Dear All,

Has anyone have any knowledge about that.
My partner has gammbling problem that I have been writting back in February about and got a lot of supprot form members .
He has got conviction for stealing money for gammbling while working in booking shop since that hasn't been working.( 5 months)
He has got 200 hours of comunity service , which he almost finished ( he has 24 hours more) .

For the firs time in 5 months he has got oportunity to get a job from monday to friday but probation officer say's that they don't want to hear about it that he has to do his hours and if he won't attend his case will go back to the court. He is not trying to avoid it ( even more he enjoyes doing that job for community) and offer that he can do his hours during the weekend while he is not working but they say that there is no comunity service on Saturday and Sunday is fully booked. I have heared that they are people who has been getting comunity service and they never done a day saying that they are sick or can't afford traveling expenses but my partner knows he has problem that he has done bad thing and wants to genuinly finishe his hours but also he has to work to be able to get to comunity service , to eat and to have place to sleep.

I am finishing my job this month and someone has to pay bills I don't know how long it will take me to sort out myself from other side I am not in a position to support my partner for any longer as I have put myself already in financial problems. ( housing benefits has been taken of him when we moved to the room as we couldn't afford to pay for flat anymore also job seek alowance has been stoped as his case was revised and job center don't want to pay anything to person who has conviction)
I would very appreciate any help regarding that as it get's very difficult for fighting for five months with all sorts of services and not getting anything.

Just to make it clearer:
1. Shouldn't probation officer help my partner to go back on the work ladder and finde solution good for both sides.
2. Is that legal that housing benefits and job seeker refuse to help when my partner is in such a difficult position.
3. I also worring about his mental state / depration coming from not being able to get a job is that a point that can be used when he will contact probation officer again?
4. What person should do if doesn't have money to get to comunity service?

Thank you ever so much for any help.

Agat

Hi agat, unfortunately the system is in place for all, even for genuine people, community service is a court order and is a form of punishment for a crime even if it seems harsh, they will not bend the rules.
If you are living as a couple then you should be able to claim working tax credits due to low income and also get housing and council tax benefit. If you lose your job and have not quit then you are entitled to job seekers allowence, housing and council tax benefit. Your partner can not apply for job seekers allowence yet as he is not available for full time work due to community service order, but he needs to ask the job centre plus what other benefit he can claim until he has finished his hours, he is entitled to benefit regardless of wether he has a convicton or not.
Your partner needs to seek medical help from his GP if he has mental health issues, I know times are difficult and you will get frustrated at what seems a lack of progress, but there is help for people who are struggling so do not give up, make some phone calls and asked who can help you if they can not.