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HB stopping when JSA/ESA sanction imposed
Earlier this week I attended a meeting with DWP officials to discuss the written content of claimant commitment agreements and related information sent to claimants.
Reps expressed the problems caused by JSA/ESA sanctions leading to the stopping of HB.
DWP officials maintained that this should not be a problem as they only informed HB sections when someone’s JSA/ESA entitlement completely stopped and not when payment was suspended during a sanction.
They said a case review they had carried out also substantiated that DWP sanction decisions should not cause HB to stop.
Apart from sanctioned claimants themselves informing HB of a sanction, are there other ways that a local authority will identify that JSA is not in payment?
Not a direct route but many people when sanctioned will approach Local Welfare schemes for assistance and the info may find its way from there on to HB
The DWP was made aware of this and there was an intention to make changes if necessary. I have recently read that the problem has been resolved and HB should no longer be stopped. LAs due issue letters advising of claim ending so the claimant should contact them to advise of the situation. I have had no problem getting benefit reinstated if there is a delay in this happening.
On home page search for sanctions, posted on 6th January ‘IT system for advising housing benefit departments of sanctions is working’ . Maybe Daphne will work her miracles with attachments :-)
[ Edited: 30 Jan 2015 at 08:08 pm by FIT Advisor ]