JSA Hardship payments

Which   tactics   have   adviasors   found to be successful   challenging   refusals of Severe Hardship payments (JSA)?

Client   is single recovering alcoholic, rough sleeper and   missed an appt to sign on, phoned JSA to attend Prob.  Service and was sanctioned on it.  This is subject to appeal but has   no money to live ON.

Despite supposedly   helpful   members of staff records are   not updated   until a few days after the   call is   made so when   he queried   why he’d   had   no   call back he   had to recount all of the details again.

Thanks in advance

Toby