JSA - Can I claim it? - What to watch our for?

hellows

I have been made redundant recently and would like to apply for Jobseekers Allowance – contribution based. I am 25. My last salary was 16,000 and I always paid NI. I live in a shared accommodation with a friend and he pays 50% of the rent. He also works full time. He is not a relative or a partner. He just lives there. I have £10,000 in my ISA.
Do you think I am eligible for the JSA? What will take into account when considering my application.
Are there any disadvantages of taking JSA?
Is there anything I should watch out for when talking to them?

healy

If you have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions you will be entitled to contribution based JSA, they will check this if you apply. The fact you have savings does not matter as it is not means tested.

ALIBOBSY

The cont based option is your best bet, it only lasts 182 days (around 6 months).
As your claim is made in this benefit yr ie 2008 they will look at your ni record for the tax yrs 06/07 and 05/06 (providing your claim doesn't link to a previous benefit claim).

If you don't qualify or get to the end of the 6 months you would have to claim income based, they would need sight of proof of your savings, and would probably visit to clarify if you and your housemate are to be treated as a couple or not. They look for a financial link only so you don't have to be someones partner to be treated as a financial couple under benefit regulations.
If you try to claim both now they will ask for all the proofs etc up front and this will delay the claim. Easier to claim the conts based version if you can.

ali x

ALIBOBSY

BTW you will be asked for proof of redundancy and any payment in lieu of notice and holiday pay. If you don't have it they can send a form to your employer. They sometimes make a payment "on the balance of probablities" ie you state you worked there for 2 yrs and only got 2 wks PILON, this matches the minimum under the legislation so is probably right, therefore could be awarded from your declaration only. However if you have the proof it makes things easier and you award quicker. A couple of final pay slips might help providing all the payments are broken down and clearly listed.

ali x

hellows

Thanks, but what should my employer write. I will stay here just two more days. I really do not want to talk and ask him to write me a redundancy letter - but will have to do it. Do I need anything else like P60, ID? You mentioned payslips, redundancy prove. Do I have to tell them that I have some savings or can I say that I have only £400?

Oldernotwiser

hellows wrote: »

Do I have to tell them that I have some savings or can I say that I have only £400?

It's already been explained that savings don't affect contributions based JSA. If you're applying for any sort of means tested benefit then what you're suggesting is benefit fraud.