to get one measley payment!

[Pogues Mcgogues]

umm, national insurance number, p45, bank account details i think thats it!

The phone interviews teedious, they then ask you to go for another interview down the dole shop and you dont get any money for like 2 weeks! I think you've had to have gone down twice to get one measley payment!

[sifi]

Not for the phone interview. Just when you go onto their payroll. You'll probably get some tax back too.

[Pogues Mcgogues]

So for the phone interview I'll only need my bank details and national insurance number. How does it last 30 mins then? I take it they ask everything then.

[sifi]

So for the phone interview I'll only need my bank details and national insurance number. How does it last 30 mins then? I take it they ask everything then.

Edited August 9, 2010 by sifimaster

[Pogues Mcgogues]

They go through a set of pro-forma questions about your previous employment, your previous earnings, your household income, how long you've been paying NI, how much NI you've paid that kind of thing. The whole process can be speeded up if you'd applied for income support on-line. Essentially they ask you the questions that you would have completed on the on-line form. When I went through the process, it took about fifteen minutes.

[sifi]

Ah right, I've no idea about how much NI I've paid or any of that, even household income and stuff. I might need to wait and get all that together then.

[saratink]

I hardly knew anything when i foned just go ahead and phone because it will take long enough as it is for them to give you some money, let alone waiting..

They asked me EVERYTHING, like how long i been in the united kingdom, whether i had any kids, and even when the reply was no they still asked me do i recieve any child benefits!

Just answer to the best of your knowledge thats all you can do

Edit: they asked how much i have in my bank account which was about a fiver at the time..

Edited August 9, 2010 by south wales sara !

[rachbon]

Edit: they asked how much i have in my bank account which was about a fiver at the time..

[oafc0000]

i remember being asked that years ago when i was on JSA.. why do they need to know that?

[rachbon]

They look at your whole situation I would imagine... You might be right for more benefits than just JSA... Housing benefit etc... Some benefits are not available if you have x amount of savings...

[oafc0000]

how do they know you're telling the truth about how much you have in your account?

[dakyras]

They can credit check you if they think you are lying...ask you to provide bank statements etc... Tories pushing it as a new thing but they have always done it from what I understand...

[Pogues Mcgogues]

Right so I had my initial interview on the Thurs 12th, with my first interview where they ask to see what jobs you've looked for etc etc the Monday after that (16th).

I heard that your payment also goes with your day to go to the job centre (so Monday's for me, worked out by my NI number).

Now I haven't got any payments yet. Do you reckon I'll get mines on Monday as it's paid fortnightly and that will be a fortnight since my first proper interview? (I know it works week 1 week 2 and it's just your luck whenever you sign on as to when you'll get your first payment)

[Snufflebutt]

Do they not take into account the fact you have this redundancy payment and adjust how much they give to you accordingly? And is it true they take into account the fact you have a degree, therefore are you allowed to look for graduate level jobs or do you have to take whatever? Not going on brew (start university again in a couple of weeks) just curious....

[llcoolphil]

Right so I had my initial interview on the Thurs 12th, with my first interview where they ask to see what jobs you've looked for etc etc the Monday after that (16th).

I heard that your payment also goes with your day to go to the job centre (so Monday's for me, worked out by my NI number).

Now I haven't got any payments yet. Do you reckon I'll get mines on Monday as it's paid fortnightly and that will be a fortnight since my first proper interview? (I know it works week 1 week 2 and it's just your luck whenever you sign on as to when you'll get your first payment)

[Pogues Mcgogues]

Instead of asking a load of people on an internet forum who dont dish out the dole cheques, you could ring the people who do and ask them.

[llcoolphil]

Or I could ask to see if anyone knows if I am asking a question that could be answered here rather than adding pessure on to a group of workers who already do a fairly demanding job. Do you not do internet searches before doing something to try and gain a bit of background knowledge? If you're going on holiday, do you look up places to eat, go out, etc. What makes questions on the brew different?

[Pogues Mcgogues]

How will anyone on here know when YOU are going to get YOUR cheque? There might be a lot of 'shoulds' and 'this happened to me' and 'well, what should happen is' responses, but nobody knows about your particular case. And what's the point doing a bit of background research on the matter when you can just ring em up and ask? Yes it's a demanding job, but that's what they get paid for.

[gratedenini]

It can vary dramatically when you get yer brass. Mine took 6weeks!

Whatever you are entitled to though--you will get back-dated.

Payment date... eg sign on the friday---get paid the following wednesday.

Sign Monday--probably be wed or thurs.

Make sure you put yer claim in for Housing Ben (if applicable) because that goes from the day you actually put the claim in.

Ah... you are YDaLoM though eh.... dont suppose you`ll get HB will you?

I suggest you begin to shoplift.

You`ve got f**k all else to do. Its well worth the risk tbh--if yer get caught you`ll only get dobbed for £80... I seen it last night on TV.

When I get enough bus fare... I`m going over to Newcastle and gonna fill me f**kin boots with all manner of goods from the shops.

The Sausage really does teach you a lot

den

[indieheart]

Having recently given up work, I thought I'd have a go at signing on. I applied and received benefit within 2 weeks. This suprised me very much. I'm going to be a full time scrounger (student) come September, am definately not looking for work, but they took a shine to me at the dole office.

In my last job, my poor clients were lucky to get a new claim in payment within 6 weeks!