£10.10 JSA a week?

nicecarkeys

I applied for JSA on the 30/07/08 after being self employed for several years.

It has taken untill today to get confirmation that they are going to give me any money.

I am unemployed, live with my son who is 18 and in full time education. I get £50.40 from tax credits for him and today I have received a letter from JSA telling me that I will get £10.10 a week from them.

Please tell me this is a mistake. I could not possibly live on £60.50 for two people.

Oldernotwiser

Do you have savings?

ceridwen

I'm no expert these days on welfare benefits - but I would think they have omitted to take your son into account. I think it sounds like you need to make it quite clear that you have a dependent child.

Have a look at this:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018708

nicecarkeys

Thank you for the quick replies. Really appreciated.
I have just re read the letter and it states that I am entitled to £60.50 per week living expenses.

Out of that they have deducted £50.40 that I receive from tax credits.
There has been no allowance given for my son.

I have no savings (in debt)

I am concerned now that I should have claimed income support instead of or as well as JSA.
I did tell the girl that my stamp was not up to date at the initial interview.I am not up on benefits but did think that it was up to me to give the staff all my circumstances and that it was their job to tell me what I was entitled to.

If I should have claimed IS will I get it back paid?
It has taken over six weeks to get this far and now owe out a large % of what I thought I would receive (£110.00 per week)

Feeling really desperate now and its Saturday so I cant even do anything until Monday.

Would really appreciate it some one knew whether or not I will get the "extra" money back dated?
Thank you

Conor_3

You wouldn't get an allowance for your son because he is 18 and therefore an adult in the eyes of the JSA and not a dependent so should be sorting his money out. As he is in fulltime education, are you claiming Child Benefit and now EMA for him? That'd give an extra £40 a week or more.

nicecarkeys

Hi Conor

I understand that he is an adult but why should the tax credit I receive for him be deducted from my JSA?
As far as TC + CB are concerned he is still in full time education and treated as a child for that purpose.
I do get CB and have claimed EMA for him but my understanding of EMA was that it was not deducted from benefits?
I thought it was for him not for me to buy food with?

real1314

Whilst JSA will not pay an allowance for your son, I think they may have made a mistake in taking off your tax credits. I presume it's "Child Tax Credit" in which case it should not be taken off.
Give them a call and ask them to re-check it.

nb A "child" can be included in claims at the age of 18 as they will still be in their final year of sixth form, I think it's even been increased to include being 19 in an extra year. As long as Child Benefit it being paid they still count as a dependant.

Voyager2002

Have you visited the "entitled to" website to check what you could claim?

Since you are available for work you were right to claim JSA and could not have claimed income support. In this situation your claim could not be backdated.

Have you also claimed Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit?

nicecarkeys

Thank you real

Yes it is CTC that I get & I hope you are right about it being a mistake. My heart nearly stopped when I first read the letter but after reading lots of info I now also think it is a mistake.
He is a smart kid + doing his Levels and a BTEC. I am keen for him to continue but if he thought that money was that tight I think he would give up one or both and go to work.

I will go on Monday and check.

Thanks

Conor_3

If it is CTC, they have made a mistake. As you said though, it's important that he does the courses now as sods law will dictate that a few years down the line, the opportunity to do it because of circumstances won't exist.

If he does have to drop one, drop the A levels. The BTEC will stand far better in getting a job in the area it's in as it's more specific than A levels.

nicecarkeys

Hi Voyager

I have just been to entitledto. and I should be getting JSA & CTC so I should get this sorted ok on Monday.
That is a good site and seems accurate so thank you for that.

I have not claimed HB or Rates (NI) yet as I am going to do a voluntary BR at the end of the month and my house will go into that.
I will claim both as soon as I find a rented house. If anybody will give me one.

As soon as the BR is paid for and we get moved and settled I will get a job ASAP.

I have read quite a bit recently on this forum about benefits, BR and living on a limited income and even tho there is a lot of useful info on here I am still completely baffled at how anybody can actually live on benefits.
Certainly puts an end to the belief that benefits is an easy option.

Hopefully by Christmas I will be BR, less stressed, moved house and have a new job!

Thank you all for the help and info. I will report back next week hopefully with good news.