A sanctions survival guide for Dumfries and Galloway 2014 How to avoid sanctions and how to cope if your benefit is cut Version 1 September 2014 Contents What is this guide for? ........................................................................................................................................ 3 What is a sanction? ............................................................................................................................................ 3 What does disallowed mean? ............................................................................................................................ 4 Who can be sanctioned? .................................................................................................................................... 4 What’s changed? ............................................................................................................................................... 4 How can I avoid sanctions? ............................................................................................................................... 5 Can I get help with my job search? .................................................................................................................... 6 How will I know if I’ve been sanctioned? ............................................................................................................ 6 Why will I have been sanctioned? ...................................................................................................................... 6 How long will the sanction last? ......................................................................................................................... 7 What about Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support sanctions? ...................................... 7 What will happen to my other benefits? ............................................................................................................. 8 Should I still sign on? ......................................................................................................................................... 8 What if they’ve made a mistake? ....................................................................................................................... 8 What should I do if I want to appeal? ................................................................................................................. 9 How do I make a formal appeal? ....................................................................................................................... 9 What should I do if I think I’ve been treated unfairly? ........................................................................................ 9 Help in a crisis .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Hardship Payments ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Short term advances of benefits .................................................................................................................. 10 Crisis grants and Community Care grants ................................................................................................... 11 Food banks and hot food ............................................................................................................................. 11 Key things to think about doing and to get ready for Universal Credit ............................................................. 12 Annandale and Eskdale ................................................................................................................................... 13 Useful contacts ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Food Bank Referral Agencies ...................................................................................................................... 14 Hot Food Drop-Ins ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Access to computers, computer training and support .................................................................................. 15 Nithsdale .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Useful contacts ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Useful contacts ............................................................................................................................................. 17 Food Bank Referral Agencies ...................................................................................................................... 18 Hot Food Drop-Ins ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Access to computers, computer training and support .................................................................................. 21 Stewartry .......................................................................................................................................................... 22 Useful contacts ............................................................................................................................................. 22 Food Bank Referral Agencies ...................................................................................................................... 23 Access to computers, computer training and support .................................................................................. 24 Wigtownshire .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Useful contacts ............................................................................................................................................. 25 Food Bank Referral Agencies ...................................................................................................................... 26 Access to computers, computer training and support .................................................................................. 27 Page 2 What is this guide for? There have been about 2,000 cases, in Dumfries and Galloway in the last year, where people had sanctions applied to their benefit claim. This guide has been produced to give you advice on where to get help if your Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or other benefits including Income Support, Employment Support Allowance (ESA), Incapacity Benefit, Carer’s Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance have been cut. It explains what sanctions are, how to avoid them and where to find help in a crisis. The important thing to remember is there are lots of organisations out there that can help - you just have to ask. Anyone who is on one of the benefits that are listed above can be sanctioned. Follow the ‘top tips’ in this booklet to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. What is a sanction? When you apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) you have to follow certain rules, such as applying for jobs or going to interviews. If you don’t follow the rules, Jobcentre Plus can temporarily stop or reduce your benefits. You may receive a sanction if you have not met the actions of your claimant commitment have not done something their Jobcentre adviser told you to are deemed to not be actively seeking work or not available for work But you must have provided a reason within 5 days, which is deemed to be ‘not acceptable’. This is known as a sanction. If you have been sanctioned, your claim will still be “active” so any claims you have for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction should not be affected. However, it would be best to confirm this is the case with Dumfries and Galloway Council. Page 3 What does disallowed mean? You may be disallowed if you have failed to meet the basic requirements for the benefit – for example for Jobseekers Allowance (JSA): if you have not signed on for JSA if you are found not to be available for work or not actively seeking work if you have not given good reason within 5 days. This is sometimes called “disentitlement” It means you no longer have a benefit claim with the Department for Work and Pensions (the Jobcentre Plus). If you have been disallowed, this will also affect any claim you have for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. You must notify Dumfries and Galloway Council about what’s changed and provide details of any income you have earned. If you go on to make another claim for JSA, it will only be allowed if you can show that you are now available for and actively seeking work. Who can be sanctioned? Anyone who is receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Employment Support Allowance (ESA), Incapacity Benefit, Carer’s Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance can be sanctioned. Each benefit has different sanctions. The rules for JSA are stricter than some of the others. JSA isn’t usually paid to 16 or 17 year-olds except in special circumstances. If you are 16 or 17 and you have your JSA sanctioned, contact Citizens Advice or Welfare Rights to find out what you should do. The people