What can I claim?

modernmillie_2

Hello. I'm think I'm going to have claim benefits for the first time - being made redundant at the end of the month. Have been looking for another job, but not a great time of year! Can anyone give me a definitive list of help I can get. I've always been in full time employment since graduating (over 10 years ago), so I think I can claim contribution based JSA. I live alone in privately rented accommodation, so will claim housing benefit and Council Tax benefit. I won't be receiving any redundancy pay - have been in current job less than 1 year, and my savings are less than £3k. I don't think I can claim any other benefits, but is there any other help I can get - I seem to think prescriptions are free, what about dental care, and anything else? Any help or suggestions gratefully received!

black-saturn

You will be able to get Job Seekers Allowance, Council Tax and Housing Benefit. But the HB will be means tested. So if they think you are in accomodation which is too large for you (i.e. 2 bedrooms when you only need one etc etc) they will work out what percentage those rooms cost and you will have to foot the bill for them out of your JSA.

modernmillie_2

Thanks B-S. I knew HB was means tested, and had checked some info on line about no of rooms - I thought I'd read something saying that upto 2 bedrooms was acceptable for a single person. Can anyone clarify? My post is also asking for advice about anything else I'd be entitled to, for example, I think I may now be able to get help with training courses, etc? Not having been in this situation before, wondered what had happened to others, any advice, and so on.

black-saturn

Not for training courses unless it's one done through the job centre or JSA office. You may be entitled to your travel costs back for job interviews if it's over a certain amount of miles.

Not sure about the 2 bedrooms, I think you may have to pay for the spare one :rolleyes:

Justicia

black-saturn wrote:

Not for training courses unless it's one done through the job centre or JSA office.

I typed a nice, long post but it then went self-destruct once I tried to submit it... :rolleyes:

It really depends on what training you feel that you need to be honest.

You can get training directly, being a claimant of Jobseeker's Allowance, if it is available via a local, funded training provider. That of course limits any available training to schemes that the Gov't have classed as an aid to assisting you in obtaining future employment, ie. no sky-diving training...!! Most, if not all of the training provided by Jobcentre Plus is available to those who have been claiming benefit in excess of six months (there is a very good reason for this).

The other option may be checking with;

http://www.learndirect.co.uk

as I believe (and anyone feel free to correct me if necessary) that many of the courses are heavily Gov't funded if you can prove unemployment.

Again though, it depends on the training that you require.

You may be entitled to your travel costs back for job interviews if it's over a certain amount of miles.

The Travel to Interview Scheme (TIS) is available to anyone who is claiming a benefit, although it's availability is dependant on individual factors and is a discretionary scheme, not automatic. Any interview that can be proved to be genuine (by an interview letter or by contact with the potential employer) can be claimed for as long as common sense is used and the interview is not an easy 3 minute walk down the road, for example. It has to be claimed BEFORE an interview is attended as forms have to be completed and checks made BEFORE the event (however discretion can be used by JCP if this is not genuinely possible). I would advise anyone who may need to apply to use this scheme to check the details in their ES40 (lil' yeller/green book), ask for a leaflet at their JCP or speak to an adviser about it.

black-saturn

I've been on a few of those Government training schemes and they really are mind numbing.

Justicia

black-saturn wrote:

I've been on a few of those Government training schemes and they really are mind numbing.

What kind of course was it?

A work/interview preparation one by any chance? Hehe!

Ted_Hutchinson

The work you want, the help you need A basic guide to benefits and services available from Jobcentre Plus and elsewhere to people of working age

black-saturn

Justicia wrote:

What kind of course was it?

A work/interview preparation one by any chance? Hehe!

No it was actually a computer course. But it was a while ago and going on one of those courses was nothing to be laughed at

Justicia

black-saturn wrote:

No it was actually a computer course. But it was a while ago and going on one of those courses was nothing to be laughed at

Not laughing at all, Cheeky!

I heard alot of similar complaints about the work preparation courses*!! I would have planned and run the "properly," so maybe that's what I should do next... lol




*Ooops! Although please don't let that put you/anyone off if you are offered a place at one. It does differ from service provider to provider of course.

mcc28_x

modernmillie,

As someone has already said training available through the JC is limited at the new claims stage. Whilst you are claiming JSA you may be able to do training courses with your local college at a reduced rate or even free. Beware though that there are rules about studying and claiming JSA at the same time.

There are early entry criteria for some of the Job Centre courses which would not normally be available, examples of this include if you have a disability.

Your company is probably giving help with Jobsearches and CV'S however if not this guidance is available at the Job Centre.

Depending upon what you want to do, if you get a decent adviser at your new claim you may want to ask the adviser to caseload you i.e. lookout for suitable positions.

Good luck

Mark