Hello everyone,
I really need your help. I've got a client who's on income -based JSA at couple's rate and he's got a massive amount of weekly direct deductions:
£10.90 for water; £3.05 for Council tax; £5 for a fine; £3.95 overpayment of JSA.
Needless to say he can't make ends meet.
Do you know what the maximum amount of deductions is and if the above can be challenged?

Thanks you so much for yor help

Beatrice

The rules are in SS Claims and Payments Regulations, mostly in Schedule 9. They are very complex, but summarised very clearly on pages 994-7 of the CPAG handbook.

Unfortunately, the only challenge I can identify to your client's deductions is the fine. Regulation 6 of Fines (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1992 (No. 2182) says that these deductions should be limited to 5% of the personal allowance for a claimant aged 25 or over (ie £3.05).

Also the water deduction is high because it is made up of £3.05 for arrears and a figure for future consumption. If your cient is on a metered supply this will be an estimate. If you can persuade the water company that this estimate is too high they may be prepared to reduce it.

Does your client live in the area served by Anglian Water? If so I would look to the Anglian Water Trust Fund for grant assistance. For details see http://www.awtf.org.uk/ Other water and fuel suppliers have similar schemes.

I forgot to say thank you all for replying!

This may also be of help.


http://www.eosfoundation.org.uk

Registered Charity number 1101072


The EOS Foundation is an independent charitable trust established in March 2004. It offers financial assistance to reduce or clear arrears of domestic water charges. In exceptional circumstances other grants can also be given for a range of essential bills and other costs.

The charity considers applications from customers of donating companies (see website) who are in a condition of need, poverty, hardship or distress. It aims to improve the quality of people's lives by helping to reduce the burden of debt and by helping them to meet future bills.

There are details of 3 other charitable trusts that may be able to help with essential household bills on :
www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/files/Guidance%20for%20advice%20workers.doc