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Hi tiredmum, thankyou. Yes I'm off to the dungeons, hehe. Hope things are ok with you. Catch you soon. Take care. xxx
Ha Ha Hazeleyes, gosh hope its not that bad for you xxx Please let us all know later. I`ll be thinking of you xxx
Tiredmum, Good enough mum, Hazeleyes, thanks so much. I really got my knickers in a twist last night. Stress and bipolar don't mix. Luckily my child tax DID come thru this
morning, so I got there OK. Not sure if it went well or not, so tired
and stressed out it's a blur. CSA delayed because of the weekend (like they don't KNOW when a weekend's coming? lol).
Read your EMA thing Tiredmum, that's
shocking but so typical. And they dare say that those on low income
will not have their education affected! It's beyond belief. Hope your
friend manages to find help. Is there a support worker she could ask?
All the best at the dungeon Hazeleyes.
Sending a virtual hug to you all out there x
Hi J6767
Well done for managing to go, fingers crossed for you xx
The Ema replacement is a joke, it is now designed to target the children who dont need it rather than the ones that do, we have called averyone we can think of and unless he claims IS in his own right or even more bizarely becomes his own carer?????? then there is nothing they will do so he gets nothing, not even a free lunch card xxx
Hi Tiredmum, has your friend tried contacting your local MP about this? It's their job and he/she might actually do something about such an obviously unjust situation. I would put it all in an email to them and post a hardcopy xx
I survived, lol. Well done J6767 on going for the interview, even though you were stressed and tired with the worry of money. Fingers crossed for you.
Basically today it was all about signing stuff, receiving my little 'booklet' to note at least 3 jobs a week down, apply for at least 3 (hehe). I told her that I could only do term time, and she has also put that down on the booklet. I cheekily asked if they still gave vouchers for clothing, as I'd have nothing suitable for an interview. I live in jeans. She wasnt sure on this one, and told me when I sign on next Monday (upstairs) to speak to the advisor.
Off to school soon. Take care all. xx
Well done hazeleyes, glad you survived! Well done for asking about clothes grant, I got £100 when I went for my first "proper" job after my daughter had started school. I still wear all of the clothes now, 8 years on!!
(and its not cheeky, its assertiveness!!)
Hear, hear, well done Hazeleyes. And yes tiredmum I agree with you, always best to stand up and fight injustice.
Let us know when you hear back from your interview J6767
I'm glad you survived too..
I was thinking of you!
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Glad you survived Hazeleyes, good luck with the voucher x
Hello ladies,im so sorry i havent been online for a while,and Laura i do apologise,i did try to email you but for some reason it diddnt send,i have been so busy getting my twins ready for secondary school and my daughter for college: uniforms,oysters,swipe cards,proof of this,proof of that,labelling,endless form filling,it was never ending,and now the twins are in school myself(and my freinds with new secondary children) have been very busy in evening, not sitting down till 9ish helping with homework,covering books,rushing out buying more essential equipment,infact i am totally worn out.Also because i had so much to do and it was a bit stressful i decided to forget everything to do with "getting a job".I cancelled my appointment at the w/p last week as i had my twins,and refused to stress myself further,the lady on the phone diddnt sound to happy,but made me a appointment for today.Quite honestley im getting to the point of not careing what they do or say to me anymore as its making me feel ill.I have applied for 6 jobs,got a interview on Monday for one,but feel the school holidays is a BIG problem as childminders only seem to advertise for younger child vacancies. Will let you all know what happens to day,as i never reached the target they set out for me. thanks for listening.
Hi Sharbe, I think you will find that in most cases childminders only take children up to the age of 8 after that you are on your own xxx
Good luck for today.
Hi Sharbe, good luck at the JC.
I've received letters today stating that now IS has stopped, and I have social funds, it is down to me to sort it out, repaying them etc. I assumed it would automatically be taken from the JSA? I'm sure Tiredmum you posted about this once didn't you?
hi ladies they were very nice at the w/p,much nicer than the job centre. If thats the case about child-minders then theyl have to wait until my boys are old enough and responsable enough to be left alone for long periods in the holidays before i take on a job. I will ring round and get a general feeling from the local childminders. That would be a good point to raise Laura,that there is a problem with child-care between the ages of 9-13,quite honestly just when kids could start "going down the wrong path" if not supervised propeley.
Sharbe,
Good to hear from you. I sympathise with the rush with getting things ready for the children going back to school. Despite the long holidays I ended up sending my daughter back to school in trainers on her first day despite her school being strict about flat black shoes!
I am glad that the Work Programme provider was nice to you. Long may it continue. Do let me know how it goes.
I agree that childcare especially for older children is a big issue. I already highlight this but will continue to do so. I was interested in your earlier post about childminders only taking children under 8.
All the best.
Laura
Hi everyone ,
Hazeleyes, I also have social fund loans. They are automatically taken from my JSA, although there was a delay when I moved from IS to JSA. This meant that for a few weeks I received the full amount of JSA, then they automatically started to take the repayments for the social fund loan.
Sharbe, I am glad that the advisors at the Work Programme were nice to you. I also am worried about the childcare aspect, my youngest child is 12 but I won't leave him unattended for long periods of time because of his underlying medical condition. My duty of care towards my child doesn't stop just because he is 12, but I have been told that once he turns 13 that I can't request school hours on my jobseekers agreement anymore. I think this is wrong and the age at which we can request school hours on our jobseekers agreement should be until our youngest child turns 16.
Hope everyone is okay.
Hi Hazeleyes, yes I had the same as you however they have never contacted me as yet, it isnt down to you, it is down to them to write to you and inform you that the deductions will now be taken from your JS and not IS, they managed to do it perfectly with my water.
I did have proir issues if you remember where they had not been deducting anything and it was only that I queried that the amount was the same that they started to take it again, however when I switched to JS they have never written to me abnout it or taken a penny apart from the water.
It is of course entirely up to you what you do but I would wait and see if they write to you before doing anything, hope this helps xxx
Hi Laura,
Hope you are well xxx
I did some research on the childminding issue and it is right that the vast majority of childminders/nurseries or anyone else cease to provide care after the child reaches 8.
If someone was thet way inclined it could be a business opportunity? There are fewer rules as the child goes over 8 years and seemingly little restriction on ratio however that would need to be looked into via each individual authority xxx
Hi tiredmum and Good Enough Mum. Thankyou for your replies. Will leave it for a while and see what happens I think.
Hi Hazeleyes, please will you let me know if you do hear anything, I am really interested to know, hope they dont contact you though xxx
Hi all - sorry - another rant coming on!
Have just received a
letter from the mortgage people telling me I'm £65.16 in arrears. The
interest is paid by JSA and I have an agreement wit mortgage company to reduce payment to
interest only (for a while). So this must mean JSA haven't paid the
mortgage enough this month? Or perhaps the mortgagers have made a mistake...
I've had no letters from the Job Centre informing me of any
reductions, and have not broken my Job Seekers agreement in any way.
We
live in a 1 bedroom flat as it is - my child has the bedroom and I have
the sofa. It's far from ideal, but we're stuck, can't afford
anything bigger! It just seems like you get one thing under control and
then something gives way. Really wish things weren't so fragile a bit of stability would be so welcome.
I'm really scared we'll end up losing the flat.
Love to all, have a good weekend x
Hi J6767
It does seem that its getting worse rather than better for everyone doesnt it?
I`m sorry you are having all this stress at the moment, gosh it must be hard enough having to sleep on the sofa xxx
Please try not to worry there is nothing you can do till Mon, I guess you will then have to call both JS and the mortgage company and try to work out whats going on xxx
Hi J6767. If it's not one thing it's another isn't it? Please try not to worry about it over the weekend, there is nothing you can do until Monday anyway. Hopefully it'll get sorted with a couple of phone calls. xx
Tiredmum, I can't leave it too long as I'm sure they'll get me sooner or later, so what i'll do is put the money aside, as i cannot be lumbered with a big payout to them.
Hi J6767
Sounds like the benefits people have not paid on time. Give the lender a ring on Monday and find out, and explain you will chase them up if this is the case
Hazeleys you should do whats right for you, when they reinstated my deductions the last time, they only expected the prior amount starting from the following week if that makes sense, the big drawback is obviously it takes longer to pay off, good luck whatever you decide to do xxx
Well I'm off to the jobcentre soon to be given the details of the Work Programme. I am a bit apprehensive to say the least.
Hi Good Enough Mum. I'm also signing on today, so shall be leaving shortly. Not looking forward to this at all. We're tough cookies and survivors, so we'll be fine. Good luck with the Work Programme. Take care. xx
Thanks tiredmum, will wait and see what I get on Wednesday, which of course is another thing. My IS is paid to me on a Monday, but because my signing day will be on a Monday, the JSA will be paid into account on the Wednesday (they think). Must ask again today. xx
Thank you hazeleyes. Good luck with your signing on too. xx
Hi Hazeleyes,
I sign on a Thursday and am paid on the Tuesday the following week. It depends on which Bank/Building society you use, just to be mindfull of this. You could check with your bank too.
Best Wishes
Helly13
Good luck to everyone!
Absolutely horrid place to be 
The woman asked me if I'd looked for work in June. My answer was no, asked me why. I explained (as she should already know) that as I was claiming IS until last week, I didn't have to look for work in June. She looked disgusted and said had I looked, I would probably have a job, as they advertise then!!! Well my son's school didn't, and I told her this. Last week, the other woman (downstairs) told me she would put between working 16/20 hours. I did say that I only wanted her to put me down for 16. She questioned me about C's age, and said she couldn't change it, had to be done by the advisor, and she is fully booked up. Next I mentioned the postal signing, and said I would wish to do this through the holidays. Again, she said she didn't know anything about this, and again, I would need to speak to the advisor.
Hope everyone else got on ok.
Oh heck. Are you able to make an appointment with the advisor?
I don't know what to say Hazeleyes.
xxxxx
Oh hazeleyes, I'm sorry to hear that. Isn't there another advisor who you could see, or is there only one at your jobcentre?
I was told I will be contacted by an advisor from the Work Programme within about 10 days. I was given some literature about it, but it doesn't tell me anything that I don't already know.
Hi Good enough mum, glad it wasn;t too bad for you.
Hazeleyes yet another case of the right hand and left hand not knowing what each other is doing. Please keep a little book of dates and what happens each time. if you are sent any letters etc, with stipulations then Laura the Parliamentary Officer will be interested to see them. Her details are higher up in this thread.
Hi hazeleyes, dont let them grind you down, it is really hard when you get the obnoxious advisors and there are far more of them than nice ones but YOU do have rights and they have to listen and play fair, if you feel you are unfairy treated please ask for a manager and complain.
I hate that so many of us are put through this, I do wonder how many others are out there worried sick who we dont know about xxx
Hello everybody, thanks again for your support over my mortgage rant. Hey it makes all the difference:). It was late JSA payment, all sorted now.
Also to let you know that I went with Laura to the House of Lords yesterday and Laura's doing a fabulous job standing up for all us single parents. I am hopeful that our comments were taken on board concerning Job Centre ('Plus') NOT providing either the information or support that single parents need.
Love to all, x
Hi J6767
I have jsut seen Laura and heard all about your trip to Parliament yesterday, it sounds as though you were fantastic and you were even complimented 
Well done you! I look forward to hearing more about it from you both!
Well done J6767! It sounds very interesting, I wish I could have been there too!
Hope to hear more about it soon.
Actually, really good to get the chance to feel that a small person might make a small difference. And to have it recognised by others that our problems as single parents are real and valid, not as portrayed by the media or popular opinion, where we are percieved as 'lazy' or lacking in personal and social responsibily. Our children depend on us, for support, focus and direction and we deal with this, daily, under incredibly difficult circumstances, with very little support or help. We all deserve a massive pat on the back - we've survived, another day, another week, providing the love and support our children have THE RIGHT to expect. Thanks for that opportunity guys xx
Well done J6767!!
Very well done, J6767, and very well put!!
Thank you J6767 for coming to the House of Lords. You spoke so well and gave such a good account of your experiences. You impressed not only members of the Lords who were at the event but also the other charities that attended the event. Community Links who co-ordinated the event have asked me to pass on their special thanks to you.
J6767 I would really like you to write an article about your experience for the charity's magazine. The next deadline is the middle of October. I will e-mail with more details.
In addition the House of Lords event was filmed. I will make sure that there is a link to this when Community Links release it over the next week.
Again many thanks to J6767.
Well done J6767
Well done from me too. That sounds brilliant!
Well done J6767 xxx
Tiredmum, or anyone else. Can you remember how long you had to wait until your JSA went through to accounts? I signed on Monday, I have a post office account and was told on Monday could be Wednesday or Thursday. Nothing in there yesterday, so rang them, and they simply said it takes time for the switchover, lots of paperwork etc. Still nothing in account today!! Ridiculous.
Hi hazeleyes, my signing on day is as you know a Fri and my money has always been there on a Wed, one of the few things that has touch wood never messed up.
How are you managing without it?
There is no reason it shouldnt be there, all your paperwork should have been pre proccessed and ready for you to sign on on your alloted day and time and then the computer kicks in to say pay your money xxx
I do hope you are ok, if there is anything else I can help you with please say and I will do my best xxx
Hi hazeleyes,
My signing day is a Monday and the money goes in my bank account on a Thursday.
Thankyou. Am managing tiredmum purely for the fact I'm spending my birthday money on food. I did check the cashpoint at the postoffice last night, and it still wasn't in there, so tomorrow I shall ring IS as you suggested. I just don't understand why it is taking so long, and am angry that at an appointment in the holidays, six weeks before I switched to JSA, I was reassured that there would be no delay with the money. If this isn't delay, I don't know what is!!!
Hi Hazeleyes, do you sign on today? If so good luck xxx