7 Days unemployed

As i had worked in the third sector for a number of years i was well aware of the benefit system and what i needed to do to apply for housing benefit (HB) and job seekers allowance (JSA)

So with no internet at home i took myself off to the local library...joining the library is completely another story and the most ridiculous rigmarole i have experienced for sometime.... but lets jump to post membership.

I log into the computer and a big clock appears on the screen “59 mins remaining” yep... for all those who cant afford broadband, your local library only provides 60mins of free internet access, the cost after that, a staggering £2.40ph.

So i search the Gov site for JSA and answer the questions to check my eligibility..... 

The result is, i am not eligible as i live in a universal credit area, so i “click here” and get transferred to the UC website 

“49 mins remaining”

I again work my way through a set of eligibility questions... to my surprise the answer comes back... 

“you are not eligible for UC apply for JSA”  

so i answer the questions again, slowly reading them fully this time, the resounding result is still the same.... and i’m given an 0330 number to call if i am having problems.... i’m guessing this isn’t going to be the Samaritains, who i am sure would be more sympathetic.

“29 mins remaining”     

I log off and call the number, press my keypad in answer to the number of automated questions, then comes the final question which requires a verbal response.. “NEW CLAIM” i say in my best pronounced English accent worthy of any Catherine Cookson TV adaptation... “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that” comes the disembodied AI voice, I repeat myself... same response, after the third attempt the automated service gives up and responds with “ I am unable to direct your call, please try again later” and it hangs up on me

29 mins on the phone

I call again... this time at the final question i reply “housing benefit” YES i’m in.. i am now on hold..........

39mins 28 secs on the phone   

          

My call is picked up by Alice, I explain the entire story of the online applications and the lack of eligibility etc, Alice takes me through the eligibility questions again, BINGO, i am eligible, so we complete the new claim over the phone and i am told i will receive a call within 2 days with an appointment to my local job center where i need to bring, ID and my tenancy agreement, which must be no more than 3 months old!  

I explain that i have lived in my flat since 2013 that after the first year my tenancy migrated on to a periodic and its been month by month ever since i can bring a bank statement to show the rent going to my landlord every month... “No a tenancy dated within 3 months is required and must be signed by my landlord... ok i say and we end the call.

1hr 17mins on the phone

I haven’t had contact with my landlord for over 2yrs and that was only because the shower  needed replacing, I am uneasy about calling him to ask for a new contract, firstly because i know this will envoke questions of “why”  and as i live in a flat, which is mortgaged and leasehold I am very aware that my benefit claim is very likely to breach my landlords mortgage terms and quite possibly the terms of his lease, this in turn will mean he will have no choice but the serve me notice

Not only that but to issue me with a new Assured shorthold tenancy (AST) after 2015 will mean my landlord will have to provide me with a new copy of the deposit information, an EPC and a copy of the How to rent handbook, a bunch of admin he has never had to bother with before and will probably annoy him so he’ll now be thinking I'm trouble and will evict me anyway (this is all just that little voice getting a bit louder in my head)