Wed 09-Jun-10 08:46 AM by Kayce
I have a client who came to the UK as an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe. He's been granted indefinite leave to remain and although it took a bit of time for his documents to come through, he has them now. He was granted indefinite leave on the 13th of March, got discharged from NAS and claimed JSA on the 28th of April.
Unfortunately he's not had any payments yet but I think we got that sorted yesterday. However, while he's been waiting for his money to come through he's applied for three Crisis Loans for living costs: 7th of May - £80 for two weeks until the 23rd of May 24th of May - £14.02 for ONE DAY as apparently the advisor checked the system and it said his JSA would be paid the next day 26th of May - £98 until the 8th of June
Now, his JSA hasn't started payment, apparently it hasn't even been decided he has an entitlement, and the advisor I spoke to at the BDC said two things that concern me: 1) He's had three CLs and can't have any more 2) There's nothing on her system to say his JSA would start on the 25th of May, but the people in the CL office have different information to the JSA people
My concerns, that I would appreciate some clarity on, are: 1) He really can't have any more? One of those loans was for ONE DAY on the grounds of his JSA starting the next day, which it didn't. I would appreciate some clarity on this, as this chap has nothing - no income, no home (the follow on service really dropped the ball), nothing - we have asked for the claim to be processed as urgent and for an interim payment etc 2) Obviously the CL people have a different system. Presumably it lists all the CL decisions and amounts awarded. Has anyone ever heard of a CL advisor having more information on a JSA claim than a JSA advisor? Is this normal? I want to make a complaint, is this justified?
I'd really appreciate any info or clarification on this anyone can provide
I should add, I can't find anything in CPAG about there being a limit on the number of CLs you can have in a period other than the normal 6 month rule. And what is a period anyway? 'Ever'?
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